diff --git a/src/utils/raw.rs b/src/utils/raw.rs
index 1a3ba56238..fe263e1721 100644
--- a/src/utils/raw.rs
+++ b/src/utils/raw.rs
@@ -226,11 +226,6 @@ fn symlink_junction_inner(target: &Path, junction: &Path) -> io::Result<()> {
     }
 }
 
-pub(crate) fn hardlink(src: &Path, dest: &Path) -> io::Result<()> {
-    let _ = fs::remove_file(dest);
-    fs::hard_link(src, dest)
-}
-
 pub fn remove_dir(path: &Path) -> io::Result<()> {
     if fs::symlink_metadata(path)?.file_type().is_symlink() {
         #[cfg(windows)]
diff --git a/src/utils/utils.rs b/src/utils/utils.rs
index 8c85269e88..7344ea745f 100644
--- a/src/utils/utils.rs
+++ b/src/utils/utils.rs
@@ -312,7 +312,11 @@ where
     })
 }
 
+/// Attempts to symlink a file, falling back to hard linking if that fails.
+///
+/// If `dest` already exists then it will be replaced.
 pub(crate) fn symlink_or_hardlink_file(src: &Path, dest: &Path) -> Result<()> {
+    let _ = fs::remove_file(dest);
     // The error is only used by macos
     let Err(_err) = symlink_file(src, dest) else {
         return Ok(());
@@ -332,7 +336,7 @@ pub(crate) fn symlink_or_hardlink_file(src: &Path, dest: &Path) -> Result<()> {
 }
 
 pub fn hardlink_file(src: &Path, dest: &Path) -> Result<()> {
-    raw::hardlink(src, dest).with_context(|| RustupError::LinkingFile {
+    fs::hard_link(src, dest).with_context(|| RustupError::LinkingFile {
         src: PathBuf::from(src),
         dest: PathBuf::from(dest),
     })