diff --git a/modules/fileicon/entry.go b/modules/fileicon/entry.go
index e4ded363e5..0326c2bfa8 100644
--- a/modules/fileicon/entry.go
+++ b/modules/fileicon/entry.go
@@ -6,17 +6,17 @@ package fileicon
 import "code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/git"
 
 type EntryInfo struct {
-	FullName      string
+	BaseName      string
 	EntryMode     git.EntryMode
 	SymlinkToMode git.EntryMode
 	IsOpen        bool
 }
 
-func EntryInfoFromGitTreeEntry(gitEntry *git.TreeEntry) *EntryInfo {
-	ret := &EntryInfo{FullName: gitEntry.Name(), EntryMode: gitEntry.Mode()}
+func EntryInfoFromGitTreeEntry(commit *git.Commit, fullPath string, gitEntry *git.TreeEntry) *EntryInfo {
+	ret := &EntryInfo{BaseName: gitEntry.Name(), EntryMode: gitEntry.Mode()}
 	if gitEntry.IsLink() {
-		if te, err := gitEntry.FollowLink(); err == nil && te.IsDir() {
-			ret.SymlinkToMode = te.Mode()
+		if res, err := git.EntryFollowLink(commit, fullPath, gitEntry); err == nil && res.TargetEntry.IsDir() {
+			ret.SymlinkToMode = res.TargetEntry.Mode()
 		}
 	}
 	return ret
diff --git a/modules/fileicon/material.go b/modules/fileicon/material.go
index 449f527ee8..5361592d8a 100644
--- a/modules/fileicon/material.go
+++ b/modules/fileicon/material.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ package fileicon
 
 import (
 	"html/template"
-	"path"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 
@@ -134,7 +133,7 @@ func (m *MaterialIconProvider) FindIconName(entry *EntryInfo) string {
 		return "folder-git"
 	}
 
-	fileNameLower := strings.ToLower(path.Base(entry.FullName))
+	fileNameLower := strings.ToLower(entry.BaseName)
 	if entry.EntryMode.IsDir() {
 		if s, ok := m.rules.FolderNames[fileNameLower]; ok {
 			return s
diff --git a/modules/fileicon/material_test.go b/modules/fileicon/material_test.go
index 68353d2189..d2a769eaac 100644
--- a/modules/fileicon/material_test.go
+++ b/modules/fileicon/material_test.go
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 func TestFindIconName(t *testing.T) {
 	unittest.PrepareTestEnv(t)
 	p := fileicon.DefaultMaterialIconProvider()
-	assert.Equal(t, "php", p.FindIconName(&fileicon.EntryInfo{FullName: "foo.php", EntryMode: git.EntryModeBlob}))
-	assert.Equal(t, "php", p.FindIconName(&fileicon.EntryInfo{FullName: "foo.PHP", EntryMode: git.EntryModeBlob}))
-	assert.Equal(t, "javascript", p.FindIconName(&fileicon.EntryInfo{FullName: "foo.js", EntryMode: git.EntryModeBlob}))
-	assert.Equal(t, "visualstudio", p.FindIconName(&fileicon.EntryInfo{FullName: "foo.vba", EntryMode: git.EntryModeBlob}))
+	assert.Equal(t, "php", p.FindIconName(&fileicon.EntryInfo{BaseName: "foo.php", EntryMode: git.EntryModeBlob}))
+	assert.Equal(t, "php", p.FindIconName(&fileicon.EntryInfo{BaseName: "foo.PHP", EntryMode: git.EntryModeBlob}))
+	assert.Equal(t, "javascript", p.FindIconName(&fileicon.EntryInfo{BaseName: "foo.js", EntryMode: git.EntryModeBlob}))
+	assert.Equal(t, "visualstudio", p.FindIconName(&fileicon.EntryInfo{BaseName: "foo.vba", EntryMode: git.EntryModeBlob}))
 }
diff --git a/modules/git/commit.go b/modules/git/commit.go
index 1c1648eb8b..ed4876e7b3 100644
--- a/modules/git/commit.go
+++ b/modules/git/commit.go
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ import (
 
 // Commit represents a git commit.
 type Commit struct {
-	Tree
+	Tree // FIXME: bad design, this field can be nil if the commit is from "last commit cache"
+
 	ID            ObjectID // The ID of this commit object
 	Author        *Signature
 	Committer     *Signature
diff --git a/modules/git/error.go b/modules/git/error.go
index 6c86d1b04d..7d131345d0 100644
--- a/modules/git/error.go
+++ b/modules/git/error.go
@@ -32,22 +32,6 @@ func (err ErrNotExist) Unwrap() error {
 	return util.ErrNotExist
 }
 
