diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr-labeler.yml b/.github/workflows/pr-labeler.yml
index c44d7f10..0567b1a2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pr-labeler.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr-labeler.yml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ jobs:
       pull-requests: write
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/github-script@v6
+      - uses: actions/github-script@v7
         with:
           github-token: ${{secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN}}
           script: |
diff --git a/aws_lambda_builders/__init__.py b/aws_lambda_builders/__init__.py
index 047943ec..c35fe4e1 100644
--- a/aws_lambda_builders/__init__.py
+++ b/aws_lambda_builders/__init__.py
@@ -5,5 +5,5 @@
 # Changing version will trigger a new release!
 # Please make the version change as the last step of your development.
 
-__version__ = "1.42.0"
+__version__ = "1.43.0"
 RPC_PROTOCOL_VERSION = "0.3"
diff --git a/aws_lambda_builders/actions.py b/aws_lambda_builders/actions.py
index ae3a8542..491bcc5a 100644
--- a/aws_lambda_builders/actions.py
+++ b/aws_lambda_builders/actions.py
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ class _ActionMetaClass(type):
     def __new__(mcs, name, bases, class_dict):
         cls = type.__new__(mcs, name, bases, class_dict)
 
-        if cls.__name__ == "BaseAction":
+        if cls.__name__ in ["BaseAction", "NodejsNpmInstallOrUpdateBaseAction"]:
             return cls
 
         # Validate class variables
@@ -156,7 +156,12 @@ def __init__(self, source: Union[str, os.PathLike], dest: Union[str, os.PathLike
         self._dest = dest
 
     def execute(self):
+        source_path = Path(self._source)
         destination_path = Path(self._dest)
+        if not source_path.exists():
+            # Source path doesn't exist, nothing to symlink
+            LOG.debug("Source path %s does not exist, skipping generating symlink", source_path)
+            return
         if not destination_path.exists():
             os.makedirs(destination_path.parent, exist_ok=True)
         utils.create_symlink_or_copy(str(self._source), str(destination_path))
diff --git a/aws_lambda_builders/utils.py b/aws_lambda_builders/utils.py
index 9f227ea0..4bcd43dc 100644
--- a/aws_lambda_builders/utils.py
+++ b/aws_lambda_builders/utils.py
@@ -198,6 +198,10 @@ def create_symlink_or_copy(source: str, destination: str) -> None:
     """Tries to create symlink, if it fails it will copy source into destination"""
     LOG.debug("Creating symlink; source: %s, destination: %s", source, destination)
     try:
+        if Path(destination).exists() and Path(destination).is_symlink():
+            # The symlink is already in place, don't try re-creating it
+            LOG.debug("Symlink between %s and %s already exists, skipping generating symlink", source, destination)
+            return
         os.symlink(Path(source).absolute(), Path(destination).absolute())
     except OSError as ex:
         LOG.warning(
diff --git a/aws_lambda_builders/workflows/nodejs_npm/actions.py b/aws_lambda_builders/workflows/nodejs_npm/actions.py
index ffabac3b..bb45fb1e 100644
--- a/aws_lambda_builders/workflows/nodejs_npm/actions.py
+++ b/aws_lambda_builders/workflows/nodejs_npm/actions.py
@@ -72,17 +72,14 @@ def execute(self):
             raise ActionFailedError(str(ex))
 
 
-class NodejsNpmInstallAction(BaseAction):
-
+class NodejsNpmInstallOrUpdateBaseAction(BaseAction):
     """
-    A Lambda Builder Action that installs NPM project dependencies
+    A base Lambda Builder Action that is used for installs or updating NPM project dependencies
     """
 
-    NAME = "NpmInstall"
-    DESCRIPTION = "Installing dependencies from NPM"
     PURPOSE = Purpose.RESOLVE_DEPENDENCIES
 
-    def __init__(self, install_dir: str, subprocess_npm: SubprocessNpm, install_links: Optional[bool] = False):
+    def __init__(self, install_dir: str, subprocess_npm: SubprocessNpm):
         """
         Parameters
         ----------
@@ -90,14 +87,20 @@ def __init__(self, install_dir: str, subprocess_npm: SubprocessNpm, install_link
             Dependencies will be installed in this directory.
         subprocess_npm : SubprocessNpm
             An instance of the NPM process wrapper
-        install_links : Optional[bool]
-            Uses the --install-links npm option if True, by default False
         """
 
