diff --git a/dir.c b/dir.c
index 3c54366a17..ee1605f004 100644
--- a/dir.c
+++ b/dir.c
@@ -1739,7 +1739,7 @@ static int valid_cached_dir(struct dir_struct *dir,
 	 */
 	refresh_fsmonitor(istate);
 	if (!(dir->untracked->use_fsmonitor && untracked->valid)) {
-		if (stat(path->len ? path->buf : ".", &st)) {
+		if (lstat(path->len ? path->buf : ".", &st)) {
 			invalidate_directory(dir->untracked, untracked);
 			memset(&untracked->stat_data, 0, sizeof(untracked->stat_data));
 			return 0;