diff --git a/internal/fs/node_linux.go b/internal/fs/node_linux.go
index 91ef4f907..55b4b05d7 100644
--- a/internal/fs/node_linux.go
+++ b/internal/fs/node_linux.go
@@ -1,33 +1,18 @@
 package fs
 
 import (
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
 	"syscall"
 
-	"golang.org/x/sys/unix"
-
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/errors"
+	"golang.org/x/sys/unix"
 )
 
 func nodeRestoreSymlinkTimestamps(path string, utimes [2]syscall.Timespec) error {
-	dir, err := os.Open(fixpath(filepath.Dir(path)))
-	if err != nil {
-		return errors.WithStack(err)
-	}
-
 	times := []unix.Timespec{
 		{Sec: utimes[0].Sec, Nsec: utimes[0].Nsec},
 		{Sec: utimes[1].Sec, Nsec: utimes[1].Nsec},
 	}
 
-	err = unix.UtimesNanoAt(int(dir.Fd()), filepath.Base(path), times, unix.AT_SYMLINK_NOFOLLOW)
-
-	if err != nil {
-		// ignore subsequent errors
-		_ = dir.Close()
-		return errors.Wrap(err, "UtimesNanoAt")
-	}
-
-	return dir.Close()
+	err := unix.UtimesNanoAt(unix.AT_FDCWD, path, times, unix.AT_SYMLINK_NOFOLLOW)
+	return errors.Wrap(err, "UtimesNanoAt")
 }