diff --git a/kitty/config.py b/kitty/config.py
index d07c65ab1..7639e0da7 100644
--- a/kitty/config.py
+++ b/kitty/config.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ def build_ansi_color_table(opts: Optional[Options] = None) -> int:
 
 def atomic_save(data: bytes, path: str) -> None:
     import tempfile
+    path = os.path.realpath(path)
     fd, p = tempfile.mkstemp(dir=os.path.dirname(path), suffix='.tmp')
     try:
         with os.fdopen(fd, 'wb') as f: