diff --git a/lib/commands/ls.js b/lib/commands/ls.js
index 5dacd3919882e..9c57a4482e82b 100644
--- a/lib/commands/ls.js
+++ b/lib/commands/ls.js
@@ -412,7 +412,9 @@ const filterLinkedStrategyEdges = ({ node, currentDepth }) => {
   )))
 
   return (edge) => {
-    // Skip workspace edges for undeclared workspaces at root level
+    // Skip workspace edges for undeclared workspaces at root level.
+    // loadActual now creates in-memory Links for workspace targets so workspace edges should always resolve.
+    /* istanbul ignore next - defensive, workspace edges resolve via in-memory Links */
     if (currentDepth === 0 && edge.type === 'workspace' && edge.missing) {
       if (!declaredDeps.has(edge.name)) {
         return false
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/workspaces/arborist/test/calc-dep-flags.js.test.cjs b/tap-snapshots/workspaces/arborist/test/calc-dep-flags.js.test.cjs
index acdc2a937a41c..315579e6feead 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/workspaces/arborist/test/calc-dep-flags.js.test.cjs
+++ b/tap-snapshots/workspaces/arborist/test/calc-dep-flags.js.test.cjs
@@ -175,6 +175,7 @@ ArboristNode {
       "location": "node_modules/metapeerdep",
       "name": "metapeerdep",
       "path": "/x/node_modules/metapeerdep",
+      "peer": true,
       "version": "1.2.3",
     },
     "optional" => ArboristNode {
@@ -185,6 +186,12 @@ ArboristNode {
           "spec": "*",
           "type": "optional",
         },
+        EdgeIn {
+          "from": "node_modules/peeroptional",
+          "name": "optional",
+          "spec": "*",
+          "type": "prod",
+        },
       },
       "edgesOut": Map {
         "devoptional" => EdgeOut {
@@ -242,6 +249,32 @@ ArboristNode {
       "location": "node_modules/peerdep",
       "name": "peerdep",
       "path": "/x/node_modules/peerdep",
+      "peer": true,
+      "version": "1.2.3",
+    },
+    "peeroptional" => ArboristNode {
+      "edgesIn": Set {
+        EdgeIn {
+          "from": "",
+          "name": "peeroptional",
+          "spec": "*",
+          "type": "peerOptional",
+        },
+      },
+      "edgesOut": Map {
+        "optional" => EdgeOut {
+          "name": "optional",
+          "spec": "*",
+          "to": "node_modules/optional",
+          "type": "prod",
+        },
+      },
+      "extraneous": true,
+      "location": "node_modules/peeroptional",
+      "name": "peeroptional",
+      "optional": true,
+      "path": "/x/node_modules/peeroptional",
+      "peer": true,
       "version": "1.2.3",
     },
     "prod" => ArboristNode {
@@ -326,6 +359,12 @@ ArboristNode {
       "to": "node_modules/peer",
       "type": "peer",
     },
+    "peeroptional" => EdgeOut {
+      "name": "peeroptional",
+      "spec": "*",
+      "to": "node_modules/peeroptional",
+      "type": "peerOptional",
+    },
     "prod" => EdgeOut {
       "name": "prod",
       "spec": "*",
@@ -401,408 +440,22 @@ ArboristNode {
       "location": "node_modules/foo",
       "name": "foo",
       "path": "/some/path/node_modules/foo",
-      "version": "1.2.3",
-    },
-  },
-  "dev": true,
-  "edgesOut": Map {
-    "foo" => EdgeOut {
-      "name": "foo",
-      "spec": "*",
-      "to": "node_modules/foo",
-      "type": "prod",
-    },
-  },
-  "isProjectRoot": true,
-  "location": "",
-  "name": "path",
-  "path": "/some/path",
-}
-`
-
-exports[`workspaces/arborist/test/calc-dep-flags.js TAP peer dependency with optional dependency > after calcDepFlags 1`] = `
-ArboristNode {
-  "children": Map {
-    "B" => ArboristNode {
-      "edgesIn": Set {
-        EdgeIn {
-          "from": "",
-          "name": "B",
-          "spec": "1.0.0",
-          "type": "prod",
