diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/fetch2/git.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/fetch2/git.py
index 052802e602..6175e4c7c9 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/fetch2/git.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/fetch2/git.py
@@ -217,6 +217,10 @@ class Git(FetchMethod):
     def build_mirror_data(self, url, ud, d):
         # Generate a mirror tarball if needed
         if ud.write_tarballs and (ud.repochanged or not os.path.exists(ud.fullmirror)):
+            # it's possible that this symlink points to read-only filesystem with PREMIRROR
+            if os.path.islink(ud.fullmirror):
+                os.unlink(ud.fullmirror)
+
             os.chdir(ud.clonedir)
             logger.info("Creating tarball of git repository")
             runfetchcmd("tar -czf %s %s" % (ud.fullmirror, os.path.join(".") ), d)