diff --git a/src/unix/fs.c b/src/unix/fs.c
index 88ac07312c7..fd7ae08755f 100644
--- a/src/unix/fs.c
+++ b/src/unix/fs.c
@@ -926,8 +926,10 @@ static ssize_t uv__fs_sendfile(uv_fs_t* req) {
           /* ENOSYS - it will never work */
           errno = 0;
           copy_file_range_support = 0;
-        } else if (r == -1 && errno == ENOTSUP) {
+        } else if (r == -1 && (errno == ENOTSUP || errno == EXDEV)) {
           /* ENOTSUP - it could work on another file system type */
+          /* EXDEV - it will not work when in_fd and out_fd are not on the same
+                     mounted filesystem (pre Linux 5.3) */
           errno = 0;
         } else {
           goto ok;