diff --git a/pre_commit/store.py b/pre_commit/store.py
index 8bcbf99f..6d8c40a9 100644
--- a/pre_commit/store.py
+++ b/pre_commit/store.py
@@ -30,10 +30,11 @@ def _get_default_directory() -> str:
     `Store.get_default_directory` can be mocked in tests and
     `_get_default_directory` can be tested.
     """
-    return os.environ.get('PRE_COMMIT_HOME') or os.path.join(
+    ret = os.environ.get('PRE_COMMIT_HOME') or os.path.join(
         os.environ.get('XDG_CACHE_HOME') or os.path.expanduser('~/.cache'),
         'pre-commit',
     )
+    return os.path.realpath(ret)
 
 
 class Store:
diff --git a/tests/store_test.py b/tests/store_test.py
index 58666161..6a4e900c 100644
--- a/tests/store_test.py
+++ b/tests/store_test.py
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ def test_our_session_fixture_works():
 def test_get_default_directory_defaults_to_home():
     # Not we use the module level one which is not mocked
     ret = _get_default_directory()
-    assert ret == os.path.join(os.path.expanduser('~/.cache'), 'pre-commit')
+    expected = os.path.realpath(os.path.expanduser('~/.cache/pre-commit'))
+    assert ret == expected
 
 
 def test_adheres_to_xdg_specification():
@@ -33,7 +34,8 @@ def test_adheres_to_xdg_specification():
         os.environ, {'XDG_CACHE_HOME': '/tmp/fakehome'},
     ):
         ret = _get_default_directory()
-        assert ret == os.path.join('/tmp/fakehome', 'pre-commit')
+    expected = os.path.realpath('/tmp/fakehome/pre-commit')
+    assert ret == expected
 
 
 def test_uses_environment_variable_when_present():
@@ -41,7 +43,8 @@ def test_uses_environment_variable_when_present():
         os.environ, {'PRE_COMMIT_HOME': '/tmp/pre_commit_home'},
     ):
         ret = _get_default_directory()
-        assert ret == '/tmp/pre_commit_home'
+    expected = os.path.realpath('/tmp/pre_commit_home')
+    assert ret == expected
 
 
 def test_store_init(store):