diff --git a/proton b/proton
index cdb8f870..69fc41af 100755
--- a/proton
+++ b/proton
@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ def file_is_wine_builtin_dll(path):
 
 def makedirs(path):
     try:
+        #replace broken symlinks with a new directory
+        if os.path.islink(path) and not file_exists(path, follow_symlinks=True):
+            os.remove(path)
         os.makedirs(path)
     except OSError:
         #already exists
@@ -405,7 +408,7 @@ class CompatData:
             dirs = []
             for f in tracked_files:
                 path = self.prefix_dir + f.strip()
-                if file_exists(path, follow_symlinks=True):
+                if file_exists(path, follow_symlinks=False):
                     if os.path.isfile(path) or os.path.islink(path):
                         os.remove(path)
                     else:
@@ -570,8 +573,8 @@ class CompatData:
                 if len(rel_dir) > 0:
                     rel_dir = rel_dir + "/"
                 dst_dir = src_dir.replace(g_proton.default_pfx_dir, self.prefix_dir, 1)
-                if not file_exists(dst_dir, follow_symlinks=False):
-                    os.makedirs(dst_dir)
+                if not file_exists(dst_dir, follow_symlinks=True):
+                    makedirs(dst_dir)
                     tracked_files.write(rel_dir + "\n")
                 for dir_ in dirs:
                     src_file = os.path.join(src_dir, dir_)
@@ -602,8 +605,8 @@ class CompatData:
                 if len(rel_dir) > 0:
                     rel_dir = rel_dir + "/"
                 dst_dir = src_dir.replace(g_proton.default_pfx_dir, self.prefix_dir, 1)
-                if not file_exists(dst_dir, follow_symlinks=False):
-                    os.makedirs(dst_dir)
+                if not file_exists(dst_dir, follow_symlinks=True):
+                    makedirs(dst_dir)
                     tracked_files.write(rel_dir + "\n")
                 for file_ in files:
                     src_file = os.path.join(src_dir, file_)
@@ -883,13 +886,13 @@ class CompatData:
                 else:
                     nvapi64_dll = self.prefix_dir + "drive_c/windows/system32/nvapi64.dll"
                     nvapi32_dll = self.prefix_dir + "drive_c/windows/syswow64/nvapi.dll"
-                    if file_exists(nvapi64_dll, follow_symlinks=True):
+                    if file_exists(nvapi64_dll, follow_symlinks=False):
                         os.unlink(nvapi64_dll)
-                    if file_exists(nvapi64_dll + '.debug', follow_symlinks=True):
+                    if file_exists(nvapi64_dll + '.debug', follow_symlinks=False):
                         os.unlink(nvapi64_dll + '.debug')
-                    if file_exists(nvapi32_dll, follow_symlinks=True):
+                    if file_exists(nvapi32_dll, follow_symlinks=False):
                         os.unlink(nvapi32_dll)
-                    if file_exists(nvapi32_dll + '.debug', follow_symlinks=True):
+                    if file_exists(nvapi32_dll + '.debug', follow_symlinks=False):
                         os.unlink(nvapi32_dll + '.debug')
 
                 # Try to detect known DLLs that ship with the NVIDIA Linux Driver
@@ -1032,7 +1035,7 @@ class Session:
 
             lfile_path = basedir + "/steam-" + os.environ["SteamGameId"] + ".log"
 
-            if file_exists(lfile_path, follow_symlinks=True):
+            if file_exists(lfile_path, follow_symlinks=False):
                 os.remove(lfile_path)
 
         makedirs(basedir)