-// ErrSymlinkUnresolved entry.FollowLink error
-type ErrSymlinkUnresolved struct {
-	Name    string
-	Message string
-}
-
-func (err ErrSymlinkUnresolved) Error() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s", err.Name, err.Message)
-}
-
-// IsErrSymlinkUnresolved if some error is ErrSymlinkUnresolved
-func IsErrSymlinkUnresolved(err error) bool {
-	_, ok := err.(ErrSymlinkUnresolved)
-	return ok
-}
-
 // ErrBranchNotExist represents a "BranchNotExist" kind of error.
 type ErrBranchNotExist struct {
 	Name string
diff --git a/modules/git/tree_blob_nogogit.go b/modules/git/tree_blob_nogogit.go
index b7bcf40edd..b18d0fa05e 100644
--- a/modules/git/tree_blob_nogogit.go
+++ b/modules/git/tree_blob_nogogit.go
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 // GetTreeEntryByPath get the tree entries according the sub dir
-func (t *Tree) GetTreeEntryByPath(relpath string) (*TreeEntry, error) {
+func (t *Tree) GetTreeEntryByPath(relpath string) (_ *TreeEntry, err error) {
 	if len(relpath) == 0 {
 		return &TreeEntry{
 			ptree:     t,
@@ -21,27 +21,25 @@ func (t *Tree) GetTreeEntryByPath(relpath string) (*TreeEntry, error) {
 		}, nil
 	}
 
-	// FIXME: This should probably use git cat-file --batch to be a bit more efficient
 	relpath = path.Clean(relpath)
 	parts := strings.Split(relpath, "/")
-	var err error
+
 	tree := t
-	for i, name := range parts {
-		if i == len(parts)-1 {
-			entries, err := tree.ListEntries()
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, err
-			}
-			for _, v := range entries {
-				if v.Name() == name {
-					return v, nil
-				}
-			}
-		} else {
-			tree, err = tree.SubTree(name)
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, err
-			}
+	for _, name := range parts[:len(parts)-1] {
+		tree, err = tree.SubTree(name)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+
+	name := parts[len(parts)-1]
+	entries, err := tree.ListEntries()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	for _, v := range entries {
+		if v.Name() == name {
+			return v, nil
 		}
 	}
 	return nil, ErrNotExist{"", relpath}
diff --git a/modules/git/tree_entry.go b/modules/git/tree_entry.go
index 57856d90ee..5099d8ee79 100644
--- a/modules/git/tree_entry.go
+++ b/modules/git/tree_entry.go
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 package git
 
 import (
-	"io"
+	"path"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -24,77 +24,57 @@ func (te *TreeEntry) Type() string {
 	}
 }
 
-// FollowLink returns the entry pointed to by a symlink
-func (te *TreeEntry) FollowLink() (*TreeEntry, error) {
-	if !te.IsLink() {
-		return nil, ErrSymlinkUnresolved{te.Name(), "not a symlink"}
-	}
-
-	// read the link
-	r, err := te.Blob().DataAsync()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	closed := false
-	defer func() {
-		if !closed {
-			_ = r.Close()
-		}
-	}()
-	buf := make([]byte, te.Size())
-	_, err = io.ReadFull(r, buf)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	_ = r.Close()
-	closed = true
-
-	lnk := string(buf)
-	t := te.ptree
-
-	// traverse up directories
-	for ; t != nil && strings.HasPrefix(lnk, "../"); lnk = lnk[3:] {
-		t = t.ptree
-	}
-
-	if t == nil {
-		return nil, ErrSymlinkUnresolved{te.Name(), "points outside of repo"}
-	}
-
-	target, err := t.GetTreeEntryByPath(lnk)
-	if err != nil {
-		if IsErrNotExist(err) {
-			return nil, ErrSymlinkUnresolved{te.Name(), "broken link"}
-		}
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	return target, nil
+type EntryFollowResult struct {
+	SymlinkContent string
+	TargetFullPath string
+	TargetEntry    *TreeEntry
 }
 
