diff --git a/src/ansiblelint/cli.py b/src/ansiblelint/cli.py
index c186fa851a..6e55512125 100644
--- a/src/ansiblelint/cli.py
+++ b/src/ansiblelint/cli.py
@@ -529,13 +529,16 @@ def get_config(arguments: list[str]) -> Namespace:
             f"'rich' or 'md' are supported with -f."
         )
 
+    # save info about custom config file, as options.config_file may be modified by merge_config
+    has_custom_config = not options.config_file
+
     file_config = load_config(options.config_file)
 
     config = merge_config(file_config, options)
 
     options.rulesdirs = get_rules_dirs(options.rulesdir, options.use_default_rules)
 
-    if options.project_dir == ".":
+    if has_custom_config and options.project_dir == ".":
         project_dir = guess_project_dir(options.config_file)
         options.project_dir = os.path.expanduser(normpath(project_dir))
 
diff --git a/src/ansiblelint/runner.py b/src/ansiblelint/runner.py
index 681701647c..1b1a8e480b 100644
--- a/src/ansiblelint/runner.py
+++ b/src/ansiblelint/runner.py
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ def run(self) -> list[MatchError]:  # noqa: C901
                 continue
             try:
                 lintable.data
-            except RuntimeError as exc:
+            except (RuntimeError, FileNotFoundError) as exc:
                 matches.append(
                     MatchError(
                         filename=lintable,
diff --git a/src/ansiblelint/utils.py b/src/ansiblelint/utils.py
index 5042749ebd..df5a09d6c2 100644
--- a/src/ansiblelint/utils.py
+++ b/src/ansiblelint/utils.py
@@ -859,6 +859,10 @@ def get_lintables(
                 _logger.debug("Ignored %s due to: %s", path, exc)
                 continue
 
+            if path.is_symlink() and not path.exists():
+                _logger.warning("Ignored broken symlink %s -> %s", path, path.resolve())
+                continue
+
             lintables.append(Lintable(path))
 
         # stage 2: guess roles from current lintables, as there is no unique