diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/python.py b/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/python.py
index e3df3ab3747..f554bfef536 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/python.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/python.py
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ def add_files_to_view(self, view, merge_map, skip_if_exists=True):
             except (OSError, KeyError):
                 target = None
             if target:
-                os.symlink(target, dst)
+                os.symlink(os.path.relpath(target, os.path.dirname(dst)), dst)
             else:
                 view.link(src, dst, spec=self.spec)
 
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/python/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/python/package.py
index 8ca289b1968..b828db93718 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/python/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/python/package.py
@@ -1306,7 +1306,7 @@ def add_files_to_view(self, view, merge_map, skip_if_exists=True):
             except (OSError, KeyError):
                 target = None
             if target:
-                os.symlink(target, dst)
+                os.symlink(os.path.relpath(target, os.path.dirname(dst)), dst)
             else:
                 view.link(src, dst, spec=self.spec)