diff --git a/behave/features/linkpac.feature b/behave/features/linkpac.feature
index 93339998..a4eec3f8 100644
--- a/behave/features/linkpac.feature
+++ b/behave/features/linkpac.feature
@@ -35,9 +35,18 @@ Scenario: Run `osc linkpac --disable-publish`
 
 
 @destructive
-Scenario: Run `osc linkpac on a locked package`
+Scenario: Run `osc linkpac` on a locked package
    Given I execute osc with args "lock test:factory/test-pkgA"
     When I execute osc with args "linkpac test:factory/test-pkgA home:Admin/test-pkgA"
     Then the exit code is 0
      And I execute osc with args "api /source/home:Admin/test-pkgA/_meta"
      And stdout doesn't contain "<lock>\s*<enable/>\s*</lock>"
+
+
+@destructive
+Scenario: Run `osc linkpac` with target project that has a project link
+   Given I execute osc with args "api -X PUT /source/home:Admin/_meta --data='<project name="home:Admin"><title/><description/><link project="test:factory"/></project>'"
+    When I execute osc with args "linkpac test:factory/test-pkgA home:Admin"
+    Then the exit code is 0
+     And I execute osc with args "api /source/home:Admin/test-pkgA/_link"
+     And stdout contains "<link project=\"test:factory\" package=\"test-pkgA\">"
diff --git a/osc/core.py b/osc/core.py
index 37709b57..feb7592d 100644
--- a/osc/core.py
+++ b/osc/core.py
@@ -3287,12 +3287,21 @@ def link_pac(
 
     apiurl = conf.config["apiurl"]
 
+    create_dst_package = False
     src_package_obj = obs_api.Package.from_api(apiurl, src_project, src_package)
     try:
         dst_package_obj = obs_api.Package.from_api(apiurl, dst_project, dst_package)
+        if dst_package_obj.project != dst_project:
+            # If the target package doesn't exist and the target project contains a project link,
+            # the package meta from the linked project is returned instead!
+            # We need to detect it and create the target package based on source package meta.
+            create_dst_package = True
     except HTTPError as e:
         if e.code != 404:
             raise
+        create_dst_package = True
+
+    if create_dst_package:
         if missing_target:
             # we start with empty values because we want has_changed() to return True
             dst_package_obj = obs_api.Package(project="", name="")