diff --git a/src/_pytest/pathlib.py b/src/_pytest/pathlib.py
index 74d60b83a..b2605430c 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/pathlib.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/pathlib.py
@@ -346,6 +346,12 @@ def cleanup_numbered_dir(
     for path in root.glob("garbage-*"):
         try_cleanup(path, consider_lock_dead_if_created_before)
 
+    # remove dead symlink
+    for left_dir in root.iterdir():
+        if left_dir.is_symlink():
+            if not left_dir.resolve().exists():
+                left_dir.unlink()
+
 
 def make_numbered_dir_with_cleanup(
     root: Path,