diff --git a/qemud/Makefile.am b/qemud/Makefile.am
index 2dcb469e8b..a2d3b0721b 100644
--- a/qemud/Makefile.am
+++ b/qemud/Makefile.am
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ libvirt_qemud_LDADD =
 install-data-local:
 	mkdir -p $(DESTDIR)$(sysconfdir)/libvirt/qemu/networks/autostart
 	$(INSTALL_DATA) $(srcdir)/default-network.xml $(DESTDIR)$(sysconfdir)/libvirt/qemu/networks/default.xml
-	ln -s ../default.xml $(DESTDIR)$(sysconfdir)/libvirt/qemu/networks/autostart/default.xml
+	test -e $(DESTDIR)$(sysconfdir)/libvirt/qemu/networks/autostart/default.xml || \
+           ln -s ../default.xml $(DESTDIR)$(sysconfdir)/libvirt/qemu/networks/autostart/default.xml
 
 uninstall-local:
 	rm -f $(DESTDIR)$(sysconfdir)/libvirt/qemu/networks/autostart/default.xml