diff --git a/contrib/babel/lisp/org-babel-tangle.el b/contrib/babel/lisp/org-babel-tangle.el
index cad8cec..dd76195 100644
--- a/contrib/babel/lisp/org-babel-tangle.el
+++ b/contrib/babel/lisp/org-babel-tangle.el
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ file using `load-file'."
   (flet ((age (file)
               (time-to-seconds
                (time-subtract (current-time)
-                              (sixth (file-attributes
-                                      (file-truename file)))))))
+                              (sixth (or (file-attributes (file-truename file))
+                                         (file-attributes file)))))))
     (let* ((base-name (file-name-sans-extension file))
            (exported-file (concat base-name ".el")))
       ;; tangle if the org-mode file is newer than the elisp file