diff --git a/src/tools/symlink.jam b/src/tools/symlink.jam
index bdfcb546a..b33e8260c 100644
--- a/src/tools/symlink.jam
+++ b/src/tools/symlink.jam
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ actions ln-UNIX
 actions ln-NT
 {
     echo "NT symlinks not supported yet, making copy"
-    del /f /q "$(<)" 2$(NULL_OUT) $(NULL_OUT)
+    del /f /q "$(<)" 2>nul >nul
     copy "$(>)" "$(<)" $(NULL_OUT)
 }