-        super(NodejsNpmInstallAction, self).__init__()
+        super().__init__()
         self.install_dir = install_dir
         self.subprocess_npm = subprocess_npm
-        self.install_links = install_links
+
+
+class NodejsNpmInstallAction(NodejsNpmInstallOrUpdateBaseAction):
+    """
+    A Lambda Builder Action that installs NPM project dependencies
+    """
+
+    NAME = "NpmInstall"
+    DESCRIPTION = "Installing dependencies from NPM"
 
     def execute(self):
         """
@@ -109,9 +112,38 @@ def execute(self):
             LOG.debug("NODEJS installing in: %s", self.install_dir)
 
             command = ["install", "-q", "--no-audit", "--no-save", "--unsafe-perm", "--production"]
-            if self.install_links:
-                command.append("--install-links")
+            self.subprocess_npm.run(command, cwd=self.install_dir)
+
+        except NpmExecutionError as ex:
+            raise ActionFailedError(str(ex))
+
+
+class NodejsNpmUpdateAction(NodejsNpmInstallOrUpdateBaseAction):
+    """
+    A Lambda Builder Action that installs NPM project dependencies
+    """
 
+    NAME = "NpmUpdate"
+    DESCRIPTION = "Updating dependencies from NPM"
+
+    def execute(self):
+        """
+        Runs the action.
+
+        :raises lambda_builders.actions.ActionFailedError: when NPM execution fails
+        """
+        try:
+            LOG.debug("NODEJS updating in: %s", self.install_dir)
+
+            command = [
+                "update",
+                "--no-audit",
+                "--no-save",
+                "--unsafe-perm",
+                "--production",
+                "--no-package-lock",
+                "--install-links",
+            ]
             self.subprocess_npm.run(command, cwd=self.install_dir)
 
         except NpmExecutionError as ex:
diff --git a/aws_lambda_builders/workflows/nodejs_npm/workflow.py b/aws_lambda_builders/workflows/nodejs_npm/workflow.py
index 2f1fa127..cd111b53 100644
--- a/aws_lambda_builders/workflows/nodejs_npm/workflow.py
+++ b/aws_lambda_builders/workflows/nodejs_npm/workflow.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
     NodejsNpmPackAction,
     NodejsNpmrcAndLockfileCopyAction,
     NodejsNpmrcCleanUpAction,
+    NodejsNpmUpdateAction,
 )
 from aws_lambda_builders.workflows.nodejs_npm.npm import SubprocessNpm
 from aws_lambda_builders.workflows.nodejs_npm.utils import OSUtils
@@ -119,7 +120,7 @@ def __init__(self, source_dir, artifacts_dir, scratch_dir, manifest_path, runtim
                     subprocess_npm=subprocess_npm,
                     osutils=osutils,
                     build_options=self.options,
-                    install_links=is_building_in_source,
+                    is_building_in_source=is_building_in_source,
                 )
             )
 
@@ -211,7 +212,7 @@ def get_install_action(
         subprocess_npm: SubprocessNpm,
         osutils: OSUtils,
         build_options: Optional[dict],
-        install_links: Optional[bool] = False,
+        is_building_in_source: Optional[bool] = False,
     ):
         """
         Get the install action used to install dependencies.
@@ -228,8 +229,8 @@ def get_install_action(
             An instance of OS Utilities for file manipulation
         build_options : Optional[dict]
             Object containing build options configurations
-        install_links : Optional[bool]
-            Uses the --install-links npm option if True, by default False
+        is_building_in_source : Optional[bool]
+            States whether --build-in-source flag is set or not
 
         Returns
         -------
@@ -245,12 +246,13 @@ def get_install_action(
 
         if (osutils.file_exists(lockfile_path) or osutils.file_exists(shrinkwrap_path)) and npm_ci_option:
             return NodejsNpmCIAction(
-                install_dir=install_dir, subprocess_npm=subprocess_npm, install_links=install_links
+                install_dir=install_dir, subprocess_npm=subprocess_npm, install_links=is_building_in_source
             )
 
-        return NodejsNpmInstallAction(
-            install_dir=install_dir, subprocess_npm=subprocess_npm, install_links=install_links
-        )
+        if is_building_in_source:
+            return NodejsNpmUpdateAction(install_dir=install_dir, subprocess_npm=subprocess_npm)
+
+        return NodejsNpmInstallAction(install_dir=install_dir, subprocess_npm=subprocess_npm)
 
