diff --git a/docs/about/release-notes.md b/docs/about/release-notes.md
index 1bfc906e..f0ca0d3b 100644
--- a/docs/about/release-notes.md
+++ b/docs/about/release-notes.md
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ The current members of the MkDocs-NG team.
 * Fix `validation.links.not_found` is always reported as INFO for excluded pages. #32
 * Fix `mkdocs serve` cleanup so temporary site directories are removed when the process receives `SIGTERM`. #36
 * Fix mkdocs theme color mode switching when `highlightjs` is disabled. #39
+* Fix a crash when a dangling symlink exists in the docs directory, so `mkdocs build` and `mkdocs serve` log a warning and continue instead of aborting. #43
 
 ### Maintenance
 
diff --git a/mkdocs/structure/files.py b/mkdocs/structure/files.py
index 98822377..5bffa4a9 100644
--- a/mkdocs/structure/files.py
+++ b/mkdocs/structure/files.py
@@ -514,6 +514,8 @@ def copy_file(self, dirty: bool = False) -> None:
                 utils.copy_file(self.abs_src_path, output_path)
             except shutil.SameFileError:
                 pass  # Let plugins write directly into site_dir.
+            except OSError as e:
+                log.warning(f"Error copying '{self.src_uri}': {e}")
         elif isinstance(content, str):
             with open(output_path, "w", encoding="utf-8") as output_file:
                 output_file.write(content)
@@ -526,9 +528,12 @@ def is_modified(self) -> bool:
             return True
         assert self.abs_src_path is not None
         if os.path.isfile(self.abs_dest_path):
-            return os.path.getmtime(self.abs_dest_path) < os.path.getmtime(
-                self.abs_src_path
-            )
+            try:
+                return os.path.getmtime(self.abs_dest_path) < os.path.getmtime(
+                    self.abs_src_path
+                )
+            except OSError:
+                return False
         return True
 
     def is_documentation_page(self) -> bool:
diff --git a/mkdocs/tests/structure/file_tests.py b/mkdocs/tests/structure/file_tests.py
index b01af37a..c218c078 100644
--- a/mkdocs/tests/structure/file_tests.py
+++ b/mkdocs/tests/structure/file_tests.py
@@ -803,6 +803,35 @@ def test_copy_file_from_content(self, dest_dir):
         with open(dest_path, encoding="utf-8") as f:
             self.assertEqual(f.read(), "ö")
 
+    @tempdir()
+    @tempdir()
+    def test_copy_file_dangling_symlink(self, src_dir, dest_dir):
+        dangling = os.path.join(src_dir, "dangling.jpg")
+        try:
+            os.symlink(os.path.join(src_dir, "nonexistent"), dangling)
+        except (OSError, NotImplementedError):
+            self.skipTest("Creating symlinks not supported")
+
+        file = File("dangling.jpg", src_dir, dest_dir, use_directory_urls=False)
+        with self.assertLogs("mkdocs.structure.files") as cm:
+            file.copy_file()
+        self.assertRegex(
+            "\n".join(cm.output),
+            r"^WARNING:mkdocs.structure.files:Error copying 'dangling.jpg'",
+        )
+
+    @tempdir()
+    @tempdir()
+    def test_copy_file_missing_source(self, src_dir, dest_dir):
+        """File deleted between discovery and copy should warn, not crash."""
+        file = File("missing.txt", src_dir, dest_dir, use_directory_urls=False)
+        with self.assertLogs("mkdocs.structure.files") as cm:
+            file.copy_file()
+        self.assertRegex(
+            "\n".join(cm.output),
+            r"^WARNING:mkdocs.structure.files:Error copying 'missing.txt'",
+        )
+
     def test_files_append_remove_src_paths(self):
         fs = [
             File("index.md", "/path/to/docs", "/path/to/site", use_directory_urls=True),
diff --git a/mkdocs/tests/utils/utils_tests.py b/mkdocs/tests/utils/utils_tests.py
index 940902a8..ca004682 100644
--- a/mkdocs/tests/utils/utils_tests.py
+++ b/mkdocs/tests/utils/utils_tests.py
@@ -386,15 +386,11 @@ def test_copy_files_without_permissions(self, src_dir, dst_dir):
     @tempdir()
     def test_copy_broken_symlink(self, src_dir, dst_dir):
         # Regression test for mkdocs/mkdocs#3785: dangling symlinks should
-        # not crash the build. A warning should be logged and the file skipped.
+        # not crash the build. A warning should be raised and the file skipped.
         broken_link = os.path.join(src_dir, "broken_link")
         os.symlink("/nonexistent/path", broken_link)
-        with self.assertLogs("mkdocs", level="WARNING") as cm:
+        with self.assertRaises(FileNotFoundError):
             utils.copy_file(broken_link, os.path.join(dst_dir, "broken_link"))
-        self.assertTrue(
-            any("Symlink broken" in m for m in cm.output),
-            f"Expected a warning about broken symlink, got: {cm.output}",
-        )
         # The broken symlink should not have been copied.
         self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(os.path.join(dst_dir, "broken_link")))
 
diff --git a/mkdocs/utils/__init__.py b/mkdocs/utils/__init__.py
index 5e56b5e9..9536dffb 100644
--- a/mkdocs/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/mkdocs/utils/__init__.py
@@ -122,8 +122,7 @@ def copy_file(source_path: str, output_path: str) -> None:
     if os.path.isdir(output_path):
         output_path = os.path.join(output_path, os.path.basename(source_path))
     if os.path.islink(source_path) and not os.path.exists(os.readlink(source_path)):
-        log.warning(f"Symlink broken, could not copy file: {source_path}")
-        return
+        raise FileNotFoundError(f"Broken symlink: {source_path}")
     shutil.copyfile(source_path, output_path)