diff --git a/lib/guile-www/Makefile.am b/lib/guile-www/Makefile.am
index 3a3a764c37..2a1c382c10 100644
--- a/lib/guile-www/Makefile.am
+++ b/lib/guile-www/Makefile.am
@@ -23,7 +23,10 @@ if GNUCASH_SEPARATE_BUILDDIR
 	done
 endif
 	( cd www; for A in $(gncscm_DATA) ; do $(LN_S) -f ../$$A . ; done )
+if ! OS_WIN32
+# Windows knows no "ln -s" but uses "cp": must copy every time (see bug #566567).
 	touch .scm-links
+endif
 
 clean-local:
 	$(RM) -rf www
diff --git a/src/app-utils/Makefile.am b/src/app-utils/Makefile.am
index 83f31dcdfb..68146a36be 100644
--- a/src/app-utils/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/app-utils/Makefile.am
@@ -130,7 +130,10 @@ if GNUCASH_SEPARATE_BUILDDIR
 	done
 endif
 	( cd gnucash; for A in $(gncmod_DATA) ; do $(LN_S) -f ../$$A . ; done )
+if ! OS_WIN32
+# Windows knows no "ln -s" but uses "cp": must copy every time (see bug #566567).
 	touch .scm-links
+endif
 
 CLEANFILES = ${SCM_FILE_LINKS} gnucash .scm-links
 MAINTAINERCLEANFILES = swig-app-utils.c
diff --git a/src/business/business-core/Makefile.am b/src/business/business-core/Makefile.am
index ba175f4606..d5cd97bd9a 100644
--- a/src/business/business-core/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/business/business-core/Makefile.am
@@ -93,7 +93,10 @@ if GNUCASH_SEPARATE_BUILDDIR
 	done
 endif
 	( cd gnucash; for A in $(gncmod_DATA) ; do $(LN_S) -f ../$$A . ; done )
+if ! OS_WIN32
+# Windows knows no "ln -s" but uses "cp": must copy every time (see bug #566567).
 	touch .scm-links
+endif
 
 noinst_DATA = .scm-links
 CLEANFILES = gnucash .scm-links ${SCM_FILE_LINKS}
diff --git a/src/business/business-gnome/Makefile.am b/src/business/business-gnome/Makefile.am
index 74654f239a..0ad97ad42d 100644
--- a/src/business/business-gnome/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/business/business-gnome/Makefile.am
@@ -112,7 +112,10 @@ if GNUCASH_SEPARATE_BUILDDIR
 	done
 endif
 	( cd gnucash; for A in $(gncmod_DATA) ; do $(LN_S) -f ../$$A . ; done )
+if ! OS_WIN32
+# Windows knows no "ln -s" but uses "cp": must copy every time (see bug #566567).
 	touch .scm-links
+endif
 
 noinst_DATA = .scm-links
 CLEANFILES = $(BUILT_SOURCES) gnucash .scm-links ${SCM_FILE_LINKS}
diff --git a/src/business/business-reports/Makefile.am b/src/business/business-reports/Makefile.am
index 536ca89d03..2c6b3a6e10 100644
--- a/src/business/business-reports/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/business/business-reports/Makefile.am
@@ -24,7 +24,10 @@ if GNUCASH_SEPARATE_BUILDDIR
 	done
 endif
 	( cd gnucash/report; for A in $(gncscmmod_DATA) ; do $(LN_S) -f ../../$$A . ; done )
+if ! OS_WIN32
+# Windows knows no "ln -s" but uses "cp": must copy every time (see bug #566567).
 	touch .scm-links
+endif
 
 clean-local:
 	$(RM) -rf gnucash
diff --git a/src/business/business-utils/Makefile.am b/src/business/business-utils/Makefile.am
index ceb150b60a..4cd09cde7f 100644
--- a/src/business/business-utils/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/business/business-utils/Makefile.am
@@ -59,7 +59,10 @@ if GNUCASH_SEPARATE_BUILDDIR
 	done
 endif
 	( cd gnucash; for A in $(gncmod_DATA) ; do $(LN_S) -f ../$$A . ; done )
+if ! OS_WIN32
+# Windows knows no "ln -s" but uses "cp": must copy every time (see bug #566567).
 	touch .scm-links
+endif
 
