diff --git a/z.sh b/z.sh
index fbc2f04..c2036c6 100644
--- a/z.sh
+++ b/z.sh
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@ _z() {
 
     local datafile="${_Z_DATA:-$HOME/.z}"
 
+    # if symlink, dereference
+    [ -h "$datafile" ] && datafile=$(readlink "$datafile")
+
     # bail if we don't own ~/.z and $_Z_OWNER not set
     [ -z "$_Z_OWNER" -a -f "$datafile" -a ! -O "$datafile" ] && return