diff --git a/bin/chflags/chflags.c b/bin/chflags/chflags.c
index 40c5b3f432b..f46baa0efae 100644
--- a/bin/chflags/chflags.c
+++ b/bin/chflags/chflags.c
@@ -99,15 +99,16 @@ main(argc, argv)
 	if (argc < 2)
 		usage();
 
-	fts_options = FTS_PHYSICAL;
 	if (Rflag) {
+		fts_options = FTS_PHYSICAL;
 		if (Hflag)
 			fts_options |= FTS_COMFOLLOW;
 		if (Lflag) {
 			fts_options &= ~FTS_PHYSICAL;
 			fts_options |= FTS_LOGICAL;
 		}
-	}
+	} else
+		fts_options = FTS_LOGICAL;
 
 	flags = *argv;
 	if (*flags >= '0' && *flags <= '7') {
diff --git a/bin/chmod/chmod.c b/bin/chmod/chmod.c
index 11291515964..7a843c755bf 100644
--- a/bin/chmod/chmod.c
+++ b/bin/chmod/chmod.c
@@ -134,8 +134,8 @@ done:	argv += optind;
 	if (argc < 2)
 		usage();
 
-	fts_options = FTS_PHYSICAL;
 	if (Rflag) {
+		fts_options = FTS_PHYSICAL;
 		if (hflag)
 			errx(1,
 		"the -R and -h options may not be specified together.");
@@ -145,7 +145,8 @@ done:	argv += optind;
 			fts_options &= ~FTS_PHYSICAL;
 			fts_options |= FTS_LOGICAL;
 		}
-	}
+	} else
+		fts_options = FTS_LOGICAL;
 
 	mode = *argv;
 	if (*mode >= '0' && *mode <= '7') {
diff --git a/usr.bin/chflags/chflags.c b/usr.bin/chflags/chflags.c
index 40c5b3f432b..f46baa0efae 100644
--- a/usr.bin/chflags/chflags.c
+++ b/usr.bin/chflags/chflags.c
@@ -99,15 +99,16 @@ main(argc, argv)
 	if (argc < 2)
 		usage();
 
-	fts_options = FTS_PHYSICAL;
 	if (Rflag) {
+		fts_options = FTS_PHYSICAL;
 		if (Hflag)
 			fts_options |= FTS_COMFOLLOW;
 		if (Lflag) {
 			fts_options &= ~FTS_PHYSICAL;
 			fts_options |= FTS_LOGICAL;
 		}
-	}
+	} else
+		fts_options = FTS_LOGICAL;
 
 	flags = *argv;
 	if (*flags >= '0' && *flags <= '7') {
diff --git a/usr.sbin/chown/chown.c b/usr.sbin/chown/chown.c
index dacf623bb06..b86af0e4273 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/chown/chown.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/chown/chown.c
@@ -122,8 +122,8 @@ main(argc, argv)
 	if (argc < 2)
 		usage();
 
-	fts_options = FTS_PHYSICAL;
 	if (Rflag) {
+		fts_options = FTS_PHYSICAL;
 		if (hflag && (Lflag || Hflag))
 			errx(1, "the -R and -h options may not be specified together");
 		if (Hflag)
@@ -132,7 +132,8 @@ main(argc, argv)
 			fts_options &= ~FTS_PHYSICAL;
 			fts_options |= FTS_LOGICAL;
 		}
-	}
+	} else
+		fts_options = FTS_LOGICAL;
 
 	uid = gid = -1;
 	if (ischown) {