     @staticmethod
     def can_use_install_links(npm_process: SubprocessNpm) -> bool:
diff --git a/aws_lambda_builders/workflows/nodejs_npm_esbuild/workflow.py b/aws_lambda_builders/workflows/nodejs_npm_esbuild/workflow.py
index 1ea3e898..ae3ade1c 100644
--- a/aws_lambda_builders/workflows/nodejs_npm_esbuild/workflow.py
+++ b/aws_lambda_builders/workflows/nodejs_npm_esbuild/workflow.py
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ def __init__(self, source_dir, artifacts_dir, scratch_dir, manifest_path, runtim
                     subprocess_npm=self.subprocess_npm,
                     osutils=self.osutils,
                     build_options=self.options,
-                    install_links=is_building_in_source,
+                    is_building_in_source=is_building_in_source,
                 )
             )
 
diff --git a/requirements/dev.txt b/requirements/dev.txt
index 457b4ecc..20af74f1 100644
--- a/requirements/dev.txt
+++ b/requirements/dev.txt
@@ -13,5 +13,5 @@ pyelftools~=0.30 # Used to verify the generated Go binary architecture in integr
 
 # formatter
 black==22.6.0; python_version < "3.8"
-black==23.10.1; python_version >= "3.8"
-ruff==0.1.4
+black==23.11.0; python_version >= "3.8"
+ruff==0.1.5
diff --git a/tests/integration/workflows/nodejs_npm/test_nodejs_npm.py b/tests/integration/workflows/nodejs_npm/test_nodejs_npm.py
index e34e66d9..279f6e19 100644
--- a/tests/integration/workflows/nodejs_npm/test_nodejs_npm.py
+++ b/tests/integration/workflows/nodejs_npm/test_nodejs_npm.py
@@ -315,6 +315,46 @@ def test_build_in_source_with_download_dependencies(self, runtime):
         output_files = set(os.listdir(self.artifacts_dir))
         self.assertEqual(expected_files, output_files)
 
+    @parameterized.expand([("nodejs12.x",), ("nodejs14.x",), ("nodejs16.x",), ("nodejs18.x",), ("nodejs20.x",)])
+    def test_build_in_source_with_removed_dependencies(self, runtime):
+        # run a build with default requirements and confirm dependencies are downloaded
+        source_dir = os.path.join(self.temp_testdata_dir, "npm-deps")
+
+        self.builder.build(
+            source_dir,
+            self.artifacts_dir,
+            self.scratch_dir,
+            os.path.join(source_dir, "package.json"),
+            runtime=runtime,
+            build_in_source=True,
+        )
+
+        # dependencies installed in source folder
+        source_node_modules = os.path.join(source_dir, "node_modules")
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.isdir(source_node_modules))
+        expected_node_modules_contents = {"minimal-request-promise", ".package-lock.json"}
+        self.assertEqual(set(os.listdir(source_node_modules)), expected_node_modules_contents)
+
+        # update package.json with empty one and re-run the build then confirm node_modules are cleared up
+        shutil.copy2(
+            os.path.join(self.temp_testdata_dir, "no-deps", "package.json"),
+            os.path.join(self.temp_testdata_dir, "npm-deps", "package.json"),
+        )
+
+        self.builder.build(
+            source_dir,
+            self.artifacts_dir,
+            self.scratch_dir,
+            os.path.join(source_dir, "package.json"),
+            runtime=runtime,
+            build_in_source=True,
+        )
+        # dependencies installed in source folder
+        source_node_modules = os.path.join(source_dir, "node_modules")
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.isdir(source_node_modules))
+        self.assertIn(".package-lock.json", set(os.listdir(source_node_modules)))
+        self.assertNotIn("minimal-request-promise", set(os.listdir(source_node_modules)))
+
     @parameterized.expand([("nodejs12.x",), ("nodejs14.x",), ("nodejs16.x",), ("nodejs18.x",), ("nodejs20.x",)])
     def test_build_in_source_with_download_dependencies_local_dependency(self, runtime):
         source_dir = os.path.join(self.temp_testdata_dir, "with-local-dependency")
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_actions.py b/tests/unit/test_actions.py
index 1314c5f6..e85b1277 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_actions.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_actions.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
     MoveDependenciesAction,
     CleanUpAction,
     DependencyManager,
+    LinkSinglePathAction,
 )
 
