diff --git a/swh/loader/svn/replay.py b/swh/loader/svn/replay.py
--- a/swh/loader/svn/replay.py
+++ b/swh/loader/svn/replay.py
@@ -743,7 +743,11 @@
                 # copy_tree needs sub-directories to exist in destination
                 for root, dirs, files in os.walk(temp_path):
                     for dir in dirs:
-                        subdir = os.path.join(root, dir).replace(temp_path + b"/", b"")
+                        temp_dir_fullpath = os.path.join(root, dir)
+                        if os.path.islink(temp_dir_fullpath):
+                            # do not create folder if it's a link or copy_tree will fail
+                            continue
+                        subdir = temp_dir_fullpath.replace(temp_path + b"/", b"")
                         self.add_directory(
                             os.fsdecode(os.path.join(dest_fullpath, subdir))
                         )
diff --git a/swh/loader/svn/tests/test_externals.py b/swh/loader/svn/tests/test_externals.py
--- a/swh/loader/svn/tests/test_externals.py
+++ b/swh/loader/svn/tests/test_externals.py
@@ -1270,3 +1270,60 @@
         loader.storage, repo_url, status="full", type="svn",
     )
     check_snapshot(loader.snapshot, loader.storage)
+
+
+def test_loader_directory_symlink_in_external(
+    swh_storage, repo_url, external_repo_url, tmp_path
+):
+    # first commit on external
+    add_commit(
+        external_repo_url,
+        "Create dirs in an external repository",
+        [
+            CommitChange(change_type=CommitChangeType.AddOrUpdate, path="src/apps/",),
+            CommitChange(change_type=CommitChangeType.AddOrUpdate, path="src/deps/",),
+        ],
+    )
+
+    # second commit on external
+    add_commit(
+        external_repo_url,
+        "Add symlink to src/deps in src/apps directory",
+        [
+            CommitChange(
+                change_type=CommitChangeType.AddOrUpdate,
+                path="src/apps/deps",
+                data=b"link ../deps",
+                properties={"svn:special": "*"},
+            ),
+        ],
+    )
+
+    # first commit
+    add_commit(
+        repo_url,
+        "Add deps dir",
+        [CommitChange(change_type=CommitChangeType.AddOrUpdate, path="deps/")],
+    )
+
+    # second commit
+    add_commit(
+        repo_url,
+        "Set external to deps folder",
+        [
+            CommitChange(
+                change_type=CommitChangeType.AddOrUpdate,
+                path="deps/",
+                properties={"svn:externals": (f"{external_repo_url} external")},
+            ),
+        ],
+    )
+
+    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",
+    )
+    check_snapshot(loader.snapshot, loader.storage)