diff --git a/WHATSNEW b/WHATSNEW
index 1b260c79a..8fa1f3932 100644
--- a/WHATSNEW
+++ b/WHATSNEW
@@ -503,6 +503,10 @@ Fixed bugs:
    define the filterreader which is the recommended approach.
    Bugzilla Report 45439.
 
+ * Ant didn't set the proper "magic" value for tar entries containing
+   long file names in GNU longfile mode.
+   Bugzilla Report 47653.
+
 Other changes:
 --------------
 
@@ -4110,7 +4114,7 @@ Other changes:
   included, before performing file-by-file moves.  This attempt will
   be done only if filtering is off and if mappers are not used.  This
   is a performance improvement and there is no change otherwise in
-  the funtionality of this task.
+  the functionality of this task.
 
 * Exec task has extra attribute "resultproperty" to get the return code
   into a property.
diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/tar/TarEntry.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/tar/TarEntry.java
index 3b326343e..d69977863 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/tar/TarEntry.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/tar/TarEntry.java
@@ -202,6 +202,9 @@ public class TarEntry implements TarConstants {
     public TarEntry(String name, byte linkFlag) {
         this(name);
         this.linkFlag = linkFlag;
+        if (linkFlag == LF_GNUTYPE_LONGNAME) {
+            magic = new StringBuffer(GNU_TMAGIC);
+        }
     }
 
     /**