diff --git a/factory-package-news/announcer.py b/factory-package-news/announcer.py
index 74a90e1f..58bf3ea5 100755
--- a/factory-package-news/announcer.py
+++ b/factory-package-news/announcer.py
@@ -50,9 +50,10 @@ if m is None:
 
 version = m.group(1)
 
-prev = os.readlink(current_fn)
-if prev == version:
-    sys.exit(0)
+if os.path.lexists(current_fn):
+    prev = os.readlink(current_fn)
+    if prev == version:
+        sys.exit(0)
 
 u = urlparse(url+changes%version)
 conn = httplib.HTTPConnection(u.hostname, 80)