diff --git a/gix-index/src/entry/mode.rs b/gix-index/src/entry/mode.rs
index 6221287824f..63e08decd92 100644
--- a/gix-index/src/entry/mode.rs
+++ b/gix-index/src/entry/mode.rs
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@ impl Mode {
             Mode::COMMIT
         } else if executable_bit && stat.is_executable() {
             Mode::FILE_EXECUTABLE
+        } else if has_symlinks && stat.is_symlink() {
+            Mode::SYMLINK
         } else {
             Mode::FILE
         };
diff --git a/gix-status/tests/status/index_as_worktree.rs b/gix-status/tests/status/index_as_worktree.rs
index ff5e7ee5668..4537fc3c7ae 100644
--- a/gix-status/tests/status/index_as_worktree.rs
+++ b/gix-status/tests/status/index_as_worktree.rs
@@ -620,7 +620,7 @@ fn refresh() {
                     BStr::new(b"empty"),
                     3,
                     Change::Type {
-                        worktree_mode: entry::Mode::FILE
+                        worktree_mode: entry::Mode::SYMLINK
                     }
                     .into()
                 ),
@@ -651,7 +651,7 @@ fn refresh() {
                     BStr::new("empty"),
                     3,
                     Change::Type {
-                        worktree_mode: entry::Mode::FILE
+                        worktree_mode: entry::Mode::SYMLINK
                     }
                     .into()
                 ),
@@ -707,7 +707,7 @@ fn modified() {
                 BStr::new(b"empty"),
                 3,
                 Change::Type {
-                    worktree_mode: entry::Mode::FILE,
+                    worktree_mode: entry::Mode::SYMLINK,
                 }
                 .into(),
             ),
@@ -738,7 +738,7 @@ fn modified() {
                 BStr::new("empty"),
                 3,
                 Change::Type {
-                    worktree_mode: entry::Mode::FILE,
+                    worktree_mode: entry::Mode::SYMLINK,
                 }
                 .into(),
             ),