diff --git a/lib/ensure/__tests__/link.test.js b/lib/ensure/__tests__/link.test.js
index b78313e5..7c38f4de 100644
--- a/lib/ensure/__tests__/link.test.js
+++ b/lib/ensure/__tests__/link.test.js
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ describe('fse-ensure-link', () => {
     [['../foo.txt', './link.txt'], 'file-error', 'file-error'],
     [['../dir-foo/foo.txt', './link.txt'], 'file-error', 'file-error'],
     // error is thrown if destination path exists
-    [['./foo.txt', './dir-foo/foo.txt'], 'file-error', 'file-dest-exists'],
+    [['./foo.txt', './dir-foo/foo.txt'], 'file-error', 'file-error'],
     [[path.resolve(path.join(TEST_DIR, './foo.txt')), './link.txt'], 'file-success', 'file-success'],
     [[path.resolve(path.join(TEST_DIR, './dir-foo/foo.txt')), './link.txt'], 'file-success', 'file-success'],
     [[path.resolve(path.join(TEST_DIR, './missing.txt')), './link.txt'], 'file-error', 'file-error'],
@@ -107,23 +107,6 @@ describe('fse-ensure-link', () => {
     })
   }
 
-  function fileDestExists (args, fn) {
-    const srcpath = args[0]
-    const dstpath = args[1]
-
-    it(`should do nothing using src ${srcpath} and dst ${dstpath}`, done => {
-      const destinationContentBefore = fs.readFileSync(dstpath, 'utf8')
-      const callback = err => {
-        if (err) return done(err)
-        const destinationContentAfter = fs.readFileSync(dstpath, 'utf8')
-        assert.strictEqual(destinationContentBefore, destinationContentAfter)
-        return done()
-      }
-      args.push(callback)
-      return fn(...args)
-    })
-  }
-
   function fileSuccessSync (args, fn) {
     const srcpath = args[0]
     const dstpath = args[1]
@@ -161,18 +144,6 @@ describe('fse-ensure-link', () => {
     })
   }
 
-  function fileDestExistsSync (args, fn) {
-    const srcpath = args[0]
-    const dstpath = args[1]
-
-    it(`should do nothing using src ${srcpath} and dst ${dstpath}`, () => {
-      const destinationContentBefore = fs.readFileSync(dstpath, 'utf8')
-      fn(...args)
-      const destinationContentAfter = fs.readFileSync(dstpath, 'utf8')
-      assert.strictEqual(destinationContentBefore, destinationContentAfter)
-    })
-  }
-
   describe('fs.link()', () => {
     const fn = fs.link
     tests.forEach(test => {
@@ -181,7 +152,6 @@ describe('fse-ensure-link', () => {
       // const newBehavior = test[2]
       if (nativeBehavior === 'file-success') fileSuccess(args, fn)
       if (nativeBehavior === 'file-error') fileError(args, fn)
-      if (nativeBehavior === 'file-dest-exists') fileDestExists(args, fn)
     })
   })
 
@@ -193,7 +163,6 @@ describe('fse-ensure-link', () => {
       const newBehavior = test[2]
       if (newBehavior === 'file-success') fileSuccess(args, fn)
       if (newBehavior === 'file-error') fileError(args, fn)
-      if (newBehavior === 'file-dest-exists') fileDestExists(args, fn)
     })
   })
 
@@ -229,7 +198,6 @@ describe('fse-ensure-link', () => {
       // const newBehavior = test[2]
       if (nativeBehavior === 'file-success') fileSuccessSync(args, fn)
       if (nativeBehavior === 'file-error') fileErrorSync(args, fn)
-      if (nativeBehavior === 'file-dest-exists') fileDestExists(args, fn)
     })
   })
 
