diff --git a/lisp/vc/vc.el b/lisp/vc/vc.el
index af875e89907f..368c89fb2557 100644
--- a/lisp/vc/vc.el
+++ b/lisp/vc/vc.el
@@ -964,9 +964,10 @@ vc-responsible-backend
       (catch 'found
 	;; First try: find a responsible backend.  If this is for registration,
 	;; it must be a backend under which FILE is not yet registered.
-	(dolist (backend vc-handled-backends)
-	  (and (vc-call-backend backend 'responsible-p file)
-	       (throw 'found backend))))
+        (dolist (file-path (list file (file-truename file)))
+          (dolist (backend vc-handled-backends)
+            (and (vc-call-backend backend 'responsible-p file-path)
+                 (throw 'found backend)))))
       (error "No VC backend is responsible for %s" file)))
 
 (defun vc-expand-dirs (file-or-dir-list backend)