-// FollowLinks returns the entry ultimately pointed to by a symlink
-func (te *TreeEntry) FollowLinks(optLimit ...int) (*TreeEntry, error) {
+func EntryFollowLink(commit *Commit, fullPath string, te *TreeEntry) (*EntryFollowResult, error) {
 	if !te.IsLink() {
-		return nil, ErrSymlinkUnresolved{te.Name(), "not a symlink"}
+		return nil, util.ErrorWrap(util.ErrUnprocessableContent, "%q is not a symlink", fullPath)
 	}
+
+	// git's filename max length is 4096, hopefully a link won't be longer than multiple of that
+	const maxSymlinkSize = 20 * 4096
+	if te.Blob().Size() > maxSymlinkSize {
+		return nil, util.ErrorWrap(util.ErrUnprocessableContent, "%q content exceeds symlink limit", fullPath)
+	}
+
+	link, err := te.Blob().GetBlobContent(maxSymlinkSize)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if strings.HasPrefix(link, "/") {
+		// It's said that absolute path will be stored as is in Git
+		return &EntryFollowResult{SymlinkContent: link}, util.ErrorWrap(util.ErrUnprocessableContent, "%q is an absolute symlink", fullPath)
+	}
+
+	targetFullPath := path.Join(path.Dir(fullPath), link)
+	targetEntry, err := commit.GetTreeEntryByPath(targetFullPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return &EntryFollowResult{SymlinkContent: link}, err
+	}
+	return &EntryFollowResult{SymlinkContent: link, TargetFullPath: targetFullPath, TargetEntry: targetEntry}, nil
+}
+
+func EntryFollowLinks(commit *Commit, firstFullPath string, firstTreeEntry *TreeEntry, optLimit ...int) (res *EntryFollowResult, err error) {
 	limit := util.OptionalArg(optLimit, 10)
-	entry := te
+	treeEntry, fullPath := firstTreeEntry, firstFullPath
 	for range limit {
-		if !entry.IsLink() {
+		res, err = EntryFollowLink(commit, fullPath, treeEntry)
+		if err != nil {
+			return res, err
+		}
+		treeEntry, fullPath = res.TargetEntry, res.TargetFullPath
+		if !treeEntry.IsLink() {
 			break
 		}
-		next, err := entry.FollowLink()
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		if next.ID == entry.ID {
-			return nil, ErrSymlinkUnresolved{entry.Name(), "recursive link"}
-		}
-		entry = next
 	}
-	if entry.IsLink() {
-		return nil, ErrSymlinkUnresolved{te.Name(), "too many levels of symbolic links"}
+	if treeEntry.IsLink() {
+		return res, util.ErrorWrap(util.ErrUnprocessableContent, "%q has too many links", firstFullPath)
 	}
-	return entry, nil
+	return res, nil
 }
 
 // returns the Tree pointed to by this TreeEntry, or nil if this is not a tree
diff --git a/modules/git/tree_entry_common_test.go b/modules/git/tree_entry_common_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8b63bbb993
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/git/tree_entry_common_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+// Copyright 2024 The Gitea Authors. All rights reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+
+package git
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/util"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestFollowLink(t *testing.T) {
+	r, err := openRepositoryWithDefaultContext("tests/repos/repo1_bare")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer r.Close()
+
+	commit, err := r.GetCommit("37991dec2c8e592043f47155ce4808d4580f9123")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// get the symlink
+	{
+		lnkFullPath := "foo/bar/link_to_hello"
+		lnk, err := commit.Tree.GetTreeEntryByPath("foo/bar/link_to_hello")
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.True(t, lnk.IsLink())
+
+		// should be able to dereference to target
+		res, err := EntryFollowLink(commit, lnkFullPath, lnk)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, "hello", res.TargetEntry.Name())
+		assert.Equal(t, "foo/nar/hello", res.TargetFullPath)
+		assert.False(t, res.TargetEntry.IsLink())
+		assert.Equal(t, "b14df6442ea5a1b382985a6549b85d435376c351", res.TargetEntry.ID.String())
+	}
+
+	{
+		// should error when called on a normal file
+		entry, err := commit.Tree.GetTreeEntryByPath("file1.txt")
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		res, err := EntryFollowLink(commit, "file1.txt", entry)
+		assert.ErrorIs(t, err, util.ErrUnprocessableContent)
+		assert.Nil(t, res)
+	}
+
+	{
+		// should error for broken links
+		entry, err := commit.Tree.GetTreeEntryByPath("foo/broken_link")
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.True(t, entry.IsLink())
+		res, err := EntryFollowLink(commit, "foo/broken_link", entry)
+		assert.ErrorIs(t, err, util.ErrNotExist)
+		assert.Equal(t, "nar/broken_link", res.SymlinkContent)
+	}
+
+	{
+		// should error for external links
+		entry, err := commit.Tree.GetTreeEntryByPath("foo/outside_repo")
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.True(t, entry.IsLink())
+		res, err := EntryFollowLink(commit, "foo/outside_repo", entry)
+		assert.ErrorIs(t, err, util.ErrNotExist)
+		assert.Equal(t, "../../outside_repo", res.SymlinkContent)
+	}
+
+	{
+		// testing fix for short link bug
+		entry, err := commit.Tree.GetTreeEntryByPath("foo/link_short")
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		res, err := EntryFollowLink(commit, "foo/link_short", entry)
+		assert.ErrorIs(t, err, util.ErrNotExist)
+		assert.Equal(t, "a", res.SymlinkContent)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/modules/git/tree_entry_gogit.go b/modules/git/tree_entry_gogit.go
index eb9b012681..e6845f1c77 100644
--- a/modules/git/tree_entry_gogit.go
+++ b/modules/git/tree_entry_gogit.go
@@ -19,16 +19,12 @@ type TreeEntry struct {
 	gogitTreeEntry *object.TreeEntry
 	ptree          *Tree
 
