diff --git a/nvm.sh b/nvm.sh
index 83aac75..e671a8a 100644
--- a/nvm.sh
+++ b/nvm.sh
@@ -311,6 +311,12 @@ nvm_tree_contains_path() {
 
   local pathdir
   pathdir=$(dirname "${node_path}")
+
+  # get real directory in case of symbolic links 
+  if [ -d "${pathdir-}" ]; then
+    pathdir="$(nvm_cd -P "${pathdir}" && pwd)"
+  fi
+  
   while [ "${pathdir}" != "" ] && [ "${pathdir}" != "." ] && [ "${pathdir}" != "/" ] && [ "${pathdir}" != "${tree}" ]; do
     pathdir=$(dirname "${pathdir}")
   done