diff --git a/src/commands/link.rs b/src/commands/link.rs
index 2e20f49..a20a518 100644
--- a/src/commands/link.rs
+++ b/src/commands/link.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 
 use anyhow::{Context, Result, anyhow, bail};
 
-use self::store::{Leads, Repo, ignored, leads, resolve, symlink_metadata_opt, tracked};
+use self::store::{Leads, Repo, held, ignored, leads, resolve, symlink_metadata_opt, tracked};
 use crate::cli::link as cli;
 use crate::ctx::Ctx;
 use crate::fsops::suffixed;
@@ -104,7 +104,6 @@ pub fn restore(ctx: &Ctx, args: &cli::Restore) -> Result<()> {
 fn restore_one(ctx: &Ctx, repo: &Repo, path: &Path, report: &Report) -> Result<()> {
     let src = resolve(path)?;
     let rel = repo.relative(&src)?;
-    let stored = repo.store.join(&rel);
 
     let Some(meta) = symlink_metadata_opt(&src)? else {
         bail!("{} does not exist", rel.display());
@@ -116,14 +115,16 @@ fn restore_one(ctx: &Ctx, repo: &Repo, path: &Path, report: &Report) -> Result<(
         );
     }
 
+    // followed to wherever under the base it points, so a checkout that moved
+    // or a store laid out by an older ahab can still take its files back
     let dest = read_link(&src)?;
-    if dest != stored {
+    let Some(stored) = held(repo, &src, &dest) else {
         bail!(
-            "{} points at {}, which is not where the store keeps it",
+            "{} points at {}, which is not in the store",
             rel.display(),
             dest.display()
         );
-    }
+    };
     if symlink_metadata_opt(&stored)?.is_none() {
         bail!("{} is missing from the store", rel.display());
     }
diff --git a/src/commands/link/check.rs b/src/commands/link/check.rs
index b0f36f9..2e8b58f 100644
--- a/src/commands/link/check.rs
+++ b/src/commands/link/check.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 
 use anyhow::{Result, anyhow};
 
-use super::store::{Leads, Repo, leads, resolve, symlink_metadata_opt};
+use super::store::{Leads, Repo, held, leads, resolve, symlink_metadata_opt};
 use crate::cli::link as cli;
 use crate::cmd::{Cmd, LsFiles};
 use crate::ctx::Ctx;
@@ -179,10 +179,10 @@ fn classify(repo: &Repo, rel: &Path, mark: char) -> Result<Option<Exposed>> {
     }
 
     let dest = read_link(&src)?;
-    if dest == repo.store.join(rel) {
+    if held(repo, &src, &dest).is_some() {
         // it names the store, but what the store holds there can be a symlink of
         // its own leading straight back out, which is not being held at all
-        return Ok(match leads(&src, &repo.store) {
+        return Ok(match leads(&src, &repo.base) {
             Leads::Inside | Leads::Dangling => None,
             Leads::Outside(end) => Some(Exposed {
                 mark,
diff --git a/src/commands/link/store.rs b/src/commands/link/store.rs
index 6cbf78a..ff6007e 100644
--- a/src/commands/link/store.rs
+++ b/src/commands/link/store.rs
@@ -289,6 +289,19 @@ pub(super) fn symlink_metadata_opt(path: &Path) -> Result<Option<std::fs::Metada
     }
 }
 
+// where a link into the store points, if it is one: absolute, under the base.
+// the directory need not be this checkout's own, since a moved checkout or an
+// older layout still holds the file
+pub(super) fn held(repo: &Repo, link: &Path, dest: &Path) -> Option<PathBuf> {
+    let dest = match dest.is_absolute() {
+        true => dest.to_path_buf(),
+        false => link.parent()?.join(dest),
+    };
+    let dest = normalized(dest).ok()?;
+
+    dest.starts_with(&repo.base).then_some(dest)
+}
+
 // where a chain of symlinks actually ends up
 pub(super) enum Leads {
     // somewhere under the directory it was supposed to stay in
diff --git a/tests/link_store.rs b/tests/link_store.rs
index 50e5c6a..960daf7 100644
--- a/tests/link_store.rs
+++ b/tests/link_store.rs
@@ -282,3 +282,27 @@ fn two_checkouts_of_one_remote_keep_their_own_files() {
     assert_eq!(fs::read(second.path(".env")).unwrap(), b"SECOND\n");
     second.ahab(&["link", "list"]).ok().says("linked:    .env");
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn a_link_into_an_older_store_layout_still_checks_clean_and_restores() {
+    let case = Case::new("legacy");
+    // the flat layout, before the store was keyed by checkout
+    let old = case.store.parent().unwrap().join(".env");
+    fs::create_dir_all(old.parent().unwrap()).unwrap();
+    fs::write(&old, b"SECRET=1\n").unwrap();
+    case.link(&case.path(".env"), &old);
+    case.gitignore(".env\n");
+
+    case.ahab(&["link", "check", "--exit-code"]).ok();
+    case.ahab(&["link", "restore", ".env"]).ok();
+
+    assert!(!case.is_symlink(".env"));
+    assert_eq!(fs::read(case.path(".env")).unwrap(), b"SECRET=1\n");
+    assert!(!old.exists());
+
+    // a link that leaves the store altogether is still refused
+    case.link(&case.path("key"), &case.outside.join("key"));
+    case.ahab(&["link", "restore", "key"])
+        .failed()
+        .says("not in the store");
+}