-	size     int64
-	sized    bool
-	fullName string
+	size  int64
+	sized bool
 }
 
 // Name returns the name of the entry
 func (te *TreeEntry) Name() string {
-	if te.fullName != "" {
-		return te.fullName
-	}
 	return te.gogitTreeEntry.Name
 }
 
@@ -55,7 +51,7 @@ func (te *TreeEntry) Size() int64 {
 	return te.size
 }
 
-// IsSubModule if the entry is a sub module
+// IsSubModule if the entry is a submodule
 func (te *TreeEntry) IsSubModule() bool {
 	return te.gogitTreeEntry.Mode == filemode.Submodule
 }
diff --git a/modules/git/tree_entry_mode.go b/modules/git/tree_entry_mode.go
index d815a8bc2e..f36c07bc2a 100644
--- a/modules/git/tree_entry_mode.go
+++ b/modules/git/tree_entry_mode.go
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ type EntryMode int
 // one of these.
 const (
 	// EntryModeNoEntry is possible if the file was added or removed in a commit. In the case of
-	// added the base commit will not have the file in its tree so a mode of 0o000000 is used.
+	// when adding the base commit doesn't have the file in its tree, a mode of 0o000000 is used.
 	EntryModeNoEntry EntryMode = 0o000000
 
 	EntryModeBlob    EntryMode = 0o100644
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ func (e EntryMode) String() string {
 	return strconv.FormatInt(int64(e), 8)
 }
 
-// IsSubModule if the entry is a sub module
+// IsSubModule if the entry is a submodule
 func (e EntryMode) IsSubModule() bool {
 	return e == EntryModeCommit
 }
diff --git a/modules/git/tree_entry_nogogit.go b/modules/git/tree_entry_nogogit.go
index 38a768e3a6..8fad96cdf8 100644
--- a/modules/git/tree_entry_nogogit.go
+++ b/modules/git/tree_entry_nogogit.go
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ func (te *TreeEntry) Size() int64 {
 	return te.size
 }
 
-// IsSubModule if the entry is a sub module
+// IsSubModule if the entry is a submodule
 func (te *TreeEntry) IsSubModule() bool {
 	return te.entryMode.IsSubModule()
 }
diff --git a/modules/git/tree_entry_test.go b/modules/git/tree_entry_test.go
index 30eee13669..9ca82675e0 100644
--- a/modules/git/tree_entry_test.go
+++ b/modules/git/tree_entry_test.go
@@ -53,50 +53,3 @@ func TestEntriesCustomSort(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, "bcd", entries[6].Name())
 	assert.Equal(t, "abc", entries[7].Name())
 }
-
-func TestFollowLink(t *testing.T) {
-	r, err := openRepositoryWithDefaultContext("tests/repos/repo1_bare")
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
-	defer r.Close()
-
-	commit, err := r.GetCommit("37991dec2c8e592043f47155ce4808d4580f9123")
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
-
-	// get the symlink
-	lnk, err := commit.Tree.GetTreeEntryByPath("foo/bar/link_to_hello")
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.True(t, lnk.IsLink())
-
-	// should be able to dereference to target
-	target, err := lnk.FollowLink()
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Equal(t, "hello", target.Name())
-	assert.False(t, target.IsLink())
-	assert.Equal(t, "b14df6442ea5a1b382985a6549b85d435376c351", target.ID.String())
-
-	// should error when called on normal file
-	target, err = commit.Tree.GetTreeEntryByPath("file1.txt")
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
-	_, err = target.FollowLink()
-	assert.EqualError(t, err, "file1.txt: not a symlink")
-
-	// should error for broken links
-	target, err = commit.Tree.GetTreeEntryByPath("foo/broken_link")
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.True(t, target.IsLink())
-	_, err = target.FollowLink()
-	assert.EqualError(t, err, "broken_link: broken link")
-
-	// should error for external links
-	target, err = commit.Tree.GetTreeEntryByPath("foo/outside_repo")
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.True(t, target.IsLink())
-	_, err = target.FollowLink()
-	assert.EqualError(t, err, "outside_repo: points outside of repo")
-
-	// testing fix for short link bug
-	target, err = commit.Tree.GetTreeEntryByPath("foo/link_short")
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
-	_, err = target.FollowLink()
-	assert.EqualError(t, err, "link_short: broken link")
-}
diff --git a/modules/git/tree_gogit.go b/modules/git/tree_gogit.go
index 421b0ecb0f..272b018ffd 100644
--- a/modules/git/tree_gogit.go
+++ b/modules/git/tree_gogit.go
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ func (t *Tree) ListEntriesRecursiveWithSize() (Entries, error) {
 	seen := map[plumbing.Hash]bool{}
 	walker := object.NewTreeWalker(t.gogitTree, true, seen)
 	for {
-		fullName, entry, err := walker.Next()
+		_, entry, err := walker.Next()
 		if err == io.EOF {
 			break
 		}
@@ -84,7 +84,6 @@ func (t *Tree) ListEntriesRecursiveWithSize() (Entries, error) {
 			ID:             ParseGogitHash(entry.Hash),
 			gogitTreeEntry: &entry,
 			ptree:          t,
-			fullName:       fullName,
 		}
 		entries = append(entries, convertedEntry)
 	}
diff --git a/modules/util/error.go b/modules/util/error.go
index 8e67d5a82f..6b2721618e 100644
--- a/modules/util/error.go
+++ b/modules/util/error.go
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ var (
 	ErrNotExist         = errors.New("resource does not exist") // also implies HTTP 404
 	ErrAlreadyExist     = errors.New("resource already exists") // also implies HTTP 409
 