@@ -241,7 +209,6 @@ describe('fse-ensure-link', () => {
       const newBehavior = test[2]
       if (newBehavior === 'file-success') fileSuccessSync(args, fn)
       if (newBehavior === 'file-error') fileErrorSync(args, fn)
-      if (newBehavior === 'file-dest-exists') fileDestExistsSync(args, fn)
     })
   })
 })
diff --git a/lib/ensure/__tests__/symlink.test.js b/lib/ensure/__tests__/symlink.test.js
index 22a00430..1657f32f 100644
--- a/lib/ensure/__tests__/symlink.test.js
+++ b/lib/ensure/__tests__/symlink.test.js
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ describe('fse-ensure-symlink', () => {
     [['./missing.txt', './symlink.txt'], 'file-broken', 'file-error'],
     [['./missing.txt', './missing-dir/symlink.txt'], 'file-error', 'file-error'],
     // error is thrown if destination path exists
-    [['./foo.txt', './dir-foo/foo.txt'], 'file-error', 'file-dest-exists'],
+    [['./foo.txt', './dir-foo/foo.txt'], 'file-error', 'file-error'],
     [['./dir-foo', './symlink-dir-foo'], 'dir-success', 'dir-success'],
     [['../dir-bar', './dir-foo/symlink-dir-bar'], 'dir-success', 'dir-success'],
     [['./dir-bar', './dir-foo/symlink-dir-bar'], 'dir-broken', 'dir-success'],
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ describe('fse-ensure-symlink', () => {
     [['./dir-foo', './alpha/beta/gamma/dir-foo'], 'dir-error', 'dir-success'],
     [['./missing', './dir-foo/symlink-dir-missing'], 'dir-broken', 'dir-error'],
     // error is thrown if destination path exists
-    [['./dir-foo', './real-alpha/real-beta'], 'dir-error', 'dir-dest-exists'],
+    [['./dir-foo', './real-alpha/real-beta'], 'dir-error', 'dir-error'],
     [[path.resolve(path.join(TEST_DIR, './foo.txt')), './symlink.txt'], 'file-success', 'file-success'],
     [[path.resolve(path.join(TEST_DIR, './dir-foo/foo.txt')), './symlink.txt'], 'file-success', 'file-success'],
     [[path.resolve(path.join(TEST_DIR, './missing.txt')), './symlink.txt'], 'file-broken', 'file-error'],
@@ -138,22 +138,6 @@ describe('fse-ensure-symlink', () => {
     })
   }
 
-  function fileDestExists (args, fn) {
-    const srcpath = args[0]
-    const dstpath = args[1]
-    it(`should do nothing using src ${srcpath} and dst ${dstpath}`, done => {
-      const destinationContentBefore = fs.readFileSync(dstpath, 'utf8')
-      const callback = err => {
-        if (err) return done(err)
-        const destinationContentAfter = fs.readFileSync(dstpath, 'utf8')
-        assert.strictEqual(destinationContentBefore, destinationContentAfter)
-        return done()
-      }
-      args.push(callback)
-      return fn(...args)
-    })
-  }
-
   function dirSuccess (args, fn) {
     const srcpath = args[0]
     const dstpath = args[1]
@@ -214,22 +198,6 @@ describe('fse-ensure-symlink', () => {
     })
   }
 
-  function dirDestExists (args, fn) {
-    const srcpath = args[0]
-    const dstpath = args[1]
-    it(`should do nothing using src ${srcpath} and dst ${dstpath}`, done => {
-      const destinationContentBefore = fs.readdirSync(dstpath)
-      const callback = err => {
-        if (err) return done(err)
-        const destinationContentAfter = fs.readdirSync(dstpath)
-        assert.deepStrictEqual(destinationContentBefore, destinationContentAfter)
-        return done()
-      }
-      args.push(callback)
-      return fn(...args)
-    })
-  }
-
   function fileSuccessSync (args, fn) {
     const srcpath = args[0]
     const dstpath = args[1]
@@ -280,17 +248,6 @@ describe('fse-ensure-symlink', () => {
     })
   }
 
-  function fileDestExistsSync (args, fn) {
-    const srcpath = args[0]
-    const dstpath = args[1]
-    it(`should do nothing using src ${srcpath} and dst ${dstpath}`, () => {
-      const destinationContentBefore = fs.readFileSync(dstpath, 'utf8')
-      fn(...args)
-      const destinationContentAfter = fs.readFileSync(dstpath, 'utf8')
-      assert.strictEqual(destinationContentBefore, destinationContentAfter)
-    })
-  }
-
   function dirSuccessSync (args, fn) {
     const srcpath = args[0]
     const dstpath = args[1]
@@ -341,17 +298,6 @@ describe('fse-ensure-symlink', () => {
     })
   }
 
-  function dirDestExistsSync (args, fn) {
-    const srcpath = args[0]
-    const dstpath = args[1]
-    it(`should do nothing using src ${srcpath} and dst ${dstpath}`, () => {
-      const destinationContentBefore = fs.readdirSync(dstpath)
-      fn(...args)
-      const destinationContentAfter = fs.readdirSync(dstpath)
-      assert.deepStrictEqual(destinationContentBefore, destinationContentAfter)
-    })
-  }
-
   describe('fs.symlink()', () => {
     const fn = fs.symlink
     tests.forEach(test => {
@@ -361,12 +307,10 @@ describe('fse-ensure-symlink', () => {
       if (nativeBehavior === 'file-success') fileSuccess(args, fn)
       if (nativeBehavior === 'file-broken') fileBroken(args, fn)
       if (nativeBehavior === 'file-error') fileError(args, fn)
-      if (nativeBehavior === 'file-dest-exists') fileDestExists(args, fn)
       args.push('dir')
       if (nativeBehavior === 'dir-success') dirSuccess(args, fn)
       if (nativeBehavior === 'dir-broken') dirBroken(args, fn)
       if (nativeBehavior === 'dir-error') dirError(args, fn)
-      if (nativeBehavior === 'dir-dest-exists') dirDestExists(args, fn)
     })
   })
 