 clean-local:
 	$(RM) -rf gnucash
diff --git a/src/business/dialog-tax-table/Makefile.am b/src/business/dialog-tax-table/Makefile.am
index 7f1ddfec37..5e473b01b2 100644
--- a/src/business/dialog-tax-table/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/business/dialog-tax-table/Makefile.am
@@ -71,7 +71,10 @@ if GNUCASH_SEPARATE_BUILDDIR
 	done
 endif
 	( cd gnucash; for A in $(gncmod_DATA) ; do $(LN_S) -f ../$$A . ; done )
+if ! OS_WIN32
+# Windows knows no "ln -s" but uses "cp": must copy every time (see bug #566567).
 	touch .scm-links
+endif
 
 noinst_DATA = .scm-links
 CLEANFILES = gnucash .scm-links ${SCM_FILE_LINKS}
diff --git a/src/core-utils/Makefile.am b/src/core-utils/Makefile.am
index bd439d70a5..01ad233005 100644
--- a/src/core-utils/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/core-utils/Makefile.am
@@ -55,7 +55,10 @@ if GNUCASH_SEPARATE_BUILDDIR
 	done
 endif
 	( cd gnucash; for A in $(gncmod_DATA) ; do $(LN_S) -f ../$$A . ; done )
+if ! OS_WIN32
+# Windows knows no "ln -s" but uses "cp": must copy every time (see bug #566567).
 	touch .scm-links
+endif
 
 noinst_DATA = .scm-links
 EXTRA_DIST = $(gncmod_DATA) core-utils.i
diff --git a/src/engine/Makefile.am b/src/engine/Makefile.am
index ca01c6f7be..4f034ffd75 100644
--- a/src/engine/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/engine/Makefile.am
@@ -159,7 +159,10 @@ if GNUCASH_SEPARATE_BUILDDIR
 	done
 endif
 	( cd gnucash; for A in $(gncmod_DATA) ; do $(LN_S) -f ../$$A . ; done )
+if ! OS_WIN32
+# Windows knows no "ln -s" but uses "cp": must copy every time (see bug #566567).
 	touch .scm-links
+endif
 
 noinst_DATA = .scm-links
 
diff --git a/src/gnc-module/Makefile.am b/src/gnc-module/Makefile.am
index 7452d668f2..ff2cd435c3 100644
--- a/src/gnc-module/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/gnc-module/Makefile.am
@@ -51,7 +51,10 @@ if GNUCASH_SEPARATE_BUILDDIR
 	done
 endif
 	( cd gnucash; for A in $(gncmod_DATA) ; do $(LN_S) -f ../$$A . ; done )
+if ! OS_WIN32
+# Windows knows no "ln -s" but uses "cp": must copy every time (see bug #566567).
 	touch .scm-links
+endif
 
 CLEANFILES = .scm-links gnucash ${SCM_FILE_LINKS}
 MAINTAINERCLEANFILES = swig-gnc-module.c
diff --git a/src/gnome-utils/Makefile.am b/src/gnome-utils/Makefile.am
index ccf5e9ae19..e6e14f7eef 100644
--- a/src/gnome-utils/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/gnome-utils/Makefile.am
@@ -292,7 +292,10 @@ if GNUCASH_SEPARATE_BUILDDIR
 	done
 endif
 	( cd gnucash; for A in $(gncmod_DATA) ; do $(LN_S) -f ../$$A . ; done )
+if ! OS_WIN32
+# Windows knows no "ln -s" but uses "cp": must copy every time (see bug #566567).
 	touch .scm-links
+endif
 