-	// ErrUnprocessableContent implies HTTP 422, syntax of the request content was correct,
-	// but server was unable to process the contained instructions
+	// ErrUnprocessableContent implies HTTP 422, the syntax of the request content is correct,
+	// but the server is unable to process the contained instructions
 	ErrUnprocessableContent = errors.New("unprocessable content")
 )
 
diff --git a/options/locale/locale_en-US.ini b/options/locale/locale_en-US.ini
index 80bf0801e9..6052177100 100644
--- a/options/locale/locale_en-US.ini
+++ b/options/locale/locale_en-US.ini
@@ -2782,6 +2782,7 @@ topic.done = Done
 topic.count_prompt = You cannot select more than 25 topics
 topic.format_prompt = Topics must start with a letter or number, can include dashes ('-') and dots ('.'), can be up to 35 characters long. Letters must be lowercase.
 
+find_file.follow_symlink= Follow this symlink to where it is pointing at
 find_file.go_to_file = Go to file
 find_file.no_matching = No matching file found
 
diff --git a/routers/web/repo/treelist.go b/routers/web/repo/treelist.go
index 0248a0627b..7d7f5a1473 100644
--- a/routers/web/repo/treelist.go
+++ b/routers/web/repo/treelist.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ package repo
 import (
 	"html/template"
 	"net/http"
+	"path"
 	"strings"
 
 	pull_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/pull"
@@ -111,7 +112,7 @@ func transformDiffTreeForWeb(renderedIconPool *fileicon.RenderedIconPool, diffTr
 		item := &WebDiffFileItem{FullName: file.HeadPath, DiffStatus: file.Status}
 		item.IsViewed = filesViewedState[item.FullName] == pull_model.Viewed
 		item.NameHash = git.HashFilePathForWebUI(item.FullName)
-		item.FileIcon = fileicon.RenderEntryIconHTML(renderedIconPool, &fileicon.EntryInfo{FullName: file.HeadPath, EntryMode: file.HeadMode})
+		item.FileIcon = fileicon.RenderEntryIconHTML(renderedIconPool, &fileicon.EntryInfo{BaseName: path.Base(file.HeadPath), EntryMode: file.HeadMode})
 
 		switch file.HeadMode {
 		case git.EntryModeTree:
diff --git a/routers/web/repo/view.go b/routers/web/repo/view.go
index d9ff90568d..773919c054 100644
--- a/routers/web/repo/view.go
+++ b/routers/web/repo/view.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/url"
+	"path"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -260,7 +261,9 @@ func prepareDirectoryFileIcons(ctx *context.Context, files []git.CommitInfo) {
 	renderedIconPool := fileicon.NewRenderedIconPool()
 	fileIcons := map[string]template.HTML{}
 	for _, f := range files {
-		fileIcons[f.Entry.Name()] = fileicon.RenderEntryIconHTML(renderedIconPool, fileicon.EntryInfoFromGitTreeEntry(f.Entry))
+		fullPath := path.Join(ctx.Repo.TreePath, f.Entry.Name())
+		entryInfo := fileicon.EntryInfoFromGitTreeEntry(ctx.Repo.Commit, fullPath, f.Entry)
+		fileIcons[f.Entry.Name()] = fileicon.RenderEntryIconHTML(renderedIconPool, entryInfo)
 	}
 	fileIcons[".."] = fileicon.RenderEntryIconHTML(renderedIconPool, fileicon.EntryInfoFolder())
 	ctx.Data["FileIcons"] = fileIcons
diff --git a/routers/web/repo/view_home.go b/routers/web/repo/view_home.go
index 8ed9179290..c7396d44e3 100644
--- a/routers/web/repo/view_home.go
+++ b/routers/web/repo/view_home.go
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ func prepareToRenderDirectory(ctx *context.Context) {
 		ctx.Data["Title"] = ctx.Tr("repo.file.title", ctx.Repo.Repository.Name+"/"+path.Base(ctx.Repo.TreePath), ctx.Repo.RefFullName.ShortName())
 	}
 
