memcpy(combine.p.parent[stage-2].sha1,
                                               nce->sha1, 20);
                                        combine.p.parent[stage-2].mode =
-                                               DIFF_FILE_CANON_MODE(mode);
+                                               canon_mode(mode);
+                                       combine.p.parent[stage-2].status =
+                                               DIFF_STATUS_MODIFIED;
                                }
 
                                /* diff against the proper unmerged stage */
                        continue;
                oldmode = ntohl(ce->ce_mode);
 
-               newmode = DIFF_FILE_CANON_MODE(st.st_mode);
+               newmode = canon_mode(st.st_mode);
                if (!trust_executable_bit &&
                    S_ISREG(newmode) && S_ISREG(oldmode) &&
                    ((newmode ^ oldmode) == 0111))