-        },
-      },
-      "edgesOut": Map {
-        "C" => EdgeOut {
-          "name": "C",
-          "spec": "1.0.0",
-          "to": "node_modules/C",
-          "type": "peer",
-        },
-      },
-      "location": "node_modules/B",
-      "name": "B",
-      "path": "/project/node_modules/B",
-      "version": "1.0.0",
-    },
-    "C" => ArboristNode {
-      "edgesIn": Set {
-        EdgeIn {
-          "from": "node_modules/B",
-          "name": "C",
-          "spec": "1.0.0",
-          "type": "peer",
-        },
-      },
-      "edgesOut": Map {
-        "D" => EdgeOut {
-          "name": "D",
-          "spec": "1.0.0",
-          "to": "node_modules/D",
-          "type": "optional",
-        },
-      },
-      "location": "node_modules/C",
-      "name": "C",
-      "path": "/project/node_modules/C",
-      "peer": true,
-      "version": "1.0.0",
-    },
-    "D" => ArboristNode {
-      "edgesIn": Set {
-        EdgeIn {
-          "from": "node_modules/C",
-          "name": "D",
-          "spec": "1.0.0",
-          "type": "optional",
-        },
-      },
-      "location": "node_modules/D",
-      "name": "D",
-      "optional": true,
-      "path": "/project/node_modules/D",
-      "version": "1.0.0",
-    },
-  },
-  "edgesOut": Map {
-    "B" => EdgeOut {
-      "name": "B",
-      "spec": "1.0.0",
-      "to": "node_modules/B",
-      "type": "prod",
-    },
-  },
-  "isProjectRoot": true,
-  "location": "",
-  "name": "project",
-  "packageName": "A",
-  "path": "/project",
-  "version": "1.0.0",
-}
-`
-
-exports[`workspaces/arborist/test/calc-dep-flags.js TAP peer dependency with optional dependency > before calcDepFlags 1`] = `
-ArboristNode {
-  "children": Map {
-    "B" => ArboristNode {
-      "dev": true,
-      "edgesIn": Set {
-        EdgeIn {
-          "from": "",
-          "name": "B",
-          "spec": "1.0.0",
-          "type": "prod",
-        },
-      },
-      "edgesOut": Map {
-        "C" => EdgeOut {
-          "name": "C",
-          "spec": "1.0.0",
-          "to": "node_modules/C",
-          "type": "peer",
-        },
-      },
-      "extraneous": true,
-      "location": "node_modules/B",
-      "name": "B",
-      "optional": true,
-      "path": "/project/node_modules/B",
-      "peer": true,
-      "version": "1.0.0",
-    },
-    "C" => ArboristNode {
-      "dev": true,
-      "edgesIn": Set {
-        EdgeIn {
-          "from": "node_modules/B",
-          "name": "C",
-          "spec": "1.0.0",
-          "type": "peer",
-        },
-      },
-      "edgesOut": Map {
-        "D" => EdgeOut {
-          "name": "D",
-          "spec": "1.0.0",
-          "to": "node_modules/D",
-          "type": "optional",
-        },
-      },
-      "extraneous": true,
-      "location": "node_modules/C",
-      "name": "C",
-      "optional": true,
-      "path": "/project/node_modules/C",
-      "peer": true,
-      "version": "1.0.0",
-    },
-    "D" => ArboristNode {
-      "dev": true,
-      "edgesIn": Set {
-        EdgeIn {
-          "from": "node_modules/C",
-          "name": "D",
-          "spec": "1.0.0",
-          "type": "optional",
-        },
-      },
-      "extraneous": true,
-      "location": "node_modules/D",
-      "name": "D",
-      "optional": true,
-      "path": "/project/node_modules/D",
-      "peer": true,
-      "version": "1.0.0",
-    },
-  },
-  "dev": true,
-  "edgesOut": Map {
-    "B" => EdgeOut {
-      "name": "B",
-      "spec": "1.0.0",
-      "to": "node_modules/B",
-      "type": "prod",
-    },
-  },
-  "extraneous": true,
-  "isProjectRoot": true,
-  "location": "",
-  "name": "project",
-  "optional": true,
-  "packageName": "A",