-	subfolder, readmeFile, err := findReadmeFileInEntries(ctx, entries, true)
+	subfolder, readmeFile, err := findReadmeFileInEntries(ctx, ctx.Repo.TreePath, entries, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		ctx.ServerError("findReadmeFileInEntries", err)
 		return
@@ -377,8 +377,8 @@ func prepareHomeTreeSideBarSwitch(ctx *context.Context) {
 
 func redirectSrcToRaw(ctx *context.Context) bool {
 	// GitHub redirects a tree path with "?raw=1" to the raw path
-	// It is useful to embed some raw contents into markdown files,
-	// then viewing the markdown in "src" path could embed the raw content correctly.
+	// It is useful to embed some raw contents into Markdown files,
+	// then viewing the Markdown in "src" path could embed the raw content correctly.
 	if ctx.Repo.TreePath != "" && ctx.FormBool("raw") {
 		ctx.Redirect(ctx.Repo.RepoLink + "/raw/" + ctx.Repo.RefTypeNameSubURL() + "/" + util.PathEscapeSegments(ctx.Repo.TreePath))
 		return true
@@ -386,6 +386,20 @@ func redirectSrcToRaw(ctx *context.Context) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
+func redirectFollowSymlink(ctx *context.Context, treePathEntry *git.TreeEntry) bool {
+	if ctx.Repo.TreePath == "" || !ctx.FormBool("follow_symlink") {
+		return false
+	}
+	if treePathEntry.IsLink() {
+		if res, err := git.EntryFollowLinks(ctx.Repo.Commit, ctx.Repo.TreePath, treePathEntry); err == nil {
+			redirect := ctx.Repo.RepoLink + "/src/" + ctx.Repo.RefTypeNameSubURL() + "/" + util.PathEscapeSegments(res.TargetFullPath) + "?" + ctx.Req.URL.RawQuery
+			ctx.Redirect(redirect)
+			return true
+		} // else: don't handle the links we cannot resolve, so ignore the error
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
 // Home render repository home page
 func Home(ctx *context.Context) {
 	if handleRepoHomeFeed(ctx) {
@@ -394,6 +408,7 @@ func Home(ctx *context.Context) {
 	if redirectSrcToRaw(ctx) {
 		return
 	}
+
 	// Check whether the repo is viewable: not in migration, and the code unit should be enabled
 	// Ideally the "feed" logic should be after this, but old code did so, so keep it as-is.
 	checkHomeCodeViewable(ctx)
@@ -424,6 +439,10 @@ func Home(ctx *context.Context) {
 		return
 	}
 
