diff --git a/app/models/metadata_file.rb b/app/models/metadata_file.rb
index cf5f8dcc..b4b144e7 100644
--- a/app/models/metadata_file.rb
+++ b/app/models/metadata_file.rb
@@ -125,7 +125,8 @@ class MetadataFile < MetadataTemplate
   #
   # @return [Boolean]
   def hardlink
-    return true if hardlink?
+    return if hardlink?
+    return if File.exist? destination_path
 
     FileUtils.mkdir_p(File.dirname(destination_path))
     FileUtils.ln(uploaded_path, destination_path).zero?