diff --git a/diff-files.c b/diff-files.c
index 0cf2c24..c51edc3 100644
--- a/diff-files.c
+++ b/diff-files.c
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@
 			continue;
 		}
  
-		if (stat(ce->name, &st) < 0) {
+		if (lstat(ce->name, &st) < 0) {
 			if (errno != ENOENT) {
 				perror(ce->name);
 				continue;