diff --git a/Command/Migrate.hs b/Command/Migrate.hs
index 56147113b9..38dfd06b23 100644
--- a/Command/Migrate.hs
+++ b/Command/Migrate.hs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 module Command.Migrate where
 
 import Control.Monad.State (liftIO)
+import Control.Monad (unless)
 import System.Posix.Files
 import System.Directory
 
@@ -58,7 +59,8 @@ perform file oldkey newbackend = do
 			ok <- getViaTmpUnchecked newkey $ \t -> do
 				-- Make a hard link to the old backend's
 				-- cached key, to avoid wasting disk space.
-				liftIO $ createLink src t
+				exists <- liftIO $ doesFileExist t
+				unless exists $ liftIO $ createLink src t
 				return True
 			if ok
 				then do
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index f124296cc8..9a3ffbafaf 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ git-annex (0.20110321) UNRELEASED; urgency=low
   * unused: In fast mode, just show all existing temp files as unused,
     and avoid expensive scan for other unused content.
   * Fix space leak in fsck and drop commands.
+  * migrate: Bugfix for case when migrating a file results in a key that
+    is already present in .git/annex/objects.
 
  -- Joey Hess <joeyh@debian.org>  Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:52:00 -0400