diff --git a/cdist/conf/type/__link/explorer/state b/cdist/conf/type/__link/explorer/state
index a601d53b..7150df25 100755
--- a/cdist/conf/type/__link/explorer/state
+++ b/cdist/conf/type/__link/explorer/state
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ destination_dir="${destination%/*}"
 case "$type" in
    symbolic)
       cd "$destination_dir" || exit 1
-      source_is=$(readlink "$destination")
       if [ -h "$destination" ]; then
+         source_is=$(readlink "$destination")
          # ignore trailing slashes for comparison
          if [ "${source_is%/}" = "${source%/}" ]; then
             echo present