diff --git a/edb/pgsql/compiler/relgen.py b/edb/pgsql/compiler/relgen.py
index fd0f3dda2ce..44ff4e2bd9d 100644
--- a/edb/pgsql/compiler/relgen.py
+++ b/edb/pgsql/compiler/relgen.py
@@ -870,6 +870,11 @@ def process_set_as_link_property_ref(
         if link_rvar is None:
             src_rvar = get_set_rvar(ir_source, ctx=newctx)
             assert link_prefix.rptr is not None
+
+            link_rvar = relctx.maybe_get_path_rvar(
+                newctx.rel, link_path_id, aspect='source', ctx=newctx
+            )
+        if link_rvar is None:
             link_rvar = relctx.new_pointer_rvar(
                 link_prefix.rptr, src_rvar=src_rvar,
                 link_bias=True, ctx=newctx)