diff --git a/src/libstore/local-store.cc b/src/libstore/local-store.cc
index 339d3c926..63108fab4 100644
--- a/src/libstore/local-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/local-store.cc
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ LocalStore::LocalStore(std::string_view scheme, PathView path, const Params & pa
     Path gcRootsDir = stateDir + "/gcroots";
     if (!pathExists(gcRootsDir)) {
         createDirs(gcRootsDir);
-        createSymlink(profilesDir, gcRootsDir + "/profiles");
+        replaceSymlink(profilesDir, gcRootsDir + "/profiles");
     }
 
     for (auto & perUserDir : {profilesDir + "/per-user", gcRootsDir + "/per-user"}) {