+	if redirectFollowSymlink(ctx, entry) {
+		return
+	}
+
 	// prepare the tree path
 	var treeNames, paths []string
 	branchLink := ctx.Repo.RepoLink + "/src/" + ctx.Repo.RefTypeNameSubURL()
diff --git a/routers/web/repo/view_readme.go b/routers/web/repo/view_readme.go
index a34de06e8e..ba03febff3 100644
--- a/routers/web/repo/view_readme.go
+++ b/routers/web/repo/view_readme.go
@@ -32,15 +32,7 @@ import (
 //	entries == ctx.Repo.Commit.SubTree(ctx.Repo.TreePath).ListEntries()
 //
 // FIXME: There has to be a more efficient way of doing this
-func findReadmeFileInEntries(ctx *context.Context, entries []*git.TreeEntry, tryWellKnownDirs bool) (string, *git.TreeEntry, error) {
-	// Create a list of extensions in priority order
-	// 1. Markdown files - with and without localisation - e.g. README.en-us.md or README.md
-	// 2. Txt files - e.g. README.txt
-	// 3. No extension - e.g. README
-	exts := append(localizedExtensions(".md", ctx.Locale.Language()), ".txt", "") // sorted by priority
-	extCount := len(exts)
-	readmeFiles := make([]*git.TreeEntry, extCount+1)
-
+func findReadmeFileInEntries(ctx *context.Context, parentDir string, entries []*git.TreeEntry, tryWellKnownDirs bool) (string, *git.TreeEntry, error) {
 	docsEntries := make([]*git.TreeEntry, 3) // (one of docs/, .gitea/ or .github/)
 	for _, entry := range entries {
 		if tryWellKnownDirs && entry.IsDir() {
@@ -62,16 +54,23 @@ func findReadmeFileInEntries(ctx *context.Context, entries []*git.TreeEntry, try
 					docsEntries[2] = entry
 				}
 			}
-			continue
 		}
+	}
+
+	// Create a list of extensions in priority order
+	// 1. Markdown files - with and without localisation - e.g. README.en-us.md or README.md
+	// 2. Txt files - e.g. README.txt
+	// 3. No extension - e.g. README
+	exts := append(localizedExtensions(".md", ctx.Locale.Language()), ".txt", "") // sorted by priority
+	extCount := len(exts)
+	readmeFiles := make([]*git.TreeEntry, extCount+1)
+	for _, entry := range entries {
 		if i, ok := util.IsReadmeFileExtension(entry.Name(), exts...); ok {
-			log.Debug("Potential readme file: %s", entry.Name())
+			fullPath := path.Join(parentDir, entry.Name())
 			if readmeFiles[i] == nil || base.NaturalSortLess(readmeFiles[i].Name(), entry.Blob().Name()) {
 				if entry.IsLink() {
-					target, err := entry.FollowLinks()
-					if err != nil && !git.IsErrSymlinkUnresolved(err) {
-						return "", nil, err
-					} else if target != nil && (target.IsExecutable() || target.IsRegular()) {
+					res, err := git.EntryFollowLinks(ctx.Repo.Commit, fullPath, entry)
+					if err == nil && (res.TargetEntry.IsExecutable() || res.TargetEntry.IsRegular()) {
 						readmeFiles[i] = entry
 					}
 				} else {
@@ -80,6 +79,7 @@ func findReadmeFileInEntries(ctx *context.Context, entries []*git.TreeEntry, try
 			}
 		}
 	}
+
 	var readmeFile *git.TreeEntry
 	for _, f := range readmeFiles {
 		if f != nil {
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ func findReadmeFileInEntries(ctx *context.Context, entries []*git.TreeEntry, try
 				return "", nil, err
 			}
 
-			subfolder, readmeFile, err := findReadmeFileInEntries(ctx, childEntries, false)
+			subfolder, readmeFile, err := findReadmeFileInEntries(ctx, parentDir, childEntries, false)
 			if err != nil && !git.IsErrNotExist(err) {
 				return "", nil, err
 			}
@@ -139,22 +139,29 @@ func localizedExtensions(ext, languageCode string) (localizedExts []string) {
 }
 
 func prepareToRenderReadmeFile(ctx *context.Context, subfolder string, readmeFile *git.TreeEntry) {
-	target := readmeFile
-	if readmeFile != nil && readmeFile.IsLink() {
-		target, _ = readmeFile.FollowLinks()
-	}
-	if target == nil {
-		// if findReadmeFile() failed and/or gave us a broken symlink (which it shouldn't)
-		// simply skip rendering the README
+	if readmeFile == nil {
 		return
 	}
 
+	readmeFullPath := path.Join(ctx.Repo.TreePath, subfolder, readmeFile.Name())
+	readmeTargetEntry := readmeFile
+	if readmeFile.IsLink() {
+		if res, err := git.EntryFollowLinks(ctx.Repo.Commit, readmeFullPath, readmeFile); err == nil {
+			readmeTargetEntry = res.TargetEntry
+		} else {
+			readmeTargetEntry = nil // if we cannot resolve the symlink, we cannot render the readme, ignore the error
+		}
+	}
+	if readmeTargetEntry == nil {
+		return // if no valid README entry found, skip rendering the README
+	}
+
 	ctx.Data["RawFileLink"] = ""
 	ctx.Data["ReadmeInList"] = path.Join(subfolder, readmeFile.Name()) // the relative path to the readme file to the current tree path
 	ctx.Data["ReadmeExist"] = true
 	ctx.Data["FileIsSymlink"] = readmeFile.IsLink()
 
-	buf, dataRc, fInfo, err := getFileReader(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository.ID, target.Blob())
+	buf, dataRc, fInfo, err := getFileReader(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository.ID, readmeTargetEntry.Blob())
 	if err != nil {
 		ctx.ServerError("getFileReader", err)
 		return
@@ -162,7 +169,7 @@ func prepareToRenderReadmeFile(ctx *context.Context, subfolder string, readmeFil
 	defer dataRc.Close()
 
 	ctx.Data["FileIsText"] = fInfo.st.IsText()
-	ctx.Data["FileTreePath"] = path.Join(ctx.Repo.TreePath, subfolder, readmeFile.Name())
+	ctx.Data["FileTreePath"] = readmeFullPath
 	ctx.Data["FileSize"] = fInfo.fileSize
 	ctx.Data["IsLFSFile"] = fInfo.isLFSFile()
 
