diff --git a/RELEASE.md b/RELEASE.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8a0602e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/RELEASE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+Release type: minor
+
+Fix symlink handling in `pelican-themes`.
diff --git a/pelican/tools/pelican_themes.py b/pelican/tools/pelican_themes.py
index fa59b8fd..4d8cee2d 100755
--- a/pelican/tools/pelican_themes.py
+++ b/pelican/tools/pelican_themes.py
@@ -249,6 +249,7 @@ def install(path, v=False, u=False):
 
 def symlink(path, v=False):
     """Symbolically link a theme"""
+    path = os.path.realpath(path)
     if not os.path.exists(path):
         err(path + " : no such file or directory")
     elif not os.path.isdir(path):
@@ -269,7 +270,7 @@ def symlink(path, v=False):
 
 def is_broken_link(path):
     """Returns True if the path given as is a broken symlink"""
-    path = os.readlink(path)
+    path = os.path.realpath(path)
     return not os.path.exists(path)