diff --git a/diff.c b/diff.c
index 266112c..a96992a 100644
--- a/diff.c
+++ b/diff.c
@@ -2842,8 +2842,9 @@
 		remove_tempfile_installed = 1;
 	}
 
-	if (!one->sha1_valid ||
-	    reuse_worktree_file(name, one->sha1, 1)) {
+	if (!S_ISGITLINK(one->mode) &&
+	    (!one->sha1_valid ||
+	     reuse_worktree_file(name, one->sha1, 1))) {
 		struct stat st;
 		if (lstat(name, &st) < 0) {
 			if (errno == ENOENT)