diff --git a/nipype/pipeline/engine/nodes.py b/nipype/pipeline/engine/nodes.py
index 86818f6e2c..5ac9e72fae 100644
--- a/nipype/pipeline/engine/nodes.py
+++ b/nipype/pipeline/engine/nodes.py
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ def output_dir(self):
                 params_str = [_parameterization_dir(p) for p in params_str]
             outputdir = op.join(outputdir, *params_str)
 
-        self._output_dir = op.abspath(op.join(outputdir, self.name))
+        self._output_dir = op.realpath(op.join(outputdir, self.name))
         return self._output_dir
 
     def set_input(self, parameter, val):