diff --git a/user_manual/Makefile b/user_manual/Makefile
index ec67ed3544df5866aae9e15474d3d17011b4dd64..21f40d1ea839695b187046d935f7a0d43e4040a3 100644
--- a/user_manual/Makefile
+++ b/user_manual/Makefile
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ SOURCEDIR     = .
 BUILDDIR      = _sphinx_build
 
 ZIPPED_EXAMPLES := zipped-examples
-ZIPPED_EXAMPLES_ABS := $(shell realpath $(ZIPPED_EXAMPLES))
-EXAMPLES_DIR := $(shell realpath examples)
+ZIPPED_EXAMPLES_ABS := $(shell readlink -f $(ZIPPED_EXAMPLES))
+EXAMPLES_DIR := $(shell readlink -f examples)
 
 include examples.mk