diff --git a/pelican/__init__.py b/pelican/__init__.py
index 70013804..9aa95e7b 100644
--- a/pelican/__init__.py
+++ b/pelican/__init__.py
@@ -163,7 +163,8 @@ class Pelican(object):
         # erase the directory if it is not the source and if that's
         # explicitly asked
         if (self.delete_outputdir and not
-                os.path.realpath(self.path).startswith(self.output_path)):
+                os.path.commonpath((self.path,
+                                    self.output_path)) != self.output_path):
             clean_output_dir(self.output_path, self.output_retention)
 
         for p in generators: