diff --git a/tools/build/build.py b/tools/build/build.py
index ba21d522..0c9fb599 100755
--- a/tools/build/build.py
+++ b/tools/build/build.py
@@ -318,7 +318,8 @@ def write_file(file, data):
 def write_link(source, target):
     print 'linking', source, 'to', target
     write_path(target)
-    if os.path.lexists(target):
+    # remove files, symlinks *and broken symlinks*
+    if os.path.exists(target) or os.path.lexists(target):
         os.unlink(target)
     os.symlink(source, target)