diff --git a/pre_commit/git.py b/pre_commit/git.py
index 17b7af13..796a0b8a 100644
--- a/pre_commit/git.py
+++ b/pre_commit/git.py
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ def get_files_matching(all_file_list_strategy):
             if (
                 include_regex.search(filename) and
                 not exclude_regex.search(filename) and
-                os.path.exists(filename)
+                os.path.lexists(filename)
             )
         )
     return wrapper
diff --git a/testing/test_symlink b/testing/test_symlink
new file mode 120000
index 00000000..ee1f6cb7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing/test_symlink
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+does_not_exist
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/git_test.py b/tests/git_test.py
index 084c15b2..c4e01450 100644
--- a/tests/git_test.py
+++ b/tests/git_test.py
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ def get_files_matching_func():
             'pre_commit/main.py',
             'pre_commit/git.py',
             'im_a_file_that_doesnt_exist.py',
+            'testing/test_symlink',
             'hooks.yaml',
         )
 
@@ -73,6 +74,7 @@ def test_get_files_matching_base(get_files_matching_func):
         'pre_commit/main.py',
         'pre_commit/git.py',
         'hooks.yaml',
+        'testing/test_symlink'
     ])
 
 
@@ -96,7 +98,7 @@ def test_does_not_include_deleted_fileS(get_files_matching_func):
 
 def test_exclude_removes_files(get_files_matching_func):
     ret = get_files_matching_func('', '\\.py$')
-    assert ret == set(['hooks.yaml'])
+    assert ret == set(['hooks.yaml', 'testing/test_symlink'])
 
 
 def resolve_conflict():