diff --git a/gnu/packages/gnome-xyz.scm b/gnu/packages/gnome-xyz.scm
index 0cb4adac76..e1d0e5ec07 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/gnome-xyz.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/gnome-xyz.scm
@@ -227,11 +227,10 @@ (define-public papirus-icon-theme
                    (symlink? (lambda (_ stat)
                                (eq? 'symlink (stat:type stat)))))
                (for-each (lambda (file)
-                           (with-directory-excursion (dirname file)
-                             (let ((target (readlink file)))
-                               (when (eq? 'regular (stat:type (stat target)))
-                                 (delete-file file)
-                                 (link target file)))))
+                           (let ((target (canonicalize-path file)))
+                             (when (eq? 'regular (stat:type (stat target)))
+                               (delete-file file)
+                               (link target file))))
                          (find-files out symlink?))))))))
     (native-inputs
      (list `(,gtk+ "bin")))