1 files changed, 3 insertions, 2 deletions
diff --git a/lib/internal/modules/esm/default_resolve.js b/lib/internal/modules/esm/default_resolve.js
index 00461e7df1..60516535e9 100644
--- a/lib/internal/modules/esm/default_resolve.js
+++ b/lib/internal/modules/esm/default_resolve.js
@@ -69,7 +69,9 @@ function resolve(specifier, parentURL) {
     throw e;
   }
 
-  if (!preserveSymlinks) {
+  const isMain = parentURL === undefined;
+
+  if (!preserveSymlinks || isMain) {
     const real = realpathSync(getPathFromURL(url), {
       [internalFS.realpathCacheKey]: realpathCache
     });
@@ -83,7 +85,6 @@ function resolve(specifier, parentURL) {
 
   let format = extensionFormatMap[ext];
   if (!format) {
-    const isMain = parentURL === undefined;
     if (isMain)
       format = 'cjs';
     else