diff --git a/diff-no-index.c b/diff-no-index.c
index 60ed17470a..0dbd9dad8b 100644
--- a/diff-no-index.c
+++ b/diff-no-index.c
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ static int get_mode(const char *path, int *mode)
 		*mode = 0;
 	else if (!strcmp(path, "-"))
 		*mode = create_ce_mode(0666);
-	else if (stat(path, &st))
+	else if (lstat(path, &st))
 		return error("Could not access '%s'", path);
 	else
 		*mode = st.st_mode;
diff --git a/t/t4011-diff-symlink.sh b/t/t4011-diff-symlink.sh
index 02efecae3a..9055c8b318 100755
--- a/t/t4011-diff-symlink.sh
+++ b/t/t4011-diff-symlink.sh
@@ -82,4 +82,11 @@ test_expect_success \
     git diff-index -M -p $tree > current &&
     compare_diff_patch current expected'
 
+test_expect_success \
+    'diff symlinks with non-existing targets' \
+    'ln -s narf pinky &&
+    ln -s take\ over brain &&
+    test_must_fail git diff --no-index pinky brain > output 2> output.err &&
+    grep narf output &&
+    ! grep error output.err'
 test_done