diff -r 40c40c6f20b8 -r b0bb72460c44 mercurial/patch.py
--- a/mercurial/patch.py	Fri Sep 17 10:21:02 2010 -0500
+++ b/mercurial/patch.py	Mon Sep 20 21:42:11 2010 +0200
@@ -923,7 +923,7 @@
     if afile == bfile:
         goodb = gooda
     else:
-        goodb = not nullb and os.path.exists(bfile)
+        goodb = not nullb and os.path.lexists(bfile)
     createfunc = hunk.createfile
     missing = not goodb and not gooda and not createfunc()