diff --git a/source/dub/generators/build.d b/source/dub/generators/build.d
index 56a72a6..0ca456d 100644
--- a/source/dub/generators/build.d
+++ b/source/dub/generators/build.d
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@
 		logDiagnostic("Copying target from %s to %s", src.toNativeString(), buildsettings.targetPath);
 		if (!existsFile(Path(buildsettings.targetPath)))
 			mkdirRecurse(buildsettings.targetPath);
-		copyFile(src, Path(buildsettings.targetPath) ~ filename, true);
+		symlinkFile(src, Path(buildsettings.targetPath) ~ filename, true);
 	}
 
 	private bool isUpToDate(Path target_path, BuildSettings buildsettings, BuildPlatform platform, in Package main_pack, in Package[] packages, in Path[] additional_dep_files)
diff --git a/source/dub/internal/vibecompat/core/file.d b/source/dub/internal/vibecompat/core/file.d
index 5a806a3..e6849fe 100644
--- a/source/dub/internal/vibecompat/core/file.d
+++ b/source/dub/internal/vibecompat/core/file.d
@@ -134,6 +134,31 @@
 }
 
 /**
+	Creates a symlink.
+*/
+version (Windows)
+	alias symlinkFile = copyFile; // TODO: symlinks on Windows
+else version (Posix)
+{
+	void symlinkFile(Path from, Path to, bool overwrite = false)
+	{
+		if (existsFile(to)) {
+			enforce(overwrite, "Destination file already exists.");
+			// remove file before copy to allow "overwriting" files that are in
+			// use on Linux
+			removeFile(to);
+		}
+
+		.symlink(from.toNativeString(), to.toNativeString());
+	}
+}
+
+void symlinkFile(string from, string to)
+{
+	symlinkFile(Path(from), Path(to));
+}
+
+/**
 	Removes a file
 */
 void removeFile(Path path)
@@ -288,4 +313,3 @@
 	}
 	return ret;
 }
-