diff --git a/gnu/packages/emacs-xyz.scm b/gnu/packages/emacs-xyz.scm
index 0f5de36a5c..10eb8427b1 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/emacs-xyz.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/emacs-xyz.scm
@@ -17209,7 +17209,6 @@ (define-public emacs-plz
       #~(modify-phases %standard-phases
           (add-after 'unpack 'substitute-curl-path
             (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-              (make-file-writable "plz.el")
               (emacs-substitute-variables "plz.el"
                 ("plz-curl-program" (search-input-file inputs "/bin/curl"))))))))
     (home-page "https://github.com/alphapapa/plz.el")