diff --git a/eval/tests/test_comparator_reuse.py b/eval/tests/test_comparator_reuse.py
index 57f327ba4..d56a09a1d 100644
--- a/eval/tests/test_comparator_reuse.py
+++ b/eval/tests/test_comparator_reuse.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 import pytest
 
+from workflow_bench import comparator_reuse
 from workflow_bench.comparator_reuse import (
     ComparatorReuseExpectation,
     TaskReuseBinding,
@@ -227,3 +228,29 @@ def test_a_changed_sandbox_dependency_is_not_the_same_baseline():
     ) is False
     # A row that predates the field is not evidence of agreement either.
     assert row_is_reusable_comparator(_row(sandbox_dependency_manifest_digest=None), _expected()) is False
+
+
+def test_reuse_directories_allow_a_symlinked_parent_but_not_a_symlinked_leaf(tmp_path: Path):
+    """Pins a deliberate difference from the sandbox's mount-root check.
+
+    proposer_sandbox refuses every symlink hop because a hop changes what an
+    untrusted session is handed. A reuse directory is data, and every file
+    inside it is validated on its own, so a symlinked parent is allowed -
+    rejecting it would break a symlinked artifacts directory or macOS's /var
+    for no gain. The leaf itself must still be a real directory.
+    """
+
+    real = tmp_path / "real"
+    real.mkdir()
+    (real / "inner").mkdir()
+    linked_parent = tmp_path / "linked"
+    linked_parent.symlink_to(real, target_is_directory=True)
+
+    # Reached through a symlinked parent: allowed, and resolved to the real path.
+    assert comparator_reuse._resolved_directory(
+        linked_parent / "inner", label="probe"
+    ) == (real / "inner").resolve()
+
+    # The leaf itself being a symlink is still refused.
+    with pytest.raises(SandboxError, match="must be a real directory"):
+        comparator_reuse._resolved_directory(linked_parent, label="probe")
diff --git a/eval/workflow_bench/comparator_reuse.py b/eval/workflow_bench/comparator_reuse.py
index 3878f8fef..71d1d15cd 100644
--- a/eval/workflow_bench/comparator_reuse.py
+++ b/eval/workflow_bench/comparator_reuse.py
@@ -246,8 +246,8 @@ def materialize_reused_row(
 ) -> dict[str, Any]:
     """Copy digest-bound artifacts into this sweep's evidence dir and stamp reuse."""
 
-    source = _real_directory(source_dir, label="reuse source")
-    dest = _real_directory(dest_dir, label="reuse destination")
+    source = _resolved_directory(source_dir, label="reuse source")
+    dest = _resolved_directory(dest_dir, label="reuse destination")
     if source == dest:
         raise SandboxError("comparator reuse cannot read and write the same results directory")
 
@@ -332,7 +332,22 @@ def _transcript_metadata(metadata: Any) -> tuple[str, str, int]:
     return relative, digest, size
 
 
-def _real_directory(path: Path, *, label: str) -> Path:
+def _resolved_directory(path: Path, *, label: str) -> Path:
+    """An existing, non-symlink directory, resolved through its parents.
+
+    Deliberately weaker than proposer_sandbox's same-shaped helper, which
+    refuses every symlink hop in the path. That one guards a MOUNT ROOT, where
+    a hop changes what an untrusted session is handed. This one guards a DATA
+    directory whose contents are validated individually anyway - every file
+    read goes through ``_regular_file`` (lstat, symlinks rejected) and every
+    write through ``O_NOFOLLOW`` - so a symlinked parent grants nothing those
+    guards do not already cover, while refusing one would reject ordinary
+    setups such as a symlinked artifacts directory or macOS's /var.
+
+    Separately named because they make different promises. Do not merge them
+    without first deciding which promise the reuse path should make.
+    """
+
     resolved = path.expanduser()
     try:
         metadata = resolved.lstat()