diff --git a/src/unix/fs.c b/src/unix/fs.c
index 88ac07312c7..fa39b987606 100644
--- a/src/unix/fs.c
+++ b/src/unix/fs.c
@@ -929,6 +929,11 @@ static ssize_t uv__fs_sendfile(uv_fs_t* req) {
         } else if (r == -1 && errno == ENOTSUP) {
           /* ENOTSUP - it could work on another file system type */
           errno = 0;
+        } else if (r == -1 && errno == EXDEV) {
+          /* 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;
         }