 
@@ -262,3 +263,15 @@ def test_excludes_dependencies_from_source(
     @staticmethod
     def _convert_strings_to_paths(source_dest_list):
         return map(lambda item: (Path(item[0]), Path(item[1])), source_dest_list)
+
+
+class TestLinkSinglePathAction(TestCase):
+    @patch("aws_lambda_builders.actions.os.makedirs")
+    @patch("aws_lambda_builders.utils.create_symlink_or_copy")
+    def test_skips_non_existent_source(self, mock_create_symlink_or_copy, mock_makedirs):
+        src = "src/path"
+        dest = "dest/path"
+
+        LinkSinglePathAction(source=src, dest=dest).execute()
+        mock_create_symlink_or_copy.assert_not_called()
+        mock_makedirs.assert_not_called()
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_utils.py b/tests/unit/test_utils.py
index ba95185a..aecb8679 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_utils.py
@@ -1,24 +1,27 @@
 import platform
+from pathlib import Path
 
 from unittest import TestCase
-from unittest.mock import patch
+from unittest.mock import patch, Mock, MagicMock
 
 from aws_lambda_builders import utils
 from aws_lambda_builders.utils import decode
 
 
 class Test_create_symlink_or_copy(TestCase):
-    @patch("aws_lambda_builders.utils.Path")
     @patch("aws_lambda_builders.utils.os")
     @patch("aws_lambda_builders.utils.copytree")
-    def test_must_create_symlink_with_absolute_path(self, patched_copy_tree, pathced_os, patched_path):
+    def test_must_create_symlink_with_absolute_path(self, patched_copy_tree, patched_os):
         source_path = "source/path"
         destination_path = "destination/path"
-        utils.create_symlink_or_copy(source_path, destination_path)
 
-        pathced_os.symlink.assert_called_with(
-            patched_path(source_path).absolute(), patched_path(destination_path).absolute()
-        )
+        p = MagicMock()
+        p.return_value = False
+
+        with patch("aws_lambda_builders.utils.Path.is_symlink", p):
+            utils.create_symlink_or_copy(source_path, destination_path)
+
+        patched_os.symlink.assert_called_with(Path(source_path).absolute(), Path(destination_path).absolute())
         patched_copy_tree.assert_not_called()
 
     @patch("aws_lambda_builders.utils.Path")
@@ -34,6 +37,17 @@ def test_must_copy_if_symlink_fails(self, patched_copy_tree, pathced_os, patched
         pathced_os.symlink.assert_called_once()
         patched_copy_tree.assert_called_with(source_path, destination_path)
 
+    @patch("aws_lambda_builders.utils.Path")
+    @patch("aws_lambda_builders.utils.os")
+    @patch("aws_lambda_builders.utils.copytree")
+    def test_must_copy_if_symlink_fails(self, patched_copy_tree, pathced_os, patched_path):
+        source_path = "source/path"
+        destination_path = "destination/path"
+        utils.create_symlink_or_copy(source_path, destination_path)
+
+        pathced_os.symlink.assert_not_called()
+        patched_copy_tree.assert_not_called()
+
 
 class TestDecode(TestCase):
     def test_does_not_crash_non_utf8_encoding(self):
diff --git a/tests/unit/workflows/nodejs_npm/test_workflow.py b/tests/unit/workflows/nodejs_npm/test_workflow.py
index b95b2bfc..832ce53b 100644
--- a/tests/unit/workflows/nodejs_npm/test_workflow.py
+++ b/tests/unit/workflows/nodejs_npm/test_workflow.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
     NodejsNpmrcCleanUpAction,
     NodejsNpmLockFileCleanUpAction,
     NodejsNpmCIAction,
+    NodejsNpmUpdateAction,
 )
 
