diff --git a/lib/mix/lib/mix/tasks/release.init.ex b/lib/mix/lib/mix/tasks/release.init.ex
index d0df7f22c54..811c9b69293 100644
--- a/lib/mix/lib/mix/tasks/release.init.ex
+++ b/lib/mix/lib/mix/tasks/release.init.ex
@@ -87,8 +87,17 @@ defmodule Mix.Tasks.Release.Init do
     #!/bin/sh
     set -e
 
-    SELF=$(readlink "$0" || true)
-    if [ -z "$SELF" ]; then SELF="$0"; fi
+    readlink_f () {
+      cd "$(dirname "$1")" > /dev/null
+      filename="$(basename "$1")"
+      if [ -h "$filename" ]; then
+        readlink_f "$(readlink "$filename")"
+      else
+        echo "$(pwd -P)/$filename"
+      fi
+    }
+
+    SELF=$(readlink_f "$0")
     RELEASE_ROOT="$(CDPATH='' cd "$(dirname "$SELF")/.." && pwd -P)"
     export RELEASE_ROOT
     RELEASE_NAME="${RELEASE_NAME:-"<%= @release.name %>"}"
diff --git a/lib/mix/test/mix/tasks/release_test.exs b/lib/mix/test/mix/tasks/release_test.exs
index 5adaa70b561..35baa1d2709 100644
--- a/lib/mix/test/mix/tasks/release_test.exs
+++ b/lib/mix/test/mix/tasks/release_test.exs
@@ -786,6 +786,40 @@ defmodule Mix.Tasks.ReleaseTest do
     end)
   end
 
+  @tag :unix
+  test "works properly with an absolute symlink to release" do
+    in_fixture("release_test", fn ->
+      Mix.Project.in_project(:release_test, ".", fn _ ->
+        Mix.Task.run("release")
+
+        File.ln_s!(
+          Path.absname("_build/#{Mix.env()}/rel/release_test/bin/release_test"),
+          Path.absname("release_test")
+        )
+
+        script = Path.absname("release_test")
+        {hello_world, 0} = System.cmd(script, ["eval", "IO.puts :hello_world"])
+        assert String.trim_trailing(hello_world) == "hello_world"
+      end)
+    end)
+  end
+
+  @tag :unix
+  test "works properly with a relative symlink to release" do
+    in_fixture("release_test", fn ->
+      Mix.Project.in_project(:release_test, ".", fn _ ->
+        Mix.Task.run("release")
+
+        File.mkdir!("bin")
+        File.ln_s!("../_build/#{Mix.env()}/rel/release_test/bin/release_test", "bin/release_test")
+
+        script = Path.absname("bin/release_test")
+        {hello_world, 0} = System.cmd(script, ["eval", "IO.puts :hello_world"])
+        assert String.trim_trailing(hello_world) == "hello_world"
+      end)
+    end)
+  end
+
   defp open_port(command, args, env \\ []) do
     env = for {k, v} <- env, do: {to_charlist(k), to_charlist(v)}
     Port.open({:spawn_executable, to_charlist(command)}, [:hide, args: args, env: env])