 noinst_DATA = .scm-links
 CLEANFILES = $(BUILT_SOURCES) gnucash .scm-links ${SCM_FILE_LINKS}
diff --git a/src/import-export/qif-import/Makefile.am b/src/import-export/qif-import/Makefile.am
index 3b506acbcc..7836543b58 100644
--- a/src/import-export/qif-import/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/import-export/qif-import/Makefile.am
@@ -99,7 +99,10 @@ if GNUCASH_SEPARATE_BUILDDIR
 endif
 	( cd gnucash/import-export; for A in $(gncscmmod_DATA) ; do $(LN_S) -f ../../$$A . ; done )
 	( cd qif-import; for A in $(gncscm_DATA) ; do $(LN_S) -f ../$$A . ; done )
+if ! OS_WIN32
+# Windows knows no "ln -s" but uses "cp": must copy every time (see bug #566567).
 	touch .scm-links
+endif
 
 clean-local:
 	$(RM) -rf gnucash qif-import
diff --git a/src/import-export/qif-io-core/Makefile.am b/src/import-export/qif-io-core/Makefile.am
index dee605045f..37660b1f4e 100644
--- a/src/import-export/qif-io-core/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/import-export/qif-io-core/Makefile.am
@@ -34,7 +34,10 @@ if GNUCASH_SEPARATE_BUILDDIR
 	done
 endif
 	( cd gnucash/import-export; for A in $(gncscmmod_DATA) ; do $(LN_S) -f ../../$$A . ; done )
+if ! OS_WIN32
+# Windows knows no "ln -s" but uses "cp": must copy every time (see bug #566567).
 	touch .scm-links
+endif
 
 gncscmmoddir = ${GNC_SHAREDIR}/guile-modules/gnucash/import-export/
 gncscmmod_DATA = qif-io-core.scm
diff --git a/src/report/locale-specific/us/Makefile.am b/src/report/locale-specific/us/Makefile.am
index ae078465f7..017fd2aab4 100644
--- a/src/report/locale-specific/us/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/report/locale-specific/us/Makefile.am
@@ -44,7 +44,10 @@ if GNUCASH_SEPARATE_BUILDDIR
 endif
 	( cd gnucash/report/locale-specific; for A in $(gncscmmod_DATA) ; do $(LN_S) -f ../../../$$A . ; done )
 	( cd gnucash/report; for A in $(gncscmothermod_DATA) ; do $(LN_S) -f ../../$$A . ; done )
+if ! OS_WIN32
+# Windows knows no "ln -s" but uses "cp": must copy every time (see bug #566567).
 	touch .scm-links
+endif
 
 clean-local:
 	$(RM) -rf gnucash
diff --git a/src/report/report-gnome/Makefile.am b/src/report/report-gnome/Makefile.am
index 33acdfe5de..037e489c58 100644
--- a/src/report/report-gnome/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/report/report-gnome/Makefile.am
@@ -90,7 +90,10 @@ if GNUCASH_SEPARATE_BUILDDIR
 	done
 endif
 	( cd gnucash/report; for A in $(gncmod_DATA) ; do $(LN_S) -f ../../$$A . ; done )
+if ! OS_WIN32
+# Windows knows no "ln -s" but uses "cp": must copy every time (see bug #566567).
 	touch .scm-links
+endif
 
 CLEANFILES = gnucash report .scm-links ${SCM_FILE_LINKS}
 MAINTAINERCLEANFILES = swig-report-gnome.c
diff --git a/src/report/report-system/Makefile.am b/src/report/report-system/Makefile.am
index 4d623b469b..3a43ea237a 100644
--- a/src/report/report-system/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/report/report-system/Makefile.am
@@ -72,7 +72,10 @@ if GNUCASH_SEPARATE_BUILDDIR
 	done
 endif
 	( cd gnucash/report; for A in $(gncscmmod_DATA) ; do $(LN_S) -f ../../$$A . ; done )
+if ! OS_WIN32
+# Windows knows no "ln -s" but uses "cp": must copy every time (see bug #566567).
 	touch .scm-links
+endif
 
