diff --git a/packages/cache/__tests__/tar.test.ts b/packages/cache/__tests__/tar.test.ts
index a33f4fab..7ae77601 100644
--- a/packages/cache/__tests__/tar.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cache/__tests__/tar.test.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import * as exec from '@actions/exec'
+import {exportVariable} from '@actions/core'
 import * as io from '@actions/io'
 import * as path from 'path'
 import {
@@ -14,6 +15,8 @@ import * as utils from '../src/internal/cacheUtils'
 // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-require-imports
 import fs = require('fs')
 
+exportVariable('MSYS', 'winsymlinks:nativestrict')
+
 jest.mock('@actions/exec')
 jest.mock('@actions/io')
 
diff --git a/packages/cache/src/internal/tar.ts b/packages/cache/src/internal/tar.ts
index 0af6a87a..8c6337e6 100644
--- a/packages/cache/src/internal/tar.ts
+++ b/packages/cache/src/internal/tar.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import {exec} from '@actions/exec'
+import {exportVariable} from '@actions/core'
 import * as io from '@actions/io'
 import {existsSync, writeFileSync} from 'fs'
 import * as path from 'path'
@@ -13,6 +14,7 @@ import {
 } from './constants'
 
 const IS_WINDOWS = process.platform === 'win32'
+exportVariable('MSYS', 'winsymlinks:nativestrict')
 
 // Returns tar path and type: BSD or GNU
 async function getTarPath(): Promise<ArchiveTool> {