diff --git a/common/hooks/pre-pkg/01-xdelta_repolist.sh b/common/hooks/pre-pkg/01-xdelta_repolist.sh
index b12d076ef7..04d55d04c6 100644
--- a/common/hooks/pre-pkg/01-xdelta_repolist.sh
+++ b/common/hooks/pre-pkg/01-xdelta_repolist.sh
@@ -5,6 +5,6 @@ hook() {
 
 	# create links to preserve old versions of repodata
 	find $XBPS_REPOSITORY -name '*-repodata' | while read; do
-		cp "${REPLY}" "${REPLY}.genVcdiff"
+		ln -f "${REPLY}" "${REPLY}.genVcdiff"
 	done
 }