diff --git a/python/samba/ntacls.py b/python/samba/ntacls.py
index d2fe6ed..a3f833b 100644
--- a/python/samba/ntacls.py
+++ b/python/samba/ntacls.py
@@ -579,6 +579,10 @@ def backup_offline(src_service_path, dest_tarfile_path, smb_conf_path, dom_sid):

         for filename in filenames:
             src = os.path.join(dirpath, filename)
             dst = os.path.join(dst_dirpath, filename)
+            if os.path.islink(src):
+                linkto = os.readlink(src)
+                os.symlink(linkto, dst)
+                continue
             # create an empty file with metadata
             smbd.create_file(dst, session_info, service)
             ntacl_sddl_str = ntacls_helper.getntacl(src, session_info, as_sddl=True)