diff --git a/guix/build/gnu-build-system.scm b/guix/build/gnu-build-system.scm
index 2abaa6e..299eb5d 100644
--- a/guix/build/gnu-build-system.scm
+++ b/guix/build/gnu-build-system.scm
@@ -172,9 +172,8 @@ files such as `.in' templates.  Most scripts honor $SHELL and
 $CONFIG_SHELL, but some don't, such as `mkinstalldirs' or Automake's
 `missing' script."
   (for-each patch-shebang
-            (remove (lambda (file)
-                      (or (not (file-exists? file)) ;dangling symlink
-                          (file-is-directory? file)))
+            (filter (lambda (file)
+                      (eq? 'regular (lstat file)))
                     (find-files "."))))
 
 (define (patch-generated-file-shebangs . rest)
@@ -303,7 +302,7 @@ makefiles."
   (define (list-of-files dir)
     (map (cut string-append dir "/" <>)
          (or (scandir dir (lambda (f)
-                            (let ((s (stat (string-append dir "/" f))))
+                            (let ((s (lstat (string-append dir "/" f))))
                               (eq? 'regular (stat:type s)))))
              '())))