-  "path": "/project",
-  "peer": true,
-  "version": "1.0.0",
-}
-`
-
-exports[`workspaces/arborist/test/calc-dep-flags.js TAP set parents to not extraneous when visiting > after 1`] = `
-ArboristNode {
-  "children": Map {
-    "asdf" => ArboristNode {
-      "children": Map {
-        "baz" => ArboristNode {
-          "location": "node_modules/asdf/node_modules/baz",
-          "name": "baz",
-          "path": "/some/path/node_modules/asdf/node_modules/baz",
-          "version": "1.2.3",
-        },
-      },
-      "location": "node_modules/asdf",
-      "name": "asdf",
-      "path": "/some/path/node_modules/asdf",
-      "version": "1.2.3",
-    },
-    "baz" => ArboristLink {
-      "edgesIn": Set {
-        EdgeIn {
-          "from": "",
-          "name": "baz",
-          "spec": "file:node_modules/asdf/node_modules/baz",
-          "type": "prod",
-        },
-      },
-      "location": "node_modules/baz",
-      "name": "baz",
-      "path": "/some/path/node_modules/baz",
-      "realpath": "/some/path/node_modules/asdf/node_modules/baz",
-      "resolved": "file:asdf/node_modules/baz",
-      "target": ArboristNode {
-        "location": "node_modules/asdf/node_modules/baz",
-      },
-      "version": "1.2.3",
-    },
-    "foo" => ArboristLink {
-      "edgesIn": Set {
-        EdgeIn {
-          "from": "",
-          "name": "foo",
-          "spec": "file:bar/foo",
-          "type": "prod",
-        },
-      },
-      "location": "node_modules/foo",
-      "name": "foo",
-      "path": "/some/path/node_modules/foo",
-      "realpath": "/some/path/bar/foo",
-      "resolved": "file:../bar/foo",
-      "target": ArboristNode {
-        "location": "bar/foo",
-      },
-      "version": "1.2.3",
-    },
-  },
-  "edgesOut": Map {
-    "baz" => EdgeOut {
-      "name": "baz",
-      "spec": "file:node_modules/asdf/node_modules/baz",
-      "to": "node_modules/baz",
-      "type": "prod",
-    },
-    "foo" => EdgeOut {
-      "name": "foo",
-      "spec": "file:bar/foo",
-      "to": "node_modules/foo",
-      "type": "prod",
-    },
-  },
-  "fsChildren": Set {
-    ArboristNode {
-      "fsChildren": Set {
-        ArboristNode {
-          "location": "bar/foo",
-          "name": "foo",
-          "path": "/some/path/bar/foo",
-          "version": "1.2.3",
-        },
-      },
-      "location": "bar",
-      "name": "bar",
-      "path": "/some/path/bar",
-    },
-  },
-  "isProjectRoot": true,
-  "location": "",
-  "name": "path",
-  "path": "/some/path",
-}
-`
-
-exports[`workspaces/arborist/test/calc-dep-flags.js TAP set parents to not extraneous when visiting > before 1`] = `
-ArboristNode {
-  "children": Map {
-    "asdf" => ArboristNode {
-      "children": Map {
-        "baz" => ArboristNode {
-          "dev": true,
-          "extraneous": true,
-          "location": "node_modules/asdf/node_modules/baz",
-          "name": "baz",
-          "optional": true,
-          "path": "/some/path/node_modules/asdf/node_modules/baz",
-          "peer": true,
-          "version": "1.2.3",
-        },
-      },
-      "dev": true,
-      "extraneous": true,
-      "location": "node_modules/asdf",
-      "name": "asdf",
-      "optional": true,
-      "path": "/some/path/node_modules/asdf",
-      "peer": true,
-      "version": "1.2.3",
-    },
-    "baz" => ArboristLink {
-      "dev": true,
-      "edgesIn": Set {
-        EdgeIn {
-          "from": "",
-          "name": "baz",
-          "spec": "file:node_modules/asdf/node_modules/baz",
-          "type": "prod",
-        },
-      },
-      "extraneous": true,
-      "location": "node_modules/baz",
-      "name": "baz",
-      "optional": true,
