diff --git a/docs/reference/mpremote.rst b/docs/reference/mpremote.rst
index 727431fcff..2bbed56b89 100644
--- a/docs/reference/mpremote.rst
+++ b/docs/reference/mpremote.rst
@@ -133,13 +133,20 @@ The full list of supported commands are:
 
   .. code-block:: bash
 
-      $ mpremote mount <local-dir>
+      $ mpremote mount [options] <local-dir>
 
   During usage, Ctrl-D will soft-reboot and normally reconnect the mount automatically.
   If the unit has a main.py running at startup however the remount cannot occur.
   In this case a raw mode soft reboot can be used: Ctrl-A Ctrl-D to reboot,
   then Ctrl-B to get back to normal repl at which point the mount will be ready.
 
+  Options are:
+
+  - ``-l``, ``--unsafe-links``: By default an error will be raised if the device
+    accesses a file or directory which is outside (up one or more directory levels) the
+    local directory that is mounted.  This option disables this check for symbolic
+    links, allowing the device to follow symbolic links outside of the local directory.
+
 - unmount the local directory from the remote device:
 
   .. code-block:: bash
diff --git a/tools/mpremote/mpremote/main.py b/tools/mpremote/mpremote/main.py
index 50ad73cc17..ccf174bb5b 100644
--- a/tools/mpremote/mpremote/main.py
+++ b/tools/mpremote/mpremote/main.py
@@ -41,7 +41,16 @@ _COMMANDS = {
     "disconnect": (False, False, 0, "disconnect current device"),
     "resume": (False, False, 0, "resume a previous mpremote session (will not auto soft-reset)"),
     "soft-reset": (False, True, 0, "perform a soft-reset of the device"),
-    "mount": (True, False, 1, "mount local directory on device"),
+    "mount": (
+        True,
+        False,
+        1,
+        """\
+        mount local directory on device
+        options:
+            --unsafe-links, -l
+                follow symbolic links pointing outside of local directory""",
+    ),
     "umount": (True, False, 0, "unmount the local directory"),
     "repl": (
         False,
@@ -516,8 +525,12 @@ def main():
                 pyb.enter_raw_repl(soft_reset=True)
                 auto_soft_reset = False
             elif cmd == "mount":
+                unsafe_links = False
+                if args[0] == "--unsafe-links" or args[0] == "-l":
+                    args.pop(0)
+                    unsafe_links = True
                 path = args.pop(0)
-                pyb.mount_local(path)
+                pyb.mount_local(path, unsafe_links=unsafe_links)
                 print(f"Local directory {path} is mounted at /remote")
             elif cmd == "umount":
                 pyb.umount_local()
diff --git a/tools/mpremote/mpremote/pyboardextended.py b/tools/mpremote/mpremote/pyboardextended.py
index ccdb37a0ce..d3b4cb6d8c 100644
--- a/tools/mpremote/mpremote/pyboardextended.py
+++ b/tools/mpremote/mpremote/pyboardextended.py
@@ -351,12 +351,13 @@ fs_hook_code = re.sub("buf4", "b4", fs_hook_code)
 
 
 class PyboardCommand:
-    def __init__(self, fin, fout, path):
+    def __init__(self, fin, fout, path, unsafe_links=False):
         self.fin = fin
         self.fout = fout
         self.root = path + "/"
         self.data_ilistdir = ["", []]
         self.data_files = []
+        self.unsafe_links = unsafe_links
 
     def rd_s8(self):
         return struct.unpack("<b", self.fin.read(1))[0]
@@ -397,8 +398,12 @@ class PyboardCommand:
         print(f"[{msg}]", end="\r\n")
 
     def path_check(self, path):
-        parent = os.path.realpath(self.root)
-        child = os.path.realpath(path)
+        if not self.unsafe_links:
+            parent = os.path.realpath(self.root)
+            child = os.path.realpath(path)
+        else:
+            parent = os.path.abspath(self.root)
+            child = os.path.abspath(path)
         if parent != os.path.commonpath([parent, child]):
             raise OSError(EPERM, "")  # File is outside mounted dir
 
@@ -612,13 +617,13 @@ class PyboardExtended(Pyboard):
         self.device_name = dev
         self.mounted = False
 
-    def mount_local(self, path):
+    def mount_local(self, path, unsafe_links=False):
         fout = self.serial
         if self.eval('"RemoteFS" in globals()') == b"False":
             self.exec_(fs_hook_code)
         self.exec_("__mount()")
         self.mounted = True
-        self.cmd = PyboardCommand(self.serial, fout, path)
+        self.cmd = PyboardCommand(self.serial, fout, path, unsafe_links=unsafe_links)
         self.serial = SerialIntercept(self.serial, self.cmd)
 
     def write_ctrl_d(self, out_callback):