diff --git a/plugin/auto/walk.go b/plugin/auto/walk.go
index 351210509..9b60cb9be 100644
--- a/plugin/auto/walk.go
+++ b/plugin/auto/walk.go
@@ -31,9 +31,10 @@ func (a Auto) Walk() error {
 			return nil
 		}
 
-		if _, ok := a.Zones.Z[origin]; ok {
+		if z, ok := a.Zones.Z[origin]; ok {
 			// we already have this zone
 			toDelete[origin] = false
+			z.SetFile(path)
 			return nil
 		}
 
diff --git a/plugin/auto/watcher_test.go b/plugin/auto/watcher_test.go
index dde7053fd..1d707d747 100644
--- a/plugin/auto/watcher_test.go
+++ b/plugin/auto/watcher_test.go
@@ -51,4 +51,51 @@ func TestWatcher(t *testing.T) {
 	if _, ok := a.Zones.Z["example.org."]; !ok {
 		t.Errorf("Expected %q to still be there.", "example.org.")
 	}
+
+}
+
+func TestSymlinks(t *testing.T) {
+	tempdir, err := createFiles()
+	if err != nil {
+		if tempdir != "" {
+			os.RemoveAll(tempdir)
+		}
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer os.RemoveAll(tempdir)
+
+	ldr := loader{
+		directory: tempdir,
+		re:        regexp.MustCompile(`db\.(.*)`),
+		template:  `${1}`,
+	}
+
+	a := Auto{
+		loader: ldr,
+		Zones:  &Zones{},
+	}
+
+	a.Walk()
+
+	// Now create a duplicate file in a subdirectory and repoint the symlink
+	if err := os.Remove(path.Join(tempdir, "db.example.com")); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	dataDir := path.Join(tempdir, "..data")
+	if err = os.Mkdir(dataDir, 0755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	newFile := path.Join(dataDir, "db.example.com")
+	if err = os.Symlink(path.Join(tempdir, "db.example.org"), newFile); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	a.Walk()
+
+	if storedZone, ok := a.Zones.Z["example.com."]; ok {
+		storedFile := storedZone.File()
+		if storedFile != newFile {
+			t.Errorf("Expected %q to reflect new path %q", storedFile, newFile)
+		}
+	}
 }
diff --git a/plugin/file/reload.go b/plugin/file/reload.go
index af06b98ac..7c0fe8544 100644
--- a/plugin/file/reload.go
+++ b/plugin/file/reload.go
@@ -22,14 +22,15 @@ func (z *Zone) Reload() error {
 			select {
 
 			case <-tick.C:
-				reader, err := os.Open(z.file)
+				zFile := z.File()
+				reader, err := os.Open(zFile)
 				if err != nil {
-					log.Errorf("Failed to open zone %q in %q: %v", z.origin, z.file, err)
+					log.Errorf("Failed to open zone %q in %q: %v", z.origin, zFile, err)
 					continue
 				}
 
 				serial := z.SOASerialIfDefined()
-				zone, err := Parse(reader, z.origin, z.file, serial)
+				zone, err := Parse(reader, z.origin, zFile, serial)
 				if err != nil {
 					if _, ok := err.(*serialErr); !ok {
 						log.Errorf("Parsing zone %q: %v", z.origin, err)
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ func (z *Zone) Reload() error {
 				z.Tree = zone.Tree
 				z.reloadMu.Unlock()
 
-				log.Infof("Successfully reloaded zone %q in %q with serial %d", z.origin, z.file, z.Apex.SOA.Serial)
+				log.Infof("Successfully reloaded zone %q in %q with serial %d", z.origin, zFile, z.Apex.SOA.Serial)
 				z.Notify()
 
 			case <-z.reloadShutdown:
diff --git a/plugin/file/zone.go b/plugin/file/zone.go
index da294ed45..6e1ec6d69 100644
--- a/plugin/file/zone.go
+++ b/plugin/file/zone.go
@@ -124,6 +124,20 @@ func (z *Zone) Insert(r dns.RR) error {
 // Delete deletes r from z.
 func (z *Zone) Delete(r dns.RR) { z.Tree.Delete(r) }
 
+// File retrieves the file path in a safe way
+func (z *Zone) File() string {
+	z.reloadMu.Lock()
+	defer z.reloadMu.Unlock()
+	return z.file
+}
+
+// SetFile updates the file path in a safe way
+func (z *Zone) SetFile(path string) {
+	z.reloadMu.Lock()
+	z.file = path
+	z.reloadMu.Unlock()
+}
+
 // TransferAllowed checks if incoming request for transferring the zone is allowed according to the ACLs.
 func (z *Zone) TransferAllowed(state request.Request) bool {
 	for _, t := range z.TransferTo {