diff --git a/autogen.sh b/autogen.sh
index 7fd50e21d7..119e0ed542 100755
--- a/autogen.sh
+++ b/autogen.sh
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ fi
 # install pre-commit hook for doing clean commits
 if test ! \( -x .git/hooks/pre-commit -a -L .git/hooks/pre-commit \);
 then
-    cp common/hooks/pre-commit.hook .git/hooks/pre-commit
-    chmod +x .git/hooks/pre-commit
+    rm -f .git/hooks/pre-commit
+    ln -s ../../common/hooks/pre-commit.hook .git/hooks/pre-commit
 fi