diff --git a/scanner/phase_1_folders.go b/scanner/phase_1_folders.go
index 38967832c..a61f56413 100644
--- a/scanner/phase_1_folders.go
+++ b/scanner/phase_1_folders.go
@@ -50,13 +50,14 @@ func createPhaseFolders(ctx context.Context, state *scanState, ds model.DataStor
 }
 
 type scanJob struct {
-	lib           model.Library
-	fs            storage.MusicFS
-	cw            artwork.CacheWarmer
-	lastUpdates   map[string]model.FolderUpdateInfo // Holds last update info for all (DB) folders in this library
-	targetFolders []string                          // Specific folders to scan (including all descendants)
-	lock          sync.Mutex
-	numFolders    atomic.Int64
+	lib              model.Library
+	fs               storage.MusicFS
+	cw               artwork.CacheWarmer
+	lastUpdates      map[string]model.FolderUpdateInfo // Holds last update info for all (DB) folders in this library
+	targetFolders    []string                          // Specific folders to scan (including all descendants)
+	lock             sync.Mutex
+	numFolders       atomic.Int64
+	visitedRealPaths map[string]struct{} // Real paths visited, used to detect symlink cycles
 }
 
 func newScanJob(ctx context.Context, ds model.DataStore, cw artwork.CacheWarmer, lib model.Library, fullScan bool, targetFolders []string) (*scanJob, error) {
@@ -83,11 +84,12 @@ func newScanJob(ctx context.Context, ds model.DataStore, cw artwork.CacheWarmer,
 	lib.FullScanInProgress = lib.FullScanInProgress || fullScan
 
 	return &scanJob{
-		lib:           lib,
-		fs:            fsys,
-		cw:            cw,
-		lastUpdates:   lastUpdates,
-		targetFolders: targetFolders,
+		lib:              lib,
+		fs:               fsys,
+		cw:               cw,
+		lastUpdates:      lastUpdates,
+		targetFolders:    targetFolders,
+		visitedRealPaths: make(map[string]struct{}),
 	}, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/scanner/walk_dir_tree.go b/scanner/walk_dir_tree.go
index e6a694f2b..dbe511ffb 100644
--- a/scanner/walk_dir_tree.go
+++ b/scanner/walk_dir_tree.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"io/fs"
 	"maps"
 	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"slices"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
@@ -115,6 +116,13 @@ func loadDir(ctx context.Context, job *scanJob, dirPath string, checker *IgnoreC
 		return folder, children, err
 	}
 
+	// Mark current dir's real path as visited to detect symlink cycles
+	if conf.Server.Scanner.FollowSymlinks && job.visitedRealPaths != nil {
+		if realPath, e := filepath.EvalSymlinks(filepath.Join(job.lib.Path, dirPath)); e == nil {
+			job.visitedRealPaths[realPath] = struct{}{}
+		}
+	}
+
 	entries := fullReadDir(ctx, dirFile)
 	children = make([]string, 0, len(entries))
 	for _, entry := range entries {
@@ -136,6 +144,15 @@ func loadDir(ctx context.Context, job *scanJob, dirPath string, checker *IgnoreC
 			continue
 		}
 		if isDir && !isDirIgnored(entry.Name()) && isDirReadable(ctx, job.fs, entryPath) {
+			if entry.Type()&fs.ModeSymlink != 0 && job.visitedRealPaths != nil {
+				realPath, e := filepath.EvalSymlinks(filepath.Join(job.lib.Path, entryPath))
+				if e == nil {
+					if _, seen := job.visitedRealPaths[realPath]; seen {
+						log.Warn(ctx, "Scanner: Skipping symlink cycle", "path", entryPath)
+						continue
+					}
+				}
+			}
 			children = append(children, entryPath)
 			folder.numSubFolders++
 		} else {
diff --git a/scanner/walk_dir_tree_test.go b/scanner/walk_dir_tree_test.go
index 42b7af7ba..84063bbdf 100644
--- a/scanner/walk_dir_tree_test.go
+++ b/scanner/walk_dir_tree_test.go
@@ -48,8 +48,9 @@ var _ = Describe("walk_dir_tree", func() {
 					},
 				}
 				job = &scanJob{
-					fs:  fsys,
-					lib: model.Library{Path: "/music"},
+					fs:               fsys,
+					lib:              model.Library{Path: "/music"},
+					visitedRealPaths: make(map[string]struct{}),
 				}
 			})
 
@@ -120,8 +121,9 @@ var _ = Describe("walk_dir_tree", func() {
 					},
 				}
 				job = &scanJob{
-					fs:  fsys,
-					lib: model.Library{Path: "/music"},
+					fs:               fsys,
+					lib:              model.Library{Path: "/music"},
+					visitedRealPaths: make(map[string]struct{}),
 				}
 			})
 
@@ -216,6 +218,47 @@ var _ = Describe("walk_dir_tree", func() {
 				Expect(job.lastUpdates).To(HaveKey(model.FolderID(job.lib, "OtherArtist/Album3")))
 			})
 		})
+
+		Context("with symlink cycles", func() {
+			var tmpDir string
+
+			BeforeEach(func() {
+				DeferCleanup(configtest.SetupConfig())
+				conf.Server.Scanner.FollowSymlinks = true
+				ctx = GinkgoT().Context()
+
+				var err error
+				tmpDir, err = os.MkdirTemp("", "navidrome-test-*")
+				Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+				DeferCleanup(func() { os.RemoveAll(tmpDir) })
+
+				// Structure: tmpDir/tracks/track.mp3, tmpDir/tracks/loop -> tmpDir (cycle back to root)
+				tracksDir := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "tracks")
+				Expect(os.MkdirAll(tracksDir, 0755)).To(Succeed())
+				Expect(os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(tracksDir, "track.mp3"), []byte{}, 0600)).To(Succeed())
+				Expect(os.Symlink(tmpDir, filepath.Join(tracksDir, "loop"))).To(Succeed())
+
+				job = &scanJob{
+					fs:               &localMusicFS{base: os.DirFS(tmpDir)},
+					lib:              model.Library{Path: tmpDir},
+					visitedRealPaths: make(map[string]struct{}),
+				}
+			})
+
+			It("should not follow cyclic symlinks", func() {
+				results, err := walkDirTree(ctx, job)
+				Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+
+				folders := map[string]*folderEntry{}
+				for folder := range results {
+					folders[folder.path] = folder
+				}
+
+				Expect(folders).To(HaveKey("."))
+				Expect(folders).To(HaveKey("tracks"))
+				Expect(folders).ToNot(HaveKey("tracks/loop"))
+			})
+		})
 	})
 
 	Describe("helper functions", func() {
@@ -353,6 +396,16 @@ func (fd *fakeDirFile) ReadDir(int) ([]fs.DirEntry, error) {
 	return dirs, nil
 }
 
+// localMusicFS wraps an os.DirFS for tests that need real OS symlinks
+type localMusicFS struct {
+	storage.MusicFS // zero value; ReadTags not called in these tests
+	base            fs.FS
+}
+
+func (l *localMusicFS) Open(name string) (fs.File, error) {
+	return l.base.Open(name)
+}
+
 func getDirEntry(baseDir, name string) os.DirEntry {
 	dirEntries, _ := os.ReadDir(baseDir)
 	for _, entry := range dirEntries {