diff --git a/.hgignore b/.hgignore
index 93349ece..e55fa075 100644
--- a/.hgignore
+++ b/.hgignore
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ syntax: glob
 */bak/*
 downloads/*
 
+*.py[co]
+
 ## Editor backup and swap files
 *~
 .#*
diff --git a/common/contrib/fix_symlinks.py b/common/contrib/fix_symlinks.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6f4bdf28
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/contrib/fix_symlinks.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+from mercurial import util
+import os
+
+def fix_symlinks(repo, hooktype, parent1, **kwargs):
+    revert = hooktype in ('precommit', 'preupdate')
+    ctxt = repo[parent1]
+    for filename in ctxt:
+        file = ctxt[filename]
+        if 'l' in file.flags():
+            path = repo.wjoin(file.path())
+            try:
+                os.unlink(path)
+            except Exception, e:
+                print repr(e)
+            if revert:
+                repo.wwrite(file.path(), file.data(), '')
+            else:
+                target = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(path), file.data())
+                util.copyfiles(target, path, True)
+