diff --git a/phpseclib/Net/SFTP.php b/phpseclib/Net/SFTP.php
index eacfb674..4686bab2 100644
--- a/phpseclib/Net/SFTP.php
+++ b/phpseclib/Net/SFTP.php
@@ -913,10 +913,10 @@ class Net_SFTP extends Net_SSH2 {
         }
 
         $lstat = $this->_stat($filename, NET_SFTP_LSTAT);
-        $stat = $this->_stat($filename, NET_SFTP_STAT);
-        if ($stat === false) {
+        if ($lstat === false) {
             return false;
         }
+        $stat = $this->_stat($filename, NET_SFTP_STAT);
 
         if ($lstat != $stat) {
             return array_merge($lstat, array('type' => NET_SFTP_TYPE_SYMLINK));
@@ -2154,4 +2154,4 @@ class Net_SFTP extends Net_SSH2 {
         $this->pwd = false;
         parent::_disconnect($reason);
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}