diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/init.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/init.lua
index 0d44217b11e..fd00e3c7d6b 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/init.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/init.lua
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ function Explorer:reload(node, git_status)
 
     local abs = utils.path_join { cwd, name }
     ---@type uv.fs_stat.result|nil
-    local stat = vim.loop.fs_stat(abs)
+    local stat = vim.loop.fs_lstat(abs)
 
     local filter_reason = self.filters:should_filter_as_reason(abs, stat, filter_status)
     if filter_reason == FILTER_REASON.none then
@@ -241,17 +241,17 @@ function Explorer:refresh_parent_nodes_for_path(path)
   -- collect parent nodes from the top down
   local parent_nodes = {}
   NodeIterator.builder({ self })
-    :recursor(function(node)
-      return node.nodes
-    end)
-    :applier(function(node)
-      local abs_contains = node.absolute_path and path:find(node.absolute_path, 1, true) == 1
-      local link_contains = node.link_to and path:find(node.link_to, 1, true) == 1
-      if abs_contains or link_contains then
-        table.insert(parent_nodes, node)
-      end
-    end)
-    :iterate()
+      :recursor(function(node)
+        return node.nodes
+      end)
+      :applier(function(node)
+        local abs_contains = node.absolute_path and path:find(node.absolute_path, 1, true) == 1
+        local link_contains = node.link_to and path:find(node.link_to, 1, true) == 1
+        if abs_contains or link_contains then
+          table.insert(parent_nodes, node)
+        end
+      end)
+      :iterate()
 
   -- refresh in order; this will expand groups as needed
   for _, node in ipairs(parent_nodes) do
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ function Explorer:populate_children(handle, cwd, node, git_status, parent)
   })
 
   while true do
-    local name, t = vim.loop.fs_scandir_next(handle)
+    local name, _ = vim.loop.fs_scandir_next(handle)
     if not name then
       break
     end
@@ -365,15 +365,17 @@ function Explorer:populate_children(handle, cwd, node, git_status, parent)
       local profile = log.profile_start("populate_children %s", abs)
 
       ---@type uv.fs_stat.result|nil
-      local stat = vim.loop.fs_stat(abs)
+      local stat = vim.loop.fs_lstat(abs)
       local filter_reason = parent.filters:should_filter_as_reason(abs, stat, filter_status)
       if filter_reason == FILTER_REASON.none and not nodes_by_path[abs] then
+        -- Type must come from fs_stat and not fs_scandir_next to maintain sshfs compatibility
+        local type = stat and stat.type or nil
         local child = nil
-        if t == "directory" and vim.loop.fs_access(abs, "R") then
+        if type == "directory" and vim.loop.fs_access(abs, "R") then
           child = builders.folder(node, abs, name, stat)
-        elseif t == "file" then
+        elseif type == "file" then
           child = builders.file(node, abs, name, stat)
-        elseif t == "link" then
+        elseif type == "link" then
           local link = builders.link(node, abs, name, stat)
           if link.link_to ~= nil then
             child = link
@@ -437,16 +439,16 @@ end
 ---@param projects table
 function Explorer:refresh_nodes(projects)
   Iterator.builder({ self })
-    :applier(function(n)
-      if n.nodes then
-        local toplevel = git.get_toplevel(n.cwd or n.link_to or n.absolute_path)
-        self:reload(n, projects[toplevel] or {})
-      end
-    end)
-    :recursor(function(n)
-      return n.group_next and { n.group_next } or (n.open and n.nodes)
-    end)
-    :iterate()
+      :applier(function(n)
+        if n.nodes then
+          local toplevel = git.get_toplevel(n.cwd or n.link_to or n.absolute_path)
+          self:reload(n, projects[toplevel] or {})
+        end
+      end)
+      :recursor(function(n)
+        return n.group_next and { n.group_next } or (n.open and n.nodes)
+      end)
+      :iterate()
 end
 
 local event_running = false