diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/fetch2/gitsm.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/fetch2/gitsm.py
index fee40cdcb4..f8e239bc5d 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/fetch2/gitsm.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/fetch2/gitsm.py
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ class GitSM(Git):
                 # Convert relative to absolute uri based on parent uri
                 if  uris[m].startswith('..') or uris[m].startswith('./'):
                     newud = copy.copy(ud)
-                    newud.path = os.path.realpath(os.path.join(newud.path, uris[m]))
+                    newud.path = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(newud.path, uris[m]))
                     uris[m] = Git._get_repo_url(self, newud)
 
         for module in submodules: