diff --git a/mercurial/merge.py b/mercurial/merge.py
--- a/mercurial/merge.py
+++ b/mercurial/merge.py
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ def recordupdates(repo, action, branchme
         elif m == "f": # forget
             repo.dirstate.forget(f)
         elif m == "e": # exec change
-            repo.dirstate.normaldirty(f)
+            repo.dirstate.normallookup(f)
         elif m == "g": # get
             if branchmerge:
                 repo.dirstate.normaldirty(f)
diff --git a/tests/test-up-issue1456 b/tests/test-up-issue1456
--- a/tests/test-up-issue1456
+++ b/tests/test-up-issue1456
@@ -15,3 +15,10 @@ hg up -q
 cat foo
 hg st -A
 
+echo '% validate update of standalone execute bit change'
+hg up -C 0
+chmod -x foo
+hg ci -m removeexec
+hg up -C 0
+hg up
+hg st
diff --git a/tests/test-up-issue1456.out b/tests/test-up-issue1456.out
--- a/tests/test-up-issue1456.out
+++ b/tests/test-up-issue1456.out
@@ -1,2 +1,7 @@
 dirty
 M foo
+% validate update of standalone execute bit change
+1 files updated, 0 files merged, 0 files removed, 0 files unresolved
+nothing changed
+0 files updated, 0 files merged, 0 files removed, 0 files unresolved
+0 files updated, 0 files merged, 0 files removed, 0 files unresolved