diff --git a/function.c b/function.c
index bb2f116f..c7e1d4fe 100644
--- a/function.c
+++ b/function.c
@@ -1998,6 +1998,9 @@ func_realpath (char *o, char **argv, const char *funcname UNUSED)
   const char *path = 0;
   int doneany = 0;
   unsigned int len = 0;
+#ifndef HAVE_REALPATH
+  struct stat st;
+#endif
   PATH_VAR (in);
   PATH_VAR (out);
 
@@ -2012,7 +2015,7 @@ func_realpath (char *o, char **argv, const char *funcname UNUSED)
 #ifdef HAVE_REALPATH
               realpath (in, out)
 #else
-              abspath (in, out)
+              abspath (in, out) && stat (out, &st) == 0
 #endif
              )
             {