diff --git a/weed/filer/filer_delete_entry.go b/weed/filer/filer_delete_entry.go
index cfe07ec5a..8b90f8c00 100644
--- a/weed/filer/filer_delete_entry.go
+++ b/weed/filer/filer_delete_entry.go
@@ -53,7 +53,11 @@ func (f *Filer) DeleteEntryMetaAndData(ctx context.Context, p util.FullPath, isR
 	}
 
 	if shouldDeleteChunks && !isDeleteCollection {
-		f.DeleteChunks(ctx, p, entry.GetChunks())
+		if len(entry.HardLinkId) != 0 && entry.HardLinkCounter > 1 {
+			// if the file is a hard link and there are other hard links, do not delete the chunks
+		} else {
+			f.DeleteChunks(ctx, p, entry.GetChunks())
+		}
 	}
 
 	if isDeleteCollection {
diff --git a/weed/mount/weedfs_file_mkrm.go b/weed/mount/weedfs_file_mkrm.go
index 5734e9df8..4fcaea4fa 100644
--- a/weed/mount/weedfs_file_mkrm.go
+++ b/weed/mount/weedfs_file_mkrm.go
@@ -140,8 +140,9 @@ func (wfs *WFS) Unlink(cancel <-chan struct{}, header *fuse.InHeader, name strin
 
 	// first, ensure the filer store can correctly delete
 	glog.V(3).Infof("remove file: %v", entryFullPath)
-	isDeleteData := entry != nil && entry.HardLinkCounter <= 1
-	err := filer_pb.Remove(context.Background(), wfs, string(dirFullPath), name, isDeleteData, false, false, false, []int32{wfs.signature})
+	// Always let the filer decide whether to delete chunks based on its authoritative data.
+	// The filer has the correct hard link count and will only delete chunks when appropriate.
+	err := filer_pb.Remove(context.Background(), wfs, string(dirFullPath), name, true, false, false, false, []int32{wfs.signature})
 	if err != nil {
 		glog.V(0).Infof("remove %s: %v", entryFullPath, err)
 		return fuse.OK