 
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ def test_workflow_sets_up_npm_actions_with_download_dependencies_without_depende
         self.assertIsInstance(workflow.actions[3], CopySourceAction)
         self.assertEqual(workflow.actions[3].source_dir, "source")
         self.assertEqual(workflow.actions[3].dest_dir, "artifacts")
-        self.assertIsInstance(workflow.actions[4], NodejsNpmInstallAction)
+        self.assertIsInstance(workflow.actions[4], NodejsNpmUpdateAction)
         self.assertEqual(workflow.actions[4].install_dir, "not_source")
         self.assertIsInstance(workflow.actions[5], LinkSinglePathAction)
         self.assertEqual(workflow.actions[5]._source, os.path.join("not_source", "node_modules"))
@@ -331,7 +332,7 @@ def test_build_in_source_with_download_dependencies(self, can_use_links_mock):
         self.assertIsInstance(workflow.actions[0], NodejsNpmPackAction)
         self.assertIsInstance(workflow.actions[1], NodejsNpmrcAndLockfileCopyAction)
         self.assertIsInstance(workflow.actions[2], CopySourceAction)
-        self.assertIsInstance(workflow.actions[3], NodejsNpmInstallAction)
+        self.assertIsInstance(workflow.actions[3], NodejsNpmUpdateAction)
         self.assertEqual(workflow.actions[3].install_dir, source_dir)
         self.assertIsInstance(workflow.actions[4], LinkSinglePathAction)
         self.assertEqual(workflow.actions[4]._source, os.path.join(source_dir, "node_modules"))
@@ -358,7 +359,7 @@ def test_build_in_source_with_download_dependencies_and_dependencies_dir(self, c
         self.assertIsInstance(workflow.actions[0], NodejsNpmPackAction)
         self.assertIsInstance(workflow.actions[1], NodejsNpmrcAndLockfileCopyAction)
         self.assertIsInstance(workflow.actions[2], CopySourceAction)
-        self.assertIsInstance(workflow.actions[3], NodejsNpmInstallAction)
+        self.assertIsInstance(workflow.actions[3], NodejsNpmUpdateAction)
         self.assertEqual(workflow.actions[3].install_dir, source_dir)
         self.assertIsInstance(workflow.actions[4], LinkSinglePathAction)
         self.assertEqual(workflow.actions[4]._source, os.path.join(source_dir, "node_modules"))
@@ -442,5 +443,5 @@ def test_workflow_revert_build_in_source(self, install_action_mock, install_link
             subprocess_npm=ANY,
             osutils=ANY,
             build_options=ANY,
-            install_links=False,
+            is_building_in_source=False,
         )
diff --git a/tests/unit/workflows/nodejs_npm_esbuild/test_workflow.py b/tests/unit/workflows/nodejs_npm_esbuild/test_workflow.py
index a851e7bc..6773c45f 100644
--- a/tests/unit/workflows/nodejs_npm_esbuild/test_workflow.py
+++ b/tests/unit/workflows/nodejs_npm_esbuild/test_workflow.py
@@ -12,7 +12,11 @@
     LinkSinglePathAction,
 )
 from aws_lambda_builders.architecture import ARM64
-from aws_lambda_builders.workflows.nodejs_npm.actions import NodejsNpmInstallAction, NodejsNpmCIAction
+from aws_lambda_builders.workflows.nodejs_npm.actions import (
+    NodejsNpmInstallAction,
+    NodejsNpmCIAction,
+    NodejsNpmUpdateAction,
+)
 from aws_lambda_builders.workflows.nodejs_npm_esbuild import NodejsNpmEsbuildWorkflow
 from aws_lambda_builders.workflows.nodejs_npm_esbuild.actions import EsbuildBundleAction
 from aws_lambda_builders.workflows.nodejs_npm_esbuild.esbuild import SubprocessEsbuild
@@ -313,7 +317,7 @@ def test_workflow_uses_production_npm_version(self, get_workflow_mock):
             subprocess_npm=ANY,
             osutils=ANY,
             build_options=None,
-            install_links=False,
+            is_building_in_source=False,
         )
 
     @patch("aws_lambda_builders.workflows.nodejs_npm_esbuild.workflow.NodejsNpmEsbuildWorkflow._get_esbuild_subprocess")
@@ -360,7 +364,7 @@ def test_build_in_source(self, install_links_mock):
 
         self.assertEqual(len(workflow.actions), 2)
 
-        self.assertIsInstance(workflow.actions[0], NodejsNpmInstallAction)
+        self.assertIsInstance(workflow.actions[0], NodejsNpmUpdateAction)
         self.assertEqual(workflow.actions[0].install_dir, source_dir)
         self.assertIsInstance(workflow.actions[1], EsbuildBundleAction)
         self.assertEqual(workflow.actions[1]._working_directory, source_dir)
@@ -405,7 +409,7 @@ def test_workflow_sets_up_npm_actions_with_download_dependencies_without_depende
 
         self.assertEqual(len(workflow.actions), 3)
 
-        self.assertIsInstance(workflow.actions[0], NodejsNpmInstallAction)
+        self.assertIsInstance(workflow.actions[0], NodejsNpmUpdateAction)
         self.assertEqual(workflow.actions[0].install_dir, "not_source")
         self.assertIsInstance(workflow.actions[1], LinkSinglePathAction)
         self.assertEqual(workflow.actions[1]._source, os.path.join("not_source", "node_modules"))
@@ -439,7 +443,7 @@ def test_workflow_revert_build_in_source(self, install_action_mock, install_link
             subprocess_npm=ANY,
             osutils=ANY,
             build_options=ANY,
-            install_links=False,
+            is_building_in_source=False,
         )
 
     @parameterized.expand(