diff --git a/salt/states/file.py b/salt/states/file.py
index b3c5f9d036..e425ff2a63 100644
--- a/salt/states/file.py
+++ b/salt/states/file.py
@@ -900,7 +900,7 @@ def symlink(
             )
     if __salt__['file.is_link'](name):
         # The link exists, verify that it matches the target
-        if __salt__['file.readlink'](name) != target:
+        if os.path.normpath(__salt__['file.readlink'](name)) != os.path.normpath(target):
             # The target is wrong, delete the link
             os.remove(name)
         else: