diff --git a/meta/classes/qemuboot.bbclass b/meta/classes/qemuboot.bbclass
index 97a235772d..ef9a128796 100644
--- a/meta/classes/qemuboot.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes/qemuboot.bbclass
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ python write_qemuboot_conf() {
     # to the kernel file, which hinders relocatability of the qb conf.
     # Read the link and replace it with the full filename of the target.
     kernel_link = os.path.join(d.getVar('DEPLOY_DIR_IMAGE', True), d.getVar('QB_DEFAULT_KERNEL', True))
-    kernel = os.readlink(kernel_link)
+    kernel = os.path.realpath(kernel_link)
     cf.set('config_bsp', 'QB_DEFAULT_KERNEL', kernel)
 
     bb.utils.mkdirhier(os.path.dirname(qemuboot))