diff --git a/flist.c b/flist.c
index b6428f16..4eea6c8d 100644
--- a/flist.c
+++ b/flist.c
@@ -1118,7 +1118,7 @@ static struct file_struct *recv_file_entry(int f, struct file_list *flist, int x
 	memcpy(bp, basename, basename_len);
 
 #ifdef SUPPORT_HARD_LINKS
-	if (xflags & XMIT_HLINKED
+	if (preserve_hard_links && xflags & XMIT_HLINKED
 #ifndef CAN_HARDLINK_SYMLINK
 	 && !S_ISLNK(mode)
 #endif