diff --git a/base/file.jl b/base/file.jl
index eb0217a819195c..9e91f433f2942d 100644
--- a/base/file.jl
+++ b/base/file.jl
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ function rm(path::AbstractString; force::Bool=false, recursive::Bool=false)
         try
             @static if Sys.iswindows()
                 # is writable on windows actually means "is deletable"
-                if (filemode(path) & 0o222) == 0
+                if (filemode(lstat(path)) & 0o222) == 0
                     chmod(path, 0o777)
                 end
             end