diff --git a/audeer/core/io.py b/audeer/core/io.py
index 158ab3b..c06fcc0 100644
--- a/audeer/core/io.py
+++ b/audeer/core/io.py
@@ -314,6 +314,9 @@ def extract_archive(
         ['a.txt']
 
     """
+    archive = safe_path(archive, follow_symlink=False)
+    destination = safe_path(destination, follow_symlink=False)
+
     if not os.path.exists(archive):
         raise FileNotFoundError(
             errno.ENOENT,