diff --git a/admin/update_autogen b/admin/update_autogen
index 67ed5d66465..651d35beafb 100755
--- a/admin/update_autogen
+++ b/admin/update_autogen
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ cd $PD
 cd ../
 [ -d admin ] || die "Could not locate admin directory"
 
-[ -d .git ] || die "No .git directory"
+[ -e .git ] || die "No .git"
 
 usage ()
 {