-      "path": "/some/path/node_modules/baz",
-      "peer": true,
-      "realpath": "/some/path/node_modules/asdf/node_modules/baz",
-      "resolved": "file:asdf/node_modules/baz",
-      "target": ArboristNode {
-        "location": "node_modules/asdf/node_modules/baz",
-      },
-      "version": "1.2.3",
-    },
-    "foo" => ArboristLink {
-      "dev": true,
-      "edgesIn": Set {
-        EdgeIn {
-          "from": "",
-          "name": "foo",
-          "spec": "file:bar/foo",
-          "type": "prod",
-        },
-      },
-      "extraneous": true,
-      "location": "node_modules/foo",
-      "name": "foo",
-      "optional": true,
-      "path": "/some/path/node_modules/foo",
       "peer": true,
-      "realpath": "/some/path/bar/foo",
-      "resolved": "file:../bar/foo",
-      "target": ArboristNode {
-        "location": "bar/foo",
-      },
       "version": "1.2.3",
     },
   },
   "dev": true,
   "edgesOut": Map {
-    "baz" => EdgeOut {
-      "name": "baz",
-      "spec": "file:node_modules/asdf/node_modules/baz",
-      "to": "node_modules/baz",
-      "type": "prod",
-    },
     "foo" => EdgeOut {
       "name": "foo",
-      "spec": "file:bar/foo",
+      "spec": "*",
       "to": "node_modules/foo",
       "type": "prod",
     },
   },
-  "extraneous": true,
-  "fsChildren": Set {
-    ArboristNode {
-      "dev": true,
-      "extraneous": true,
-      "fsChildren": Set {
-        ArboristNode {
-          "dev": true,
-          "extraneous": true,
-          "location": "bar/foo",
-          "name": "foo",
-          "optional": true,
-          "path": "/some/path/bar/foo",
-          "peer": true,
-          "version": "1.2.3",
-        },
-      },
-      "location": "bar",
-      "name": "bar",
-      "optional": true,
-      "path": "/some/path/bar",
-      "peer": true,
-    },
-  },
   "isProjectRoot": true,
   "location": "",
   "name": "path",
-  "optional": true,
   "path": "/some/path",
   "peer": true,
 }
diff --git a/test/lib/commands/ls.js b/test/lib/commands/ls.js
index ab98773bc68e5..59893381a5ce0 100644
--- a/test/lib/commands/ls.js
+++ b/test/lib/commands/ls.js
@@ -5376,8 +5376,8 @@ t.test('ls --install-strategy=linked', async t => {
     t.match(output, /nopt/, 'should list the dependency')
   })
 
-  t.test('should still report declared workspace as UNMET DEPENDENCY when missing', async t => {
-    const { ls } = await mockLs(t, {
+  t.test('should resolve declared workspace even without symlink', async t => {
+    const { result, ls } = await mockLs(t, {
       config: {
         'install-strategy': 'linked',
       },
@@ -5397,11 +5397,12 @@ t.test('ls --install-strategy=linked', async t => {
           },
         },
         node_modules: {
-          // workspace-a is declared but its symlink is missing
+          // workspace-a symlink is missing but loadActual creates an in-memory Link
         },
       },
     })
-    await t.rejects(ls.exec([]), { code: 'ELSPROBLEMS' },
-      'should report declared workspace as UNMET DEPENDENCY')
+    await ls.exec([])
+    const output = cleanCwd(result())
+    t.match(output, /workspace-a/, 'should resolve workspace without symlink')
   })
 })
diff --git a/workspaces/arborist/lib/arborist/load-actual.js b/workspaces/arborist/lib/arborist/load-actual.js
index 2356227a5baa3..30bd04a3fb4c5 100644
--- a/workspaces/arborist/lib/arborist/load-actual.js
+++ b/workspaces/arborist/lib/arborist/load-actual.js
@@ -171,6 +171,30 @@ module.exports = cls => class ActualLoader extends cls {
         }
       }
       await Promise.all(promises)
+
+      // In linked strategy, workspaces not explicitly declared in root's dependencies don't get symlinks in root's node_modules.
