diff --git a/swh/loader/svn/ra.py b/swh/loader/svn/ra.py
--- a/swh/loader/svn/ra.py
+++ b/swh/loader/svn/ra.py
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@
         elif key == properties.PROP_SPECIAL:
             # Possibly a symbolic link. We cannot check further at
             # that moment though, patch(s) not being applied yet
-            self.link = True
+            self.link = value is not None
         elif key == SVN_PROPERTY_EOL:
             # backup end of line style for file
             EOL_STYLE[self.fullpath] = value
@@ -227,6 +227,8 @@
                 self.__make_symlink(src)
             else:  # not a real link...
                 self.link = False
+        elif os.path.islink(self.fullpath):
+            self.__make_svnlink()
 
         if not is_link:  # if a link, do nothing regarding flag
             if self.executable == EXEC_FLAG:
diff --git a/swh/loader/svn/tests/test_loader.py b/swh/loader/svn/tests/test_loader.py
--- a/swh/loader/svn/tests/test_loader.py
+++ b/swh/loader/svn/tests/test_loader.py
@@ -932,3 +932,86 @@
         )
         == b"../file_with_crlf_eol.txt"
     )
+
+
+def test_loader_svn_special_property_unset(swh_storage, tmp_path):
+    # create a repository
+    repo_path = os.path.join(tmp_path, "tmprepo")
+    repos.create(repo_path)
+
+    # connect to the "remote" repository using the file transport.
+    repo_url = f"file://{repo_path}"
+    conn = RemoteAccess(repo_url, auth=Auth([get_username_provider()]))
+
+    # first commit
+    with conn.get_commit_editor(
+        {
+            "svn:log": (
+                "Create a regular file, a link to a file and a link to an "
+                "external file. Set the svn:special property on the links."
+            )
+        }
+    ) as editor:
+        with editor.open_root() as root:
+            with root.add_file("file.txt") as file:
+                txdelta = file.apply_textdelta()
+                delta.send_stream(BytesIO(b"Hello world!\n"), txdelta)
+            with root.add_file("link.txt") as file:
+                file.change_prop("svn:special", "*")
+                txdelta = file.apply_textdelta()
+                delta.send_stream(BytesIO(b"link ./file.txt"), txdelta)
+            with root.add_file("external_link.txt") as file:
+                file.change_prop("svn:special", "*")
+                txdelta = file.apply_textdelta()
+                delta.send_stream(BytesIO(b"link /home/user/data.txt"), txdelta)
+
+    # second commit
+    with conn.get_commit_editor(
+        {"svn:log": ("Unset the svn:special property on the links.")}
+    ) as editor:
+        with editor.open_root() as root:
+            with root.open_file("link.txt") as file:
+                file.change_prop("svn:special", None)
+            with root.open_file("external_link.txt") as file:
+                file.change_prop("svn:special", None)
+
+    # instantiate a svn loader checking after each processed revision that
+    # the repository filesystem it reconstructed does not differ from a subversion
+    # export of that revision
+    loader = SvnLoader(
+        swh_storage, repo_url, destination_path=tmp_path, check_revision=1
+    )
+
+    assert loader.load() == {"status": "eventful"}
+    assert loader.visit_status() == "full"
+
+    # check loaded objects are those expected
+    assert get_stats(loader.storage) == {
+        "content": 5,
+        "directory": 2,
+        "origin": 1,
+        "origin_visit": 1,
+        "release": 0,
+        "revision": 2,
+        "skipped_content": 0,
+        "snapshot": 1,
+    }
+
+    root_dir = loader.snapshot.branches[b"HEAD"].target
+    revision = loader.storage.revision_get([root_dir])[0]
+
+    paths = {}
+    for entry in loader.storage.directory_ls(revision.directory, recursive=True):
+        paths[entry["name"]] = entry
+
+    assert paths[b"link.txt"]["perms"] == DentryPerms.content
+    assert (
+        loader.storage.content_get_data(paths[b"link.txt"]["sha1"])
+        == b"link ./file.txt"
+    )
+
+    assert paths[b"external_link.txt"]["perms"] == DentryPerms.content
+    assert (
+        loader.storage.content_get_data(paths[b"external_link.txt"]["sha1"])
+        == b"link /home/user/data.txt"
+    )