@@ -189,10 +196,10 @@ func prepareToRenderReadmeFile(ctx *context.Context, subfolder string, readmeFil
 
 		rctx := renderhelper.NewRenderContextRepoFile(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository, renderhelper.RepoFileOptions{
 			CurrentRefPath:  ctx.Repo.RefTypeNameSubURL(),
-			CurrentTreePath: path.Join(ctx.Repo.TreePath, subfolder),
+			CurrentTreePath: path.Dir(readmeFullPath),
 		}).
 			WithMarkupType(markupType).
-			WithRelativePath(path.Join(ctx.Repo.TreePath, subfolder, readmeFile.Name())) // ctx.Repo.TreePath is the directory not the Readme so we must append the Readme filename (and path).
+			WithRelativePath(readmeFullPath)
 
 		ctx.Data["EscapeStatus"], ctx.Data["FileContent"], err = markupRender(ctx, rctx, rd)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/services/repository/files/tree.go b/services/repository/files/tree.go
index a3c3d20238..f2cbacbf1c 100644
--- a/services/repository/files/tree.go
+++ b/services/repository/files/tree.go
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ func newTreeViewNodeFromEntry(ctx context.Context, renderedIconPool *fileicon.Re
 		FullPath:  path.Join(parentDir, entry.Name()),
 	}
 
-	entryInfo := fileicon.EntryInfoFromGitTreeEntry(entry)
+	entryInfo := fileicon.EntryInfoFromGitTreeEntry(commit, node.FullPath, entry)
 	node.EntryIcon = fileicon.RenderEntryIconHTML(renderedIconPool, entryInfo)
 	if entryInfo.EntryMode.IsDir() {
 		entryInfo.IsOpen = true
diff --git a/templates/repo/view_list.tmpl b/templates/repo/view_list.tmpl
index c8ee059e89..b655f735a3 100644
--- a/templates/repo/view_list.tmpl
+++ b/templates/repo/view_list.tmpl
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@
 						</a>
 					{{else}}
 						<a class="entry-name" href="{{$.TreeLink}}/{{PathEscapeSegments $entry.Name}}" title="{{$entry.Name}}">{{$entry.Name}}</a>
+						{{if $entry.IsLink}}
+							<a class="entry-symbol-link flex-text-inline" data-tooltip-content title="{{ctx.Locale.Tr "repo.find_file.follow_symlink"}}" href="{{$.TreeLink}}/{{PathEscapeSegments $entry.Name}}?follow_symlink=1">{{svg "octicon-link" 12}}</a>
+						{{end}}
 					{{end}}
 				{{end}}
 			</div>
diff --git a/tests/integration/repo_test.go b/tests/integration/repo_test.go
index 028e8edb19..adfe07519f 100644
--- a/tests/integration/repo_test.go
+++ b/tests/integration/repo_test.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/PuerkitoBio/goquery"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
 func TestRepoView(t *testing.T) {
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ func TestRepoView(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("BlameFileInRepo", testBlameFileInRepo)
 	t.Run("ViewRepoDirectory", testViewRepoDirectory)
 	t.Run("ViewRepoDirectoryReadme", testViewRepoDirectoryReadme)
+	t.Run("ViewRepoSymlink", testViewRepoSymlink)
 	t.Run("MarkDownReadmeImage", testMarkDownReadmeImage)
 	t.Run("MarkDownReadmeImageSubfolder", testMarkDownReadmeImageSubfolder)
 	t.Run("GeneratedSourceLink", testGeneratedSourceLink)
@@ -412,6 +414,21 @@ func testViewRepoDirectoryReadme(t *testing.T) {
 	missing("symlink-loop", "/user2/readme-test/src/branch/symlink-loop/")
 }
 
+func testViewRepoSymlink(t *testing.T) {
+	session := loginUser(t, "user2")
+	req := NewRequest(t, "GET", "/user2/readme-test/src/branch/symlink")
+	resp := session.MakeRequest(t, req, http.StatusOK)
+
+	htmlDoc := NewHTMLParser(t, resp.Body)
+	AssertHTMLElement(t, htmlDoc, ".entry-symbol-link", true)
+	followSymbolLinkHref := htmlDoc.Find(".entry-symbol-link").AttrOr("href", "")
+	require.Equal(t, "/user2/readme-test/src/branch/symlink/README.md?follow_symlink=1", followSymbolLinkHref)
+
+	req = NewRequest(t, "GET", followSymbolLinkHref)
+	resp = session.MakeRequest(t, req, http.StatusSeeOther)
+	assert.Equal(t, "/user2/readme-test/src/branch/symlink/some/other/path/awefulcake.txt?follow_symlink=1", resp.Header().Get("Location"))
+}
+
 func testMarkDownReadmeImage(t *testing.T) {
 	defer tests.PrintCurrentTest(t)()