port select issue with non-existing target of 'current'

gistfile1.txt

anddam@bibook /opt/local/etc/select/ipython3 $ ls -l
total 32
-rw-r--r--  1 root  admin   51 Sep 19 01:13 base
lrwxr-xr-x  1 root  admin   12 Dec  9 08:43 current -> py35-ipython
-rw-r--r--  1 root  admin    6 Sep 19 01:13 none
-rw-r--r--  1 root  admin  228 Dec 28 15:55 py36-ipython
anddam@bibook /opt/local/etc/select/ipython3 $ sudo port -d select --set ipython3 py36-ipython
DEBUG: Copying /Users/anddam/Library/Preferences/com.apple.dt.Xcode.plist to /opt/local/var/macports/home/Library/Preferences
DEBUG: action_select [ipython3 py36-ipython] [ports_select_set yes]...
DEBUG: The 'set' command was specified.
DEBUG: mportselect [set] [ipython3] [py36-ipython]
DEBUG: ln -sf /opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.6/bin/iptest /opt/local/bin/iptest3
DEBUG: ln -sf /opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.6/bin/ipython /opt/local/bin/ipython3
DEBUG: ln -sf /opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.6/share/man/man1/ipython.1 /opt/local/share/man/man1/ipython3.1
Selecting 'py36-ipython' for 'ipython3' failed: symlink: /opt/local/etc/select/ipython3/current -> py36-ipython: file already exists
anddam@bibook /opt/local/etc/select/ipython3 [1]$ sudo rm current
anddam@bibook /opt/local/etc/select/ipython3 $ sudo port -d select --set ipython3 py36-ipython
DEBUG: Copying /Users/anddam/Library/Preferences/com.apple.dt.Xcode.plist to /opt/local/var/macports/home/Library/Preferences
DEBUG: action_select [ipython3 py36-ipython] [ports_select_set yes]...
DEBUG: The 'set' command was specified.
DEBUG: mportselect [set] [ipython3] [py36-ipython]
DEBUG: ln -sf /opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.6/bin/iptest /opt/local/bin/iptest3
DEBUG: ln -sf /opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.6/bin/ipython /opt/local/bin/ipython3
DEBUG: ln -sf /opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.6/share/man/man1/ipython.1 /opt/local/share/man/man1/ipython3.1
Selecting 'py36-ipython' for 'ipython3' succeeded. 'py36-ipython' is now active.
anddam@bibook /opt/local/etc/select/ipython3 $ ls -l
total 32
-rw-r--r--  1 root  admin   51 Sep 19 01:13 base
lrwxr-xr-x  1 root  admin   12 Jan 25 16:05 current -> py36-ipython
-rw-r--r--  1 root  admin    6 Sep 19 01:13 none
-rw-r--r--  1 root  admin  228 Dec 28 15:55 py36-ipython