diff --git a/core/src/build-staging/helpers.ts b/core/src/build-staging/helpers.ts
index d08855d8d6..40f7ef86e7 100644
--- a/core/src/build-staging/helpers.ts
+++ b/core/src/build-staging/helpers.ts
@@ -140,8 +140,10 @@ export function cloneFile(
         }
       }
 
-      // if the target path exists, and it is a symlink, we must remove it first
-      if (toStats?.isSymbolicLink()) {
+      // if we are about to copy a symlink, and the target path exists, we must remove it first
+      // this allows for type changes (e.g. replacing a file with a symlink, then running garden build)
+      // at this point we know the target is a file or a symlink, so we can do this even if allowDelete=false (copy also overwrites the target)
+      if (fromStats.isSymbolicLink()) {
         return remove(to, (removeErr) => {
           if (removeErr) {
             return done(removeErr)
diff --git a/core/test/unit/src/build-staging/build-staging.ts b/core/test/unit/src/build-staging/build-staging.ts
index 74df58f20f..93b66cb2af 100644
--- a/core/test/unit/src/build-staging/build-staging.ts
+++ b/core/test/unit/src/build-staging/build-staging.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import { BuildTask } from "../../../../src/tasks/build.js"
 import type { ConfigGraph } from "../../../../src/graph/config-graph.js"
 import type { BuildAction } from "../../../../src/actions/build.js"
 import { DOCS_BASE_URL } from "../../../../src/constants.js"
-import { lstat, readlink, symlink } from "fs/promises"
+import { lstat, readlink, rm, symlink } from "fs/promises"
 
 // TODO-G2: rename test cases to match the new graph model semantics
 
@@ -189,6 +189,25 @@ describe("BuildStaging", () => {
       await assertIdentical(sourceRoot, targetRoot, expectedFiles)
     })
 
+    it("should allow type changes between symlink and file", async () => {
+      const sourceRoot = join(tmpPath, "source")
+      const targetRoot = join(tmpPath, "target")
+      const file = "foo"
+
+      await ensureDir(sourceRoot)
+      await populateDirectory(sourceRoot, [file])
+
+      await sync({ log, sourceRoot, targetRoot, withDelete: false })
+      await assertIdentical(sourceRoot, targetRoot, [file])
+
+      await rm(join(sourceRoot, file))
+      await symlink("targetDoesNotMatter", join(sourceRoot, file))
+
+      // the target now must be replaced with a symlink
+      await sync({ log, sourceRoot, targetRoot, withDelete: false })
+      await assertIdentical(sourceRoot, targetRoot, [file])
+    })
+
     it("throws if source relative path is absolute", async () => {
       await expectError(
         () => sync({ log, sourceRoot: tmpPath, targetRoot: tmpPath, sourceRelPath: "/foo", withDelete: false }),