 noinst_DATA = .scm-links
 
diff --git a/src/report/standard-reports/Makefile.am b/src/report/standard-reports/Makefile.am
index 0d6eb85880..fe120dda80 100644
--- a/src/report/standard-reports/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/report/standard-reports/Makefile.am
@@ -57,7 +57,10 @@ if GNUCASH_SEPARATE_BUILDDIR
 	done
 endif
 	( cd gnucash/report; for A in $(gncscmmod_DATA) ; do $(LN_S) -f ../../$$A . ; done )
+if ! OS_WIN32
+# Windows knows no "ln -s" but uses "cp": must copy every time (see bug #566567).
 	touch .scm-links
+endif
 
 clean-local:
 	$(RM) -rf gnucash
diff --git a/src/report/stylesheets/Makefile.am b/src/report/stylesheets/Makefile.am
index 0a162be5e8..d1d3bf245d 100644
--- a/src/report/stylesheets/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/report/stylesheets/Makefile.am
@@ -54,7 +54,10 @@ if GNUCASH_SEPARATE_BUILDDIR
 	done
 endif
 	( cd gnucash/report; for A in $(gncscmmod_DATA) ; do $(LN_S) -f ../../$$A . ; done )
+if ! OS_WIN32
+# Windows knows no "ln -s" but uses "cp": must copy every time (see bug #566567).
 	touch .scm-links
+endif
 
 clean-local:
 	$(RM) -rf gnucash
diff --git a/src/report/utility-reports/Makefile.am b/src/report/utility-reports/Makefile.am
index 750049ea6b..3e3519978d 100644
--- a/src/report/utility-reports/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/report/utility-reports/Makefile.am
@@ -41,7 +41,10 @@ if GNUCASH_SEPARATE_BUILDDIR
 	done
 endif
 	( cd gnucash/report; for A in $(gncscmmod_DATA) ; do $(LN_S) -f ../../$$A . ; done )
+if ! OS_WIN32
+# Windows knows no "ln -s" but uses "cp": must copy every time (see bug #566567).
 	touch .scm-links
+endif
 
 clean-local:
 	$(RM) -rf gnucash
diff --git a/src/scm/Makefile.am b/src/scm/Makefile.am
index 9661c991ea..83e072af7a 100644
--- a/src/scm/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/scm/Makefile.am
@@ -39,7 +39,10 @@ if GNUCASH_SEPARATE_BUILDDIR
 	done
 endif
 	( cd gnucash; for A in $(gncscmmod_DATA) ; do $(LN_S) -f ../$$A . ; done )
+if ! OS_WIN32
+# Windows knows no "ln -s" but uses "cp": must copy every time (see bug #566567).
 	touch .scm-links
+endif
 
 clean-local:
 	$(RM) -rf gnucash
diff --git a/src/scm/gnumeric/Makefile.am b/src/scm/gnumeric/Makefile.am
index 7ef9fc6c3d..60ebac4f4a 100644
--- a/src/scm/gnumeric/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/scm/gnumeric/Makefile.am
@@ -14,7 +14,10 @@ if GNUCASH_SEPARATE_BUILDDIR
 	  $(LN_S) -f ${srcdir}/$$X . ; \
 	done
 endif
+if ! OS_WIN32
+# Windows knows no "ln -s" but uses "cp": must copy every time (see bug #566567).
 	touch .scm-links
+endif
 
 noinst_DATA = .scm-links
 
diff --git a/src/tax/us/Makefile.am b/src/tax/us/Makefile.am
index 536925e1c1..c2a3209700 100644
--- a/src/tax/us/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/tax/us/Makefile.am
@@ -39,7 +39,10 @@ if GNUCASH_SEPARATE_BUILDDIR
 	done
 endif
 	( cd gnucash/tax; for A in $(gncscmmod_DATA) ; do $(LN_S) -f ../../$$A . ; done )
+if ! OS_WIN32
+# Windows knows no "ln -s" but uses "cp": must copy every time (see bug #566567).
 	touch .scm-links
+endif
 
 clean-local:
 	$(RM) -rf gnucash