diff --git a/lib/fs.js b/lib/fs.js
index 54e6b4ac0d2536..6f7a3cf2513bd8 100644
--- a/lib/fs.js
+++ b/lib/fs.js
@@ -1550,7 +1550,7 @@ fs.realpathSync = function realpathSync(p, cache) {
         }
       }
       if (linkTarget === null) {
-        fs.statSync(base);
+        fs.accessSync(base, fs.F_OK);  // Throws ELOOP on cyclic links.
         linkTarget = fs.readlinkSync(base);
       }
       resolvedLink = pathModule.resolve(previous, linkTarget);