diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/stage.py b/lib/spack/spack/stage.py
index 19eca53d1d..e708662253 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/stage.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/stage.py
@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ def _add_to_root_stage(self):
                          '{stage}\n\tdestination : {destination}'.format(
                              stage=source_path, destination=destination_path
                          ))
-                shutil.move(source_path, destination_path)
+                shutil.move(os.path.realpath(source_path), destination_path)
 
 
 @pattern.composite(method_list=[