diff --git a/src/uu/ln/src/ln.rs b/src/uu/ln/src/ln.rs
index 8b76aa73c..e53af03a2 100644
--- a/src/uu/ln/src/ln.rs
+++ b/src/uu/ln/src/ln.rs
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ use uucore::fs::{make_path_relative_to, paths_refer_to_same_file};
 use uucore::{format_usage, help_about, help_section, help_usage, prompt_yes, show_error};
 
 use std::borrow::Cow;
+use std::collections::HashSet;
 use std::error::Error;
 use std::ffi::OsString;
 use std::fmt::Display;
@@ -295,6 +296,8 @@ fn link_files_in_dir(files: &[PathBuf], target_dir: &Path, settings: &Settings)
     if !target_dir.is_dir() {
         return Err(LnError::TargetIsDirectory(target_dir.to_owned()).into());
     }
+    // remember the linked destinations for further usage
+    let mut linked_destinations: HashSet<PathBuf> = HashSet::with_capacity(files.len());
 
     let mut all_successful = true;
     for srcpath in files {
@@ -338,10 +341,20 @@ fn link_files_in_dir(files: &[PathBuf], target_dir: &Path, settings: &Settings)
                 }
             };
 
-        if let Err(e) = link(srcpath, &targetpath, settings) {
+        if linked_destinations.contains(&targetpath) {
+            // If the target file was already created in this linked call, do not overwrite
+            show_error!(
+                "will not overwrite just-created '{}' with '{}'",
+                targetpath.display(),
+                srcpath.display()
+            );
+            all_successful = false;
+        } else if let Err(e) = link(srcpath, &targetpath, settings) {
             show_error!("{}", e);
             all_successful = false;
         }
+
+        linked_destinations.insert(targetpath.clone());
     }
     if all_successful {
         Ok(())
diff --git a/tests/by-util/test_ln.rs b/tests/by-util/test_ln.rs
index dc31f7261..b6453bf43 100644
--- a/tests/by-util/test_ln.rs
+++ b/tests/by-util/test_ln.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 // For the full copyright and license information, please view the LICENSE
 // file that was distributed with this source code.
 use crate::common::util::TestScenario;
+#[cfg(unix)]
+use std::os::unix::fs::MetadataExt;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 
 #[test]
@@ -719,3 +721,44 @@ fn test_symlink_remove_existing_same_src_and_dest() {
     assert!(at.file_exists("a") && !at.symlink_exists("a"));
     assert_eq!(at.read("a"), "sample");
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn test_ln_seen_file() {
+    let ts = TestScenario::new(util_name!());
+    let at = &ts.fixtures;
+
+    at.mkdir("a");
+    at.mkdir("b");
+    at.mkdir("c");
+    at.write("a/f", "a");
+    at.write("b/f", "b");
+
+    ts.ucmd()
+        .arg("a/f")
+        .arg("b/f")
+        .arg("c")
+        .fails()
+        .stderr_contains("will not overwrite just-created 'c/f' with 'b/f'");
+
+    assert!(at.plus("c").join("f").exists());
+    // b/f still exists
+    assert!(at.plus("b").join("f").exists());
+    // a/f no longer exists
+    assert!(at.plus("a").join("f").exists());
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    {
+        // Check inode numbers
+        let inode_a_f = at.plus("a").join("f").metadata().unwrap().ino();
+        let inode_b_f = at.plus("b").join("f").metadata().unwrap().ino();
+        let inode_c_f = at.plus("c").join("f").metadata().unwrap().ino();
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            inode_a_f, inode_c_f,
+            "Inode numbers of a/f and c/f should be equal"
+        );
+        assert_ne!(
+            inode_b_f, inode_c_f,
+            "Inode numbers of b/f and c/f should not be equal"
+        );
+    }
+}