+      // Create Links so that root's workspace edges can resolve, allowing calcDepFlags to reach workspace packages.
+      if (this.options.installStrategy === 'linked') {
+        for (const [name, wsPath] of this.#actualTree.workspaces.entries()) {
+          if (!this.#actualTree.children.has(name)) {
+            const target = this.#cache.get(wsPath)
+            // target is always present since workspace paths are loaded above via #loadFSNode
+            /* istanbul ignore next - defensive check for unexpected cache miss */
+            if (!target) {
+              continue
+            }
+            const linkPath = resolve(this.#actualTree.path, 'node_modules', name)
+            const link = new Link({
+              name,
+              path: linkPath,
+              realpath: wsPath,
+              target,
+              parent: this.#actualTree,
+            })
+            this.#cache.set(linkPath, link)
+          }
+        }
+      }
     }
 
     if (!ignoreMissing) {
diff --git a/workspaces/arborist/lib/calc-dep-flags.js b/workspaces/arborist/lib/calc-dep-flags.js
index 5f2484858094d..c1843550478de 100644
--- a/workspaces/arborist/lib/calc-dep-flags.js
+++ b/workspaces/arborist/lib/calc-dep-flags.js
@@ -29,18 +29,35 @@ const calcDepFlags = (tree, resetRoot = true) => {
       }
     }
 
-    // for links, map their hierarchy appropriately
+    // For links, map their hierarchy appropriately.
+    // Only unset flags (true→false), never set them back.
+    // A target may be reached through multiple Links (e.g. root-level + workspace-level in the linked install strategy).
+    // Each Link may have different flags based on the path that reached it.
+    // We must keep the "strongest" (false) classification from any Link, so we only propagate when unsetting.
     if (node.isLink) {
       // node.target can be null, we check to ensure it's not null before proceeding
       if (node.target == null) {
         continue
       }
-      node.target.dev = node.dev
-      node.target.optional = node.optional
-      node.target.devOptional = node.devOptional
-      node.target.peer = node.peer
-      node.target.extraneous = node.extraneous
-      queue.push(node.target)
+      if (node.target.extraneous && !node.extraneous) {
+        node.target.extraneous = false
+      }
+      if (node.target.dev && !node.dev) {
+        node.target.dev = false
+      }
+      if (node.target.optional && !node.optional) {
+        node.target.optional = false
+      }
+      if (node.target.devOptional && !node.devOptional) {
+        node.target.devOptional = false
+      }
+      if (node.target.peer && !node.peer) {
+        node.target.peer = false
+      }
+      // Always queue the target if not yet seen, so its edges get processed.
+      if (!seen.has(node.target)) {
+        queue.push(node.target)
+      }
       continue
     }
 
diff --git a/workspaces/arborist/test/arborist/load-actual.js b/workspaces/arborist/test/arborist/load-actual.js
index 94ad4e7269286..bb134226e4b14 100644
--- a/workspaces/arborist/test/arborist/load-actual.js
+++ b/workspaces/arborist/test/arborist/load-actual.js
@@ -365,6 +365,47 @@ t.test('load workspaces when loading from hidden lockfile', async t => {
   t.matchSnapshot(tree, 'actual tree')
 })
 
+t.test('linked strategy creates in-memory links for workspaces without root symlinks', async t => {
+  const path = t.testdir({
+    'package.json': JSON.stringify({
+      name: 'my-project',
+      version: '1.0.0',
+      workspaces: ['packages/*'],
+    }),
+    packages: {
+      a: {
+        'package.json': JSON.stringify({
+          name: 'a',
+          version: '1.0.0',
+        }),
+      },
+      b: {
+        'package.json': JSON.stringify({
+          name: 'b',
+          version: '1.0.0',
+          dependencies: { a: '^1.0.0' },
+        }),
+      },
+    },
+    node_modules: {
+      // Workspace 'a' already has a symlink in root's node_modules (covers the children.has branch).
