diff --git a/tools/osx_packaging/osx_build b/tools/osx_packaging/osx_build
index 0e471d8cc6..4aaa415f38 100755
--- a/tools/osx_packaging/osx_build
+++ b/tools/osx_packaging/osx_build
@@ -224,16 +224,21 @@ cp -R Resources $APPROOT
 rm -f Info.plist
 rm -f Resources/InfoPlist.strings
 
-#
 # if we build a bundle without jack, then
 # make the Ardour executable a helper
 # script that checks to see if JACK is
 # installed.
 #
+#cp startup_script $APPROOT/MacOS/$EXECUTABLE
+#chmod 775 $APPROOT/MacOS/$EXECUTABLE
+#MAIN_EXECUTABLE=Ardour.bin  ## used in startup_script
 
-cp startup_script $APPROOT/MacOS/$EXECUTABLE
-chmod 775 $APPROOT/MacOS/$EXECUTABLE
-MAIN_EXECUTABLE=Ardour.bin  ## used in startup_script
+# For Catalina we cannot use a shell script wrapper
+# the binary mentioned in the .plist must match
+# the actual executable, otherwise the user is
+# not prompted to grant permissions to access the audio-device
+
+MAIN_EXECUTABLE=$EXECUTABLE
 
 echo "Copying ardour executable ...."
 cp $BUILD_ROOT/gtk2_ardour/ardour-$release_version $APPROOT/MacOS/$MAIN_EXECUTABLE