diff --git a/new/symlink.jam b/new/symlink.jam
index cd02da86f..7aa9eb2e9 100644
--- a/new/symlink.jam
+++ b/new/symlink.jam
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ rule ln
 
 actions ln-UNIX
 {
-    ln -s '$(PATH_TO_TOP)/$(>)' '$(<)'
+    ln -f -s '$(PATH_TO_TOP)/$(>)' '$(<)'
 }
 
 IMPORT $(__name__) : symlink : : symlink ;
diff --git a/v2/tools/symlink.jam b/v2/tools/symlink.jam
index cd02da86f..7aa9eb2e9 100644
--- a/v2/tools/symlink.jam
+++ b/v2/tools/symlink.jam
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ rule ln
 
 actions ln-UNIX
 {
-    ln -s '$(PATH_TO_TOP)/$(>)' '$(<)'
+    ln -f -s '$(PATH_TO_TOP)/$(>)' '$(<)'
 }
 
 IMPORT $(__name__) : symlink : : symlink ;