diff --git a/kernel/lib_mapfree.c b/kernel/lib_mapfree.c
index 9111e192..69c0574b 100644
--- a/kernel/lib_mapfree.c
+++ b/kernel/lib_mapfree.c
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@
 #include <linux/wait.h>
 #include <linux/file.h>
 
+/* needed for symlink checking */
+#include "sy_old/strategy.h"
+
 // time to wait between background mapfree operations
 int mapfree_period_sec = 10;
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(mapfree_period_sec);
@@ -185,6 +188,16 @@ struct mapfree_info *mapfree_get(const char *name, int flags)
 			continue;
 		}
 
+		/* allow replacement of a .deleted symlink */
+		if (flags & O_CREAT) {
+			const char *check = ordered_readlink(name, NULL);
+
+			if (check && !*check)
+				mars_unlink(name);
+
+			brick_string_free(check);
+		}
+
 		mf->mf_flags = flags;
 		INIT_LIST_HEAD(&mf->mf_head);
 		INIT_LIST_HEAD(&mf->mf_dirty_anchor);