diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 8e213f3bc..8bff2ef94 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ endif
 gen_start_date = 2011-12-01T06:00:00
 .PHONY: gen-ChangeLog
 gen-ChangeLog:
-	if test -d $(top_srcdir)/.git; then				\
+	if test -e $(top_srcdir)/.git; then				\
 	  (cd $(top_srcdir) &&                      			\
 	    $(GITLOG_TO_CHANGELOG) --append-dot --tear-off		\
 	    --amend=build-aux/git-log-fix 				\
diff --git a/autogen.sh b/autogen.sh
index 3fe24ead8..7d843bda0 100755
--- a/autogen.sh
+++ b/autogen.sh
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ if [ "$myhost" = "find-version" ]; then
     esac
 
     beta=no
-    if [ -d .git ]; then
+    if [ -e .git ]; then
       ingit=yes
       tmp=$(git describe --match "${matchstr1}" --long 2>/dev/null)
       if [ -n "$tmp" ]; then
diff --git a/doc/Makefile.am b/doc/Makefile.am
index 5449d07a9..a1a570c38 100644
--- a/doc/Makefile.am
+++ b/doc/Makefile.am
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ dist-hook: defsincdate
 
 defsincdate: $(gnupg_TEXINFOS)
 	: >defsincdate ; \
-	if test -d $(top_srcdir)/.git; then \
+	if test -e $(top_srcdir)/.git; then \
 	  (cd $(srcdir) && git log -1 --format='%ct' \
                -- $(gnupg_TEXINFOS) 2>/dev/null) >>defsincdate; \
 	fi