diff --git a/deepmd/train/trainer.py b/deepmd/train/trainer.py
index 7145489959..a6ac96dab4 100644
--- a/deepmd/train/trainer.py
+++ b/deepmd/train/trainer.py
@@ -832,7 +832,7 @@ def save_checkpoint(self, cur_batch: int):
                 pass
             if platform.system() != "Windows":
                 # by default one does not have access to create symlink on Windows
-                os.symlink(ori_ff, new_ff)
+                os.symlink(os.path.relpath(ori_ff, os.path.dirname(new_ff)), new_ff)
             else:
                 shutil.copyfile(ori_ff, new_ff)
         log.info("saved checkpoint %s" % self.save_ckpt)