diff --git a/npm/private/npm_package_info.bzl b/npm/private/npm_package_info.bzl
index 20583ede3..9e9798c7c 100644
--- a/npm/private/npm_package_info.bzl
+++ b/npm/private/npm_package_info.bzl
@@ -7,6 +7,5 @@ NpmPackageInfo = provider(
         "version": "version of this npm package",
         "directory": "the directory (typically a TreeArtifact) that contains the package sources",
         "npm_package_store_deps": "A depset of NpmPackageStoreInfo providers from npm dependencies of the package and the packages's transitive deps to use as direct dependencies when linking with npm_link_package",
-        "hardlink": "internal use only",
     },
 )
diff --git a/npm/private/npm_package_internal.bzl b/npm/private/npm_package_internal.bzl
index 3cc2c76c2..ae41bc07d 100644
--- a/npm/private/npm_package_internal.bzl
+++ b/npm/private/npm_package_internal.bzl
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ def _npm_package_internal_impl(ctx):
             version = ctx.attr.version,
             directory = dst,
             npm_package_store_deps = depset(),
-            hardlink = True,  # always hardlink downstream
         ),
     ]
 
diff --git a/npm/private/npm_package_store.bzl b/npm/private/npm_package_store.bzl
index b2402880d..da80d2005 100644
--- a/npm/private/npm_package_store.bzl
+++ b/npm/private/npm_package_store.bzl
@@ -150,6 +150,10 @@ If set, takes precendance over the package version in the NpmPackageInfo src.
         - "auto": hardlinks are used for generated files already in the output tree
         - "off": all files are copied
         - "on": hardlinks are used for all files (not recommended)
+
+        NB: Hardlinking source files in external repositories as was done under the hood
+        prior to https://github.com/aspect-build/rules_js/pull/1533 may lead to flaky build
+        failures as reported in https://github.com/aspect-build/rules_js/issues/1412.
         """,
     ),
     "verbose": attr.bool(
@@ -191,13 +195,15 @@ def _npm_package_store_impl(ctx):
             virtual_store_directory = src_directory
         else:
             virtual_store_directory = ctx.actions.declare_directory(virtual_store_directory_path)
-            hardlink = ctx.attr.src[NpmPackageInfo].hardlink if hasattr(ctx.attr.src[NpmPackageInfo], "hardlink") else False
             copy_directory_bin_action(
                 ctx,
                 src = src_directory,
                 dst = virtual_store_directory,
                 copy_directory_bin = ctx.toolchains["@aspect_bazel_lib//lib:copy_directory_toolchain_type"].copy_directory_info.bin,
-                hardlink = "on" if hardlink else ctx.attr.hardlink,
+                # Hardlinking source files in external repositories as was done under the hood
+                # prior to https://github.com/aspect-build/rules_js/pull/1533 may lead to flaky build
+                # failures as reported in https://github.com/aspect-build/rules_js/issues/1412.
+                hardlink = ctx.attr.hardlink,
                 verbose = ctx.attr.verbose,
             )