diff --git a/tests/checks/cd.fish b/tests/checks/cd.fish
index e6cded924..e50587554 100644
--- a/tests/checks/cd.fish
+++ b/tests/checks/cd.fish
@@ -55,19 +55,21 @@ else
 end
 # CHECKERR: pwd: realpath failed: {{.+}}
 
-mkdir $real/subdir
-cd $link
-test "$PWD" = "$link" || echo "Default cd should keep symlink:"\n "\$PWD: $PWD"\n "\$link: $link"\n
-cd -P $link
-test "$PWD" = "$real" || echo "cd -P should resolve symlink:"\n "\$PWD: $PWD"\n "\$real: $real"\n
-cd $link/subdir
-test "$PWD" = "$link/subdir" || echo "Logical cd should keep subdir symlink:"\n "\$PWD: $PWD"\n "\$link/subdir: $link/subdir"\n
-cd -P ..
-test "$PWD" = "$real" || echo "cd -P .. should use physical parent:"\n "\$PWD: $PWD"\n "\$real: $real"\n
-cd $link/subdir
-cd -L ..
-test "$PWD" = "$link" || echo "cd -L .. should use logical parent:"\n "\$PWD: $PWD"\n "\$link: $link"\n
-cd $base
+if not set -q nosymlinks
+    mkdir $real/subdir
+    cd $link
+    test "$PWD" = "$link" || echo "Default cd should keep symlink:"\n "\$PWD: $PWD"\n "\$link: $link"\n
+    cd -P $link
+    test "$PWD" = "$real" || echo "cd -P should resolve symlink:"\n "\$PWD: $PWD"\n "\$real: $real"\n
+    cd $link/subdir
+    test "$PWD" = "$link/subdir" || echo "Logical cd should keep subdir symlink:"\n "\$PWD: $PWD"\n "\$link/subdir: $link/subdir"\n
+    cd -P ..
+    test "$PWD" = "$real" || echo "cd -P .. should use physical parent:"\n "\$PWD: $PWD"\n "\$real: $real"\n
+    cd $link/subdir
+    cd -L ..
+    test "$PWD" = "$link" || echo "cd -L .. should use logical parent:"\n "\$PWD: $PWD"\n "\$link: $link"\n
+    cd $base
+end
 
 # Create a symlink and verify logical completion.
 # create directory $base/through/the/looking/glass