@@ -379,11 +323,9 @@ describe('fse-ensure-symlink', () => {
       if (newBehavior === 'file-success') fileSuccess(args, fn)
       if (newBehavior === 'file-broken') fileBroken(args, fn)
       if (newBehavior === 'file-error') fileError(args, fn)
-      if (newBehavior === 'file-dest-exists') fileDestExists(args, fn)
       if (newBehavior === 'dir-success') dirSuccess(args, fn)
       if (newBehavior === 'dir-broken') dirBroken(args, fn)
       if (newBehavior === 'dir-error') dirError(args, fn)
-      if (newBehavior === 'dir-dest-exists') dirDestExists(args, fn)
     })
   })
 
@@ -419,12 +361,10 @@ describe('fse-ensure-symlink', () => {
       if (nativeBehavior === 'file-success') fileSuccessSync(args, fn)
       if (nativeBehavior === 'file-broken') fileBrokenSync(args, fn)
       if (nativeBehavior === 'file-error') fileErrorSync(args, fn)
-      if (nativeBehavior === 'file-dest-exists') fileDestExistsSync(args, fn)
       args.push('dir')
       if (nativeBehavior === 'dir-success') dirSuccessSync(args, fn)
       if (nativeBehavior === 'dir-broken') dirBrokenSync(args, fn)
       if (nativeBehavior === 'dir-error') dirErrorSync(args, fn)
-      if (nativeBehavior === 'dir-dest-exists') dirDestExistsSync(args, fn)
     })
   })
 
@@ -437,11 +377,9 @@ describe('fse-ensure-symlink', () => {
       if (newBehavior === 'file-success') fileSuccessSync(args, fn)
       if (newBehavior === 'file-broken') fileBrokenSync(args, fn)
       if (newBehavior === 'file-error') fileErrorSync(args, fn)
-      if (newBehavior === 'file-dest-exists') fileDestExistsSync(args, fn)
       if (newBehavior === 'dir-success') dirSuccessSync(args, fn)
       if (newBehavior === 'dir-broken') dirBrokenSync(args, fn)
       if (newBehavior === 'dir-error') dirErrorSync(args, fn)
-      if (newBehavior === 'dir-dest-exists') dirDestExistsSync(args, fn)
     })
   })
 })
diff --git a/lib/ensure/link.js b/lib/ensure/link.js
index 2cd41962..00975971 100644
--- a/lib/ensure/link.js
+++ b/lib/ensure/link.js
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ function createLink (srcpath, dstpath, callback) {
     })
   }
 
-  pathExists(dstpath, (err, destinationExists) => {
-    if (err) return callback(err)
-    if (destinationExists) return callback(null)
+  fs.lstat(dstpath, (err, stats) => {
+    if (!err && stats.isSymbolicLink()) return callback(null)
+
     fs.lstat(srcpath, (err) => {
       if (err) {
         err.message = err.message.replace('lstat', 'ensureLink')
@@ -37,8 +37,11 @@ function createLink (srcpath, dstpath, callback) {
 }
 
 function createLinkSync (srcpath, dstpath) {
-  const destinationExists = fs.existsSync(dstpath)
-  if (destinationExists) return undefined
+  let stats
+  try {
+    stats = fs.lstatSync(dstpath)
+  } catch {}
+  if (stats && stats.isSymbolicLink()) return
 
   try {
     fs.lstatSync(srcpath)
diff --git a/lib/ensure/symlink.js b/lib/ensure/symlink.js
index fe68b799..ec37ce12 100644
--- a/lib/ensure/symlink.js
+++ b/lib/ensure/symlink.js
@@ -21,9 +21,8 @@ function createSymlink (srcpath, dstpath, type, callback) {
   callback = (typeof type === 'function') ? type : callback
   type = (typeof type === 'function') ? false : type
 
-  pathExists(dstpath, (err, destinationExists) => {
-    if (err) return callback(err)
-    if (destinationExists) return callback(null)
+  fs.lstat(dstpath, (err, stats) => {
+    if (!err && stats.isSymbolicLink()) return callback(null)
     symlinkPaths(srcpath, dstpath, (err, relative) => {
       if (err) return callback(err)
       srcpath = relative.toDst
@@ -44,8 +43,11 @@ function createSymlink (srcpath, dstpath, type, callback) {
 }
 
 function createSymlinkSync (srcpath, dstpath, type) {
-  const destinationExists = fs.existsSync(dstpath)
-  if (destinationExists) return undefined
+  let stats
+  try {
+    stats = fs.lstatSync(dstpath)
+  } catch {}
+  if (stats && stats.isSymbolicLink()) return
 
   const relative = symlinkPathsSync(srcpath, dstpath)
   srcpath = relative.toDst