--- /var/db/repos/gentoo/sys-apps/busybox/busybox-1.31.1-r3.ebuild	2020-11-02 07:09:14.000000000 -0500
+++ busybox-1.31.1-r3.ebuild	2020-11-28 21:07:32.700600811 -0500
@@ -303,14 +303,6 @@
 }
 
 pkg_preinst() {
-	if use make-symlinks && [[ ! ${VERY_BRAVE_OR_VERY_DUMB} == "yes" ]] && [[ -z "${ROOT}" ]] ; then
-		ewarn "setting USE=make-symlinks and emerging to / is very dangerous."
-		ewarn "it WILL overwrite lots of system programs like: ls bash awk grep (bug 60805 for full list)."
-		ewarn "If you are creating a binary only and not merging this is probably ok."
-		ewarn "set env VERY_BRAVE_OR_VERY_DUMB=yes if this is really what you want."
-		die "silly options will destroy your system"
-	fi
-
 	if use make-symlinks ; then
 		mv "${ED}"/usr/share/${PN}/busybox-links.tar "${T}"/ || die
 	fi
@@ -322,7 +314,17 @@
 	if use make-symlinks ; then
 		cd "${T}" || die
 		mkdir _install
-		tar xf busybox-links.tar -C _install || die
+		safelinks=$(
+			tar tf busybox-links.tar |
+			grep -v '/$' |
+			while read f; do
+				PATH="${ROOT}/usr/sbin:${ROOT}/usr/bin:${ROOT}/sbin:${ROOT}/bin" \
+				which "$(basename ${f})" >/dev/null 2>&1 ||
+				echo "${f}"
+			done
+		)
+		[[ -n "${safelinks}" ]] || die "no links to copy safely, would destroy your system: remove USE=make-symlinks"
+		tar xf busybox-links.tar -C _install ${safelinks} || die
 		cp -vpPR _install/* "${ROOT}"/ || die "copying links for ${x} failed"
 	fi