diff --git a/doc/api/cli.md b/doc/api/cli.md
index 13d4df49d8b62a..b45dc8c63f86b3 100644
--- a/doc/api/cli.md
+++ b/doc/api/cli.md
@@ -287,6 +287,13 @@ added: v0.11.15
 Data path for ICU (Intl object) data. Will extend linked-in data when compiled
 with small-icu support.
 
+### `NODE_PRESERVE_SYMLINKS=1`
+<!-- YAML
+added: REPLACEME
+-->
+
+When set to `1`, instructs the module loader to preserve symbolic links when
+resolving and caching modules.
 
 ### `NODE_REPL_HISTORY=file`
 <!-- YAML
diff --git a/src/node.cc b/src/node.cc
index 8a39cff3e989ff..111b83bf70c016 100644
--- a/src/node.cc
+++ b/src/node.cc
@@ -4192,6 +4192,11 @@ void Init(int* argc,
   V8::SetFlagsFromString(NODE_V8_OPTIONS, sizeof(NODE_V8_OPTIONS) - 1);
 #endif
 
+  // Allow for environment set preserving symlinks.
+  if (auto preserve_symlinks = secure_getenv("NODE_PRESERVE_SYMLINKS")) {
+    config_preserve_symlinks = (*preserve_symlinks == '1');
+  }
+
   // Parse a few arguments which are specific to Node.
   int v8_argc;
   const char** v8_argv;
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-require-symlink.js b/test/parallel/test-require-symlink.js
index 38139ef1cfc57d..0792bc13bb70a7 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-require-symlink.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-require-symlink.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ const path = require('path');
 const fs = require('fs');
 const exec = require('child_process').exec;
 const spawn = require('child_process').spawn;
+const util = require('util');
 
 common.refreshTmpDir();
 
@@ -53,7 +54,16 @@ function test() {
   const node = process.execPath;
   const child = spawn(node, ['--preserve-symlinks', linkScript]);
   child.on('close', function(code, signal) {
-    assert(!code);
+    assert.strictEqual(code, 0);
+    assert(!signal);
+  });
+
+  // Also verify that symlinks works for setting preserve via env variables
+  const childEnv = spawn(node, [linkScript], {
+    env: util._extend(process.env, {NODE_PRESERVE_SYMLINKS: '1'})
+  });
+  childEnv.on('close', function(code, signal) {
+    assert.strictEqual(code, 0);
     assert(!signal);
   });
 }