diff --git a/src/karchive.cpp b/src/karchive.cpp
--- a/src/karchive.cpp
+++ b/src/karchive.cpp
@@ -981,6 +981,11 @@
                     linkName += QLatin1String(".lnk");
                 }
 #endif
+                // remove the link name in case it exists, might have changed
+                // link target or be non-relative
+                if (QFile::exists(linkName) && linkName != curEntry->symLinkTarget()) {
+                    QFile::remove(linkName);
+                }
                 QFile symLinkTarget(curEntry->symLinkTarget());
                 if (!symLinkTarget.link(linkName)) {
                     //qCDebug(KArchiveLog) << "symlink(" << curEntry->symLinkTarget() << ',' << linkName << ") failed:" << strerror(errno);