diff --git a/sisyphus/job.py b/sisyphus/job.py
index bfb4b6a..1d75d6d 100644
--- a/sisyphus/job.py
+++ b/sisyphus/job.py
@@ -497,6 +497,9 @@ def _sis_cleanable(self):
         elif self._sis_cleanable_cache:
             return True
         else:
+            if os.path.islink(self._sis_path()):
+                self._sis_cleaned_or_not_cleanable = True
+                return False
             cleanable = not os.path.isfile(self._sis_path(gs.JOB_FINISHED_ARCHIVE)) and self._sis_finished()
             if cleanable:
                 self._sis_cleanable_cache = True