diff --git a/crates/uv/src/commands/python/install.rs b/crates/uv/src/commands/python/install.rs
index 23ab9fd46..d33c4eaa3 100644
--- a/crates/uv/src/commands/python/install.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/src/commands/python/install.rs
@@ -362,28 +362,36 @@ pub(crate) async fn install(
                         target.simplified_display()
                     );
 
-                    // Check if the existing link is valid
-                    let valid_link = target
-                        .read_link()
-                        .and_then(|target| target.try_exists())
-                        .inspect_err(|err| debug!("Failed to inspect executable with error: {err}"))
-                        .unwrap_or(true);
-
                     // Figure out what installation it references, if any
-                    let existing = valid_link
-                        .then(|| {
-                            find_matching_bin_link(
-                                installations
-                                    .iter()
-                                    .copied()
-                                    .chain(existing_installations.iter()),
-                                &target,
-                            )
-                        })
-                        .flatten();
+                    let existing = find_matching_bin_link(
+                        installations
+                            .iter()
+                            .copied()
+                            .chain(existing_installations.iter()),
+                        &target,
+                    );
 
                     match existing {
                         None => {
+                            // Determine if the link is valid, i.e., if it points to an existing
+                            // Python we don't manage.
+                            let valid_link = cfg!(unix)
+                                .then(|| {
+                                    target
+                                        .read_link()
+                                        .and_then(|target| target.try_exists())
+                                        .inspect_err(|err| {
+                                            debug!(
+                                                "Failed to inspect executable with error: {err}"
+                                            );
+                                        })
+                                        // If we can't verify the link, assume it is valid.
+                                        .unwrap_or(true)
+                                })
+                                // On Windows, we just assume it is valid because symlinks are not
+                                // common.
+                                .unwrap_or(true);
+
                             // There's an existing executable we don't manage, require `--force`
                             if valid_link {
                                 if !force {