diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/find-file.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/find-file.lua
index f2d7571e..84db41ba 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/find-file.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/find-file.lua
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ function M.fn(fname)
         if #node.nodes == 0 then
           local git_finished = false
           git.load_project_status(node.absolute_path, function(status)
-            explorer_module.explore(node, node.absolute_path, status)
+            explorer_module.explore(node, status)
             git_finished = true
           end)
           while not vim.wait(10, function() return git_finished end, 10) do end
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/reloaders.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/reloaders.lua
index bc15b04a..9ff05b3d 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/reloaders.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/reloaders.lua
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ local explorer_module = require'nvim-tree.explorer'
 local M = {}
 
 local function refresh_nodes(node, projects)
-  local cwd = node.absolute_path or node.cwd
+  local cwd = node.cwd or node.link_to or node.absolute_path
   local project_root = git.get_project_root(cwd)
-  explorer_module.reload(node, cwd, projects[project_root] or {})
+  explorer_module.reload(node, projects[project_root] or {})
   for _, _node in ipairs(node.nodes) do
     if _node.nodes and _node.open then
       refresh_nodes(_node, projects)
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/explore.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/explore.lua
index d008aa8d..7de1bfad 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/explore.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/explore.lua
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@ local builders = require'nvim-tree.explorer.node-builders'
 
 local M = {}
 
-function M.explore(node, cwd, status)
+function M.explore(node, status)
+  local cwd = node.cwd or node.link_to or node.absolute_path
   local handle = uv.fs_scandir(cwd)
   if type(handle) == 'string' then
     api.nvim_err_writeln(handle)
@@ -37,14 +38,12 @@ function M.explore(node, cwd, status)
   end
 
   local is_root = node.cwd ~= nil
-  if vim.g.nvim_tree_group_empty == 1 and not is_root and #(node.nodes) == 1 then
-    local child_node = node.nodes[1]
-    if child_node.nodes and uv.fs_access(child_node.absolute_path, 'R') then
-      node.group_next = child_node
-      local ns = M.explore(child_node, child_node.absolute_path, status)
-      node.nodes = ns or {}
-      return ns
-    end
+  local child_folder_only = eutils.has_one_child_folder(node) and node.nodes[1]
+  if vim.g.nvim_tree_group_empty == 1 and not is_root and child_folder_only then
+    node.group_next = child_folder_only
+    local ns = M.explore(child_folder_only, status)
+    node.nodes = ns or {}
+    return ns
   end
 
   utils.merge_sort(node.nodes, eutils.node_comparator)
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/init.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/init.lua
index 7f8912fd..710e86aa 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/init.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/init.lua
@@ -19,9 +19,10 @@ function Explorer.new(cwd)
   }, Explorer)
 end
 
-function Explorer:_load(cwd, node)
+function Explorer:_load(node)
+  local cwd = node.cwd or node.link_to or node.absolute_path
   git.load_project_status(cwd, function(git_statuses)
-    M.explore(node, cwd, git_statuses)
+    M.explore(node, git_statuses)
     if type(self.init_cb) == "function" then
       self.init_cb(self)
       self.init_cb = nil
@@ -31,12 +32,12 @@ end
 
 function Explorer:expand(node)
   self.init_cb = renderer.draw
-  self:_load(node.link_to or node.absolute_path, node)
+  self:_load(node)
 end
 
 function Explorer:init(f)
   self.init_cb = f
-  self:_load(self.cwd, self)
+  self:_load(self)
 end
 
 function M.setup(opts)
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/reload.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/reload.lua
index 44f83c0f..b3a58ed7 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/reload.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/reload.lua
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ local function update_status(nodes_by_path, node_ignored, status)
   end
 end
 
-function M.reload(node, cwd, status)
+function M.reload(node, status)
+  local cwd = node.cwd or node.link_to or node.absolute_path
   local handle = uv.fs_scandir(cwd)
   if type(handle) == 'string' then
     api.nvim_err_writeln(handle)
@@ -75,14 +76,12 @@ function M.reload(node, cwd, status)
     ))
 
   local is_root = node.cwd ~= nil
-  if vim.g.nvim_tree_group_empty == 1 and not is_root and #(node.nodes) == 1 then
-    local child_node = node.nodes[1]
-    if child_node.nodes and uv.fs_access(child_node.absolute_path, 'R') then
-      node.group_next = child_node
-      local ns = M.reload(child_node, child_node.absolute_path, status)
-      node.nodes = ns or {}
-      return ns
-    end
+  local child_folder_only = eutils.has_one_child_folder(node) and node.nodes[1]
+  if vim.g.nvim_tree_group_empty == 1 and not is_root and child_folder_only then
+    node.group_next = child_folder_only
+    local ns = M.reload(child_folder_only, status)
+    node.nodes = ns or {}
+    return ns
   end
 
   utils.merge_sort(node.nodes, eutils.node_comparator)
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/utils.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/utils.lua
index d604517c..e02d853e 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/utils.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/utils.lua
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+local uv = vim.loop
+
 local utils = require'nvim-tree.utils'
 
 local M = {
@@ -60,6 +62,12 @@ function M.should_ignore_git(path, status)
     and (M.config.filter_git_ignored and status and status[path] == '!!')
 end
 
+function M.has_one_child_folder(node)
+  return #node.nodes == 1
+    and node.nodes[1].nodes
+    and uv.fs_access(node.nodes[1].absolute_path, 'R')
+end
+
 function M.setup(opts)
   M.config = {
     filter_ignored = true,