diff --git a/src/shared/copy.c b/src/shared/copy.c
index f61b16caee..21add1d5c0 100644
--- a/src/shared/copy.c
+++ b/src/shared/copy.c
@@ -1645,7 +1645,11 @@ int copy_file_atomic_at_full(
         return 0;
 
 fail:
-        (void) unlinkat(dir_fdt, to, 0);
+        /* link_tmpfile_at() succeeded, so 'to' is now published. In replacement mode, do not
+         * remove it again, as that may delete a pre-existing target replaced by this copy. */
+        if (!FLAGS_SET(copy_flags, COPY_REPLACE))
+                (void) unlinkat(dir_fdt, to, 0);
+
         return r;
 }