This code: 
-X $file && -l _

[download]
seems to die randomly on some systems (-X can be one of -e, -f, etc.) While I've located the perl core patches to this error, it seems inconsistent. Is there a perl compilation option to activate this thing? since I while I don't see that in my systems, I did get it from dreamhost which has 5.8.8: 
burak@ubuntu:~$ perl -wle 'print qq{plain!\n} if -f q{sysinfo.pl} && !
+ -l _; print qq{FooBar\n}'
FooBar

burak@ubuntu:~$ perl -v

This is perl, v5.10.0 built for i486-linux-gnu-thread-multi

Copyright 1987-2007, Larry Wall

Perl may be copied only under the terms of either the Artistic License
+ or the
GNU General Public License, which may be found in the Perl 5 source ki
+t.

Complete documentation for Perl, including FAQ lists, should be found 
+on
this system using "man perl" or "perldoc perl".  If you have access to
+ the
Internet, point your browser at http://www.perl.org/, the Perl Home Pa
+ge.

[schultz]$ perl -wle 'print qq{plain!\n} if -f q{sysinfo.pl} && ! -l _
+; print qq{FooBar\n}'
The stat preceding -l _ wasn't an lstat at -e line 1.
[schultz]$ perl -v

This is perl, v5.8.8 built for x86_64-linux-gnu-thread-multi

Copyright 1987-2006, Larry Wall

Perl may be copied only under the terms of either the Artistic License
+ or the
GNU General Public License, which may be found in the Perl 5 source ki
+t.

Complete documentation for Perl, including FAQ lists, should be found 
+on
this system using "man perl" or "perldoc perl".  If you have access to
+ the
Internet, point your browser at http://www.perl.org/, the Perl Home Pa
+ge.

C:\Users\burak>perl -wle "print qq{plain!\n} if -f q{sysinfo.pl} && ! 
+-l _; print qq{FooBar\n}"
FooBar

C:\Users\burak>perl -v

This is perl, v5.10.1 built for MSWin32-x86-multi-thread
(with 2 registered patches, see perl -V for more detail)

Copyright 1987-2009, Larry Wall

Binary build 1006 [291086] provided by ActiveState http://www.ActiveSt
+ate.com
Built Aug 24 2009 13:48:26

Perl may be copied only under the terms of either the Artistic License
+ or the
GNU General Public License, which may be found in the Perl 5 source ki
+t.

Complete documentation for Perl, including FAQ lists, should be found 
+on
this system using "man perl" or "perldoc perl".  If you have access to
+ the
Internet, point your browser at http://www.perl.org/, the Perl Home Pa
+ge.

[download]
However, I also got this fail (5.10.1): http://www.cpantesters.org/cpan/report/6660359 This error is inconsistent and seems to be undocumented anywhere. I'll possibly change the code but do you have any ideas regarding this?

Thanks,
Burak

In reply to "The stat preceding -l _ wasn't an lstat"? by Burak

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