Fatal error writing file of mode 120000 when rebasing

Hi,

I'm trying to migrate a git repository to svn (reasons for which are not relevant to the problem at hand) using the instructions I've seen posted in various places but specifically here: http://code.google.com/p/support/wiki/ImportingFromGit

All is well until the step 3 where I am directed to perform "git rebase master tmp". The first few patches seem to be applied ok but it fails with the following error:

fatal: unable to write file foo/bar/baz mode 120000 Patch failed at 0003 remove some files

What appears to be happening in this patch is that a directory is deleted and then a symlink was put in its place. In the reapply patch it seems that the symlink creation is first and the deletions come afterwards so I am guessing the fatal error refers to attempting and failing to create this symlink with the original directory still in place.

I can't seem to find any other mentions of this problem occurring for others on the interwebs, perhaps someone on this list can shed some light on why this could be happening (and a possible solution which isn't too painful).