diff --git a/setuptools/config/expand.py b/setuptools/config/expand.py
index 1497b20ca0..7a100d69c9 100644
--- a/setuptools/config/expand.py
+++ b/setuptools/config/expand.py
@@ -151,9 +151,7 @@ def _read_file(filepath: Union[bytes, _Path]) -> str:
 
 
 def _assert_local(filepath: _Path, root_dir: str):
-    # NOTE: Path.resolve() will raise RuntimeError if an infinite loop is
-    # encountered along the resolution path of root_dir or file_path.
-    if Path(root_dir).resolve() not in Path(filepath).resolve().parents:
+    if Path(os.path.abspath(root_dir)) not in Path(os.path.abspath(filepath)).parents:
         msg = f"Cannot access {filepath!r} (or anything outside {root_dir!r})"
         raise DistutilsOptionError(msg)