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
@@ -136,6 +136,9 @@
     svn_special_path_non_link_data: Optional[bytes] = None
     """keep track of non link file content with svn:special property set"""
 
+    executable: int = DEFAULT_FLAG
+    """keep track if file is executable when setting svn:executable property"""
+
 
 class FileEditor:
     """File Editor in charge of updating file on disk and memory objects.
@@ -155,7 +158,6 @@
         self.directory = directory
         self.path = path
         # default value: 0, 1: set the flag, 2: remove the exec flag
-        self.executable = DEFAULT_FLAG
         self.link = None
         self.fullpath = os.path.join(rootpath, path)
         self.state = state
@@ -163,9 +165,9 @@
     def change_prop(self, key, value):
         if key == properties.PROP_EXECUTABLE:
             if value is None:  # bit flip off
-                self.executable = NOEXEC_FLAG
+                self.state.executable = NOEXEC_FLAG
             else:
-                self.executable = EXEC_FLAG
+                self.state.executable = EXEC_FLAG
         elif key == properties.PROP_SPECIAL:
             # Possibly a symbolic link. We cannot check further at
             # that moment though, patch(s) not being applied yet
@@ -272,9 +274,9 @@
                 self.state.svn_special_path_non_link_data = None
 
         if not is_link:  # if a link, do nothing regarding flag
-            if self.executable == EXEC_FLAG:
+            if self.state.executable == EXEC_FLAG:
                 os.chmod(self.fullpath, 0o755)
-            elif self.executable == NOEXEC_FLAG:
+            elif self.state.executable == NOEXEC_FLAG:
                 os.chmod(self.fullpath, 0o644)
 
         # And now compute file's checksums
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
@@ -1619,3 +1619,62 @@
 
     # check work directory was empty before replaying revisions
     assert loader.svnrepo.replay_dir_content_before_start == []
+
+
+def test_loader_svn_executable_property_on_svn_link_handling(swh_storage, tmp_path):
+    # create a repository
+    repo_path = os.path.join(tmp_path, "tmprepo")
+    repos.create(repo_path)
+    repo_url = f"file://{repo_path}"
+
+    # first commit
+    add_commit(
+        repo_url,
+        (
+            "Add an executable file and a svn link to it."
+            "Set svn:executable property for both paths."
+        ),
+        [
+            CommitChange(
+                change_type=CommitChangeType.AddOrUpdate,
+                path="hello-world",
+                properties={"svn:executable": "*"},
+                data=b"#!/bin/bash\necho Hello World !",
+            ),
+            CommitChange(
+                change_type=CommitChangeType.AddOrUpdate,
+                path="hello",
+                properties={"svn:executable": "*", "svn:special": "*"},
+                data=b"link hello-world",
+            ),
+        ],
+    )
+
+    # second commit
+    add_commit(
+        repo_url,
+        (
+            "Remove executable file, unset link and replace it with executable content."
+            "As the link was previously marked as executable, execution rights should"
+            "be set after turning it to a regular file."
+        ),
+        [
+            CommitChange(change_type=CommitChangeType.Delete, path="hello-world"),
+            CommitChange(
+                change_type=CommitChangeType.AddOrUpdate,
+                path="hello",
+                properties={"svn:special": None},
+                data=b"#!/bin/bash\necho Hello World !",
+            ),
+        ],
+    )
+
+    # 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, temp_directory=tmp_path, check_revision=1)
+
+    assert loader.load() == {"status": "eventful"}
+    assert_last_visit_matches(
+        loader.storage, repo_url, status="full", type="svn",
+    )