diff --git a/autoenv.zsh b/autoenv.zsh
index 4ccc9ae..2deac54 100644
--- a/autoenv.zsh
+++ b/autoenv.zsh
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ _autoenv_get_file_upwards() {
       if [[ ${parent_file[1,2]} == './' ]]; then
         echo ${parent_file#./}
       else
-        echo ${parent_file:A}
+        echo ${parent_file:a}
       fi
       break
     fi
diff --git a/tests/_autoenv_utils.t b/tests/_autoenv_utils.t
index a23f189..c77779f 100644
--- a/tests/_autoenv_utils.t
+++ b/tests/_autoenv_utils.t
@@ -17,6 +17,15 @@ Should not get the file from the current dir.
   $ _autoenv_get_file_upwards $PWD file
   */_autoenv_utils.t/sub/file (glob)
 
+_autoenv_get_file_upwards should not dereference symlinks.
+
+  $ cd ../..
+  $ ln -s sub symlink
+  $ cd symlink/sub2
+  $ _autoenv_get_file_upwards . file
+  ../file
+  $ _autoenv_get_file_upwards $PWD file
+  */_autoenv_utils.t/symlink/file (glob)
 
 Tests for _autoenv_authorize. {{{