diff --git a/src/backend/utils/adt/misc.c b/src/backend/utils/adt/misc.c
index 4568749d23..1cd70a8eaa 100644
--- a/src/backend/utils/adt/misc.c
+++ b/src/backend/utils/adt/misc.c
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include "postgres.h"
 
 #include <sys/file.h>
+#include <sys/stat.h>
 #include <dirent.h>
 #include <fcntl.h>
 #include <math.h>
@@ -306,6 +307,24 @@ pg_tablespace_location(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS)
 	 */
 	snprintf(sourcepath, sizeof(sourcepath), "pg_tblspc/%u", tablespaceOid);
 
+	/* Return empty string for in-place tablespaces. */
+#ifdef WIN32
+	if (!pgwin32_is_junction(sourcepath))
+		PG_RETURN_TEXT_P(cstring_to_text(""));
+#else
+	{
+		struct stat	stat_buf;
+
+		if (lstat(sourcepath, &stat_buf) < 0)
+			ereport(ERROR,
+					(errcode_for_file_access(),
+					 errmsg("could not stat file \"%s\": %m",
+							sourcepath)));
+		if (!S_ISLNK(stat_buf.st_mode))
+			PG_RETURN_TEXT_P(cstring_to_text(""));
+	}
+#endif
+
 	rllen = readlink(sourcepath, targetpath, sizeof(targetpath));
 	if (rllen < 0)
 		ereport(ERROR,