Index: lld/COFF/Chunks.h
===================================================================
--- lld/COFF/Chunks.h
+++ lld/COFF/Chunks.h
@@ -38,9 +38,11 @@
 class OutputSection;
 class Symbol;
 
-// Mask for section types (code, data, bss, disacardable, etc.)
-// and permissions (writable, readable or executable).
-const uint32_t PermMask = 0xFF0000F0;
+// Mask for permissions (discardable, writable, readable, executable, etc).
+const uint32_t PermMask = 0xFE000000;
+
+// Mask for section types (code, data, bss).
+const uint32_t TypeMask = 0x000000E0;
 
 // A Chunk represents a chunk of data that will occupy space in the
 // output (if the resolver chose that). It may or may not be backed by
Index: lld/COFF/Chunks.cpp
===================================================================
--- lld/COFF/Chunks.cpp
+++ lld/COFF/Chunks.cpp
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@
 }
 
 uint32_t SectionChunk::getOutputCharacteristics() const {
-  return Header->Characteristics & PermMask;
+  return Header->Characteristics & (PermMask | TypeMask);
 }
 
 bool SectionChunk::isCOMDAT() const {
Index: lld/COFF/Writer.cpp
===================================================================
--- lld/COFF/Writer.cpp
+++ lld/COFF/Writer.cpp
@@ -237,7 +237,8 @@
 }
 
 void OutputSection::setPermissions(uint32_t C) {
-  Header.Characteristics = C & PermMask;
+  Header.Characteristics &= ~PermMask;
+  Header.Characteristics |= C;
 }
 
 void OutputSection::merge(OutputSection *Other) {
Index: lld/test/COFF/output-chars.test
===================================================================
--- lld/test/COFF/output-chars.test
+++ lld/test/COFF/output-chars.test
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 
 # SECTION: Name: .foo
 # SECTION: Characteristics [
+# SECTION-NEXT: IMAGE_SCN_CNT_INITIALIZED_DATA
 # SECTION-NEXT: IMAGE_SCN_MEM_EXECUTE
 # SECTION-NEXT: IMAGE_SCN_MEM_READ
 # SECTION-NEXT: IMAGE_SCN_MEM_WRITE
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@
 
 # SECTION: Name: .foo
 # SECTION: Characteristics [
+# SECTION-NEXT: IMAGE_SCN_CNT_INITIALIZED_DATA
 # SECTION-NEXT: IMAGE_SCN_MEM_EXECUTE
 # SECTION-NEXT: IMAGE_SCN_MEM_READ
 # SECTION-NEXT: IMAGE_SCN_MEM_WRITE
@@ -76,6 +78,7 @@
 
 # MERGE-SECTION: Name: .foo
 # MERGE-SECTION: Characteristics [
+# MERGE-SECTION-NEXT: IMAGE_SCN_CNT_INITIALIZED_DATA
 # MERGE-SECTION-NEXT: IMAGE_SCN_MEM_EXECUTE
 # MERGE-SECTION-NEXT: IMAGE_SCN_MEM_READ
 # MERGE-SECTION-NEXT: IMAGE_SCN_MEM_WRITE
Index: lld/test/COFF/section.test
===================================================================
--- lld/test/COFF/section.test
+++ lld/test/COFF/section.test
@@ -16,18 +16,22 @@
 # RUN: llvm-readobj -sections %t.exe | FileCheck -check-prefix=S %s
 
 # R:      Characteristics [
+# R-NEXT:   IMAGE_SCN_CNT_INITIALIZED_DATA
 # R-NEXT:   IMAGE_SCN_MEM_READ
 # R-NEXT: ]
 
 # W:      Characteristics [
+# W-NEXT:   IMAGE_SCN_CNT_INITIALIZED_DATA
 # W-NEXT:   IMAGE_SCN_MEM_WRITE
 # W-NEXT: ]
 
 # E:      Characteristics [
+# E-NEXT:   IMAGE_SCN_CNT_INITIALIZED_DATA
 # E-NEXT:   IMAGE_SCN_MEM_EXECUTE
 # E-NEXT: ]
 
 # S:      Characteristics [
+# S-NEXT:   IMAGE_SCN_CNT_INITIALIZED_DATA
 # S-NEXT:   IMAGE_SCN_MEM_SHARED
 # S-NEXT: ]