diff --git a/os/utils.c b/os/utils.c
index fc72787ef..fad72b412 100644
--- a/os/utils.c
+++ b/os/utils.c
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ LockServer(void)
       /*
        * Read the pid from the existing file
        */
-      lfd = open(LockFile, O_RDONLY);
+      lfd = open(LockFile, O_RDONLY|O_NOFOLLOW);
       if (lfd < 0) {
         unlink(tmp);
         FatalError("Can't read lock file %s\n", LockFile);