diff --git a/lisp/vc/vc.el b/lisp/vc/vc.el
index af875e89907f..db9b0db39c6b 100644
--- a/lisp/vc/vc.el
+++ b/lisp/vc/vc.el
@@ -962,11 +962,13 @@ vc-responsible-backend
 responsible for FILE is returned."
   (or (and (not (file-directory-p file)) (vc-backend file))
       (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))))
+        ;; First try: find a responsible backend.  If this is for
+        ;; registration, it must be a backend under which FILE is not
+        ;; yet registered.
+        (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)