diff -p -u -r1.7 Config.in
--- busybox-1.00/debianutils/Config.in	15 Mar 2004 08:28:24 -0000	1.7
+++ busybox-1.00-patched/debianutils/Config.in	16 Nov 2004 11:46:41 -0000
@@ -24,6 +24,13 @@ config CONFIG_READLINK
 	  This program reads a symbolic link and returns the name
 	  of the file it points to
 
+config CONFIG_FEATURE_READLINK_FOLLOW
+	bool "  Enable canonicalization by following all symlinks (-f)"
+	default n
+	depends on CONFIG_READLINK
+	help
+	  Enable the readlink option (-f).
+
 config CONFIG_RUN_PARTS
 	bool "run-parts"
 	default n
diff -p -u -r1.2 readlink.c
--- busybox-1.00/debianutils/readlink.c	19 Mar 2003 09:11:41 -0000	1.2
+++ busybox-1.00-patched/debianutils/readlink.c	16 Nov 2004 11:46:41 -0000
@@ -23,18 +23,38 @@
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
+#include <getopt.h>
 #include "busybox.h"
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_FEATURE_READLINK_FOLLOW
+# define READLINK_FOLLOW	"f"
+# define READLINK_FLAG_f	(1 << 0)
+#else
+# define READLINK_FOLLOW	""
+#endif
+
+static const char readlink_options[] = READLINK_FOLLOW;
+
 int readlink_main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
 	char *buf = NULL;
+	unsigned long opt = bb_getopt_ulflags(argc, argv, readlink_options);
+#ifdef CONFIG_FEATURE_READLINK_FOLLOW
+	RESERVE_CONFIG_BUFFER(resolved_path, PATH_MAX);
+#endif
 
 	/* no options, no getopt */
 
-	if (argc != 2)
+	if (optind + 1 != argc)
 		bb_show_usage();
 
-	buf = xreadlink(argv[1]);
+#ifdef CONFIG_FEATURE_READLINK_FOLLOW
+	if (opt & READLINK_FLAG_f) {
+		buf = realpath(argv[optind], resolved_path);
+	} else
+#endif
+		buf = xreadlink(argv[optind]);
+
 	if (!buf)
 		return EXIT_FAILURE;
 	puts(buf);
diff -p -u -r1.222 usage.h
--- busybox-1.00/include/usage.h	14 Sep 2004 16:23:56 -0000	1.222
+++ busybox-1.00-patched/include/usage.h	16 Nov 2004 11:46:42 -0000
@@ -1985,10 +1985,18 @@
 	"\t-s\tSet the system date and time (default).\n" \
 	"\t-p\tPrint the date and time."
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_FEATURE_READLINK_FOLLOW
+#define USAGE_READLINK_FOLLOW(a) a
+#else
+#define USAGE_READLINK_FOLLOW(a)
+#endif
+
 #define readlink_trivial_usage \
-	""
+	USAGE_READLINK_FOLLOW("[-f] ") "FILE"
 #define readlink_full_usage \
-	"Displays the value of a symbolic link."
+	"Displays the value of a symbolic link." \
+	USAGE_READLINK_FOLLOW("\n\nOptions:\n" \
+	"\t-f\tcanonicalize by following all symlinks")
 
 #define realpath_trivial_usage \
 	"pathname  ..."