diff --git a/waflib/Node.py b/waflib/Node.py
index a9c75e3d..01f0c118 100644
--- a/waflib/Node.py
+++ b/waflib/Node.py
@@ -806,6 +806,9 @@ class Node(object):
 		"Build path without the file name"
 		return self.parent.bldpath()
 
+	def exists(self):
+		return os.path.exists(self.abspath())
+
 	@Utils.run_once
 	def get_bld_sig(self):
 		"""
diff --git a/waflib/Task.py b/waflib/Task.py
index 78258336..e29b386a 100644
--- a/waflib/Task.py
+++ b/waflib/Task.py
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ class TaskBase(evil):
 
 	def process(self):
 		"""
-		Assume that the task has had a new attribute ``master`` which is an instance of :py:class:`waflib.Runner.Parallel`.
+		Assume that the task has had a ``master`` which is an instance of :py:class:`waflib.Runner.Parallel`.
 		Execute the task and then put it back in the queue :py:attr:`waflib.Runner.Parallel.out` (may be replaced by subclassing).
 		"""
 		m = self.master
@@ -614,7 +614,7 @@ class Task(TaskBase):
 			if sig != key:
 				Logs.debug("task: task %r must run: an output node was produced by another task" % self)
 				return RUN_ME
-			if not os.path.exists(node.abspath()):
+			if not node.exists():
 				Logs.debug("task: task %r must run: an output node does not exist" % self)
 				return RUN_ME
 
@@ -628,18 +628,14 @@ class Task(TaskBase):
 		The node signature is obtained from the task signature, but the output nodes may also get the signature
 		of their contents. See the class decorator :py:func:`waflib.Task.update_outputs` if you need this behaviour.
 		"""
-		bld = self.generator.bld
-		sig = self.signature()
+		dct = self.generator.bld.task_sigs
 		for node in self.outputs:
-			# check if the output actually exists
-			try:
-				os.stat(node.abspath())
-			except OSError:
+			if not node.exists():
 				self.hasrun = MISSING
 				self.err_msg = '-> missing file: %r' % node.abspath()
 				raise Errors.WafError(self.err_msg)
-			bld.task_sigs[node] = self.uid() # make sure this task produced the files in question
-		bld.task_sigs[self.uid()] = self.cache_sig
+			dct[node] = self.uid() # make sure this task produced the files in question
+		dct[self.uid()] = self.signature()
 
 	def sig_explicit_deps(self):
 		"""
diff --git a/waflib/extras/cython.py b/waflib/extras/cython.py
index 998837d6..8e2b2f47 100644
--- a/waflib/extras/cython.py
+++ b/waflib/extras/cython.py
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ class cython(Task.Task):
 	def post_run(self):
 		for x in self.outputs:
 			if x.name.endswith('.h'):
-				if not os.path.exists(x.abspath()):
+				if not x.exists():
 					if Logs.verbose:
 						Logs.warn('Expected %r' % x.abspath())
 					x.write('')