diff --git a/serial/tools/list_ports_common.py b/serial/tools/list_ports_common.py
index 4199e30d..109c9cba 100644
--- a/serial/tools/list_ports_common.py
+++ b/serial/tools/list_ports_common.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ def numsplit(text):
 class ListPortInfo(object):
     """Info collection base class for serial ports"""
 
-    def __init__(self, device):
+    def __init__(self, device, skip_link_detection=False):
         self.device = device
         self.name = os.path.basename(device)
         self.description = 'n/a'
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ def __init__(self, device):
         self.product = None
         self.interface = None
         # special handling for links
-        if device is not None and os.path.islink(device):
+        if not skip_link_detection and device is not None and os.path.islink(device):
             self.hwid = 'LINK={}'.format(os.path.realpath(device))
 
     def usb_description(self):
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ def __getitem__(self, index):
         else:
             raise IndexError('{} > 2'.format(index))
 
+
 # - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 def list_links(devices):
     """\
@@ -103,6 +104,7 @@ def list_links(devices):
             links.append(device)
     return links
 
+
 # - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 # test
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/serial/tools/list_ports_windows.py b/serial/tools/list_ports_windows.py
index f28047be..56e28b08 100644
--- a/serial/tools/list_ports_windows.py
+++ b/serial/tools/list_ports_windows.py
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ def __str__(self):
 RegCloseKey.restype = LONG
 
 RegQueryValueEx = advapi32.RegQueryValueExW
-RegQueryValueEx.argtypes = [HKEY, LPCTSTR , LPDWORD, LPDWORD, LPBYTE, LPDWORD]
+RegQueryValueEx.argtypes = [HKEY, LPCTSTR, LPDWORD, LPDWORD, LPBYTE, LPDWORD]
 RegQueryValueEx.restype = LONG
 
 
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ def iterate_comports():
             # stringify
             szHardwareID_str = szHardwareID.value
 
-            info = list_ports_common.ListPortInfo(port_name_buffer.value)
+            info = list_ports_common.ListPortInfo(port_name_buffer.value, skip_link_detection=True)
 
             # in case of USB, make a more readable string, similar to that form
             # that we also generate on other platforms