+      a: t.fixture('symlink', '../packages/a'),
+      '.store': {},
+    },
+  })
+
+  const tree = await loadActual(path, { installStrategy: 'linked' })
+
+  // Both workspaces should be resolvable as children of root
+  t.ok(tree.children.has('a'), 'workspace a is a child of root')
+  t.ok(tree.children.has('b'), 'workspace b is a child of root')
+
+  const childA = tree.children.get('a')
+  const childB = tree.children.get('b')
+  t.ok(childA.isLink, 'workspace a child is a Link')
+  t.ok(childB.isLink, 'workspace b child is a Link')
+})
+
 t.test('recalc dep flags for virtual load actual', async t => {
   const path = t.testdir({
     node_modules: {
diff --git a/workspaces/arborist/test/calc-dep-flags.js b/workspaces/arborist/test/calc-dep-flags.js
index b371ae55f6e4b..de47e55383bf0 100644
--- a/workspaces/arborist/test/calc-dep-flags.js
+++ b/workspaces/arborist/test/calc-dep-flags.js
@@ -343,6 +343,105 @@ t.test('set parents to not extraneous when visiting', t => {
   t.end()
 })
 
+// Simulates the linked install strategy where the same target has multiple
+// Links: one through a prod path (root -> workspace link) and one through a
+// dev path (another workspace's devDependencies -> workspace link). The target
+// should be dev=false because it IS reachable through a prod path.
+t.test('multiple links to same target keep strongest flag', t => {
+  // root depends on both workspaces (prod)
+  const root = new Node({
+    path: '/project',
+    realpath: '/project',
+    pkg: {
+      dependencies: { app: '', tools: '' },
+    },
+  })
+
+  // workspace target for "tools" (lives outside node_modules)
+  const toolsTarget = new Node({
+    path: '/project/packages/tools',
+    realpath: '/project/packages/tools',
+    root,
+    pkg: {
+      name: 'tools',
+      version: '1.0.0',
+      dependencies: { dep: '' },
+    },
+  })
+
+  // "dep" is a prod dependency of tools
+  const dep = new Node({
+    pkg: { name: 'dep', version: '1.0.0' },
+    parent: root,
+  })
+
+  // Link1: root-level link (prod path from root)
+  const toolsLink1 = new Link({
+    name: 'tools',
+    target: toolsTarget,
+    parent: root,
+    realpath: toolsTarget.path,
+  })
+
+  // workspace target for "app"
+  const appTarget = new Node({
+    path: '/project/packages/app',
+    realpath: '/project/packages/app',
+    root,
+    pkg: {
+      name: 'app',
+      version: '1.0.0',
+      devDependencies: { tools: '' },
+    },
+  })
+
+  // Link for app at root level (prod path from root).
+  // Construction wires appTarget into root's children via parent.
+  new Link({
+    name: 'app',
+    target: appTarget,
+    parent: root,
+    realpath: appTarget.path,
+  })
+
+  // Link2: workspace-level link (dev path from app -> tools)
+  const toolsLink2 = new Link({
+    name: 'tools',
+    target: toolsTarget,
+    parent: appTarget,
+    realpath: toolsTarget.path,
+  })
+
+  calcDepFlags(root)
+
+  t.match(toolsTarget, {
+    dev: false,
+    extraneous: false,
+  }, 'tools target should be dev=false (reachable via prod from root)')
+
+  t.match(toolsLink1, {
+    dev: false,
+    extraneous: false,
+  }, 'tools root-level link should be dev=false')
+
+  t.match(dep, {
+    dev: false,
+    extraneous: false,
+  }, 'dep (prod dep of tools) should be dev=false')
+
+  t.match(appTarget, {
+    dev: false,
+    extraneous: false,
+  }, 'app target should be dev=false')
+
+  t.match(toolsLink2, {
+    dev: true,
+    extraneous: false,
+  }, 'tools workspace-level link should be dev=true (reached via dev edge)')
+
+  t.end()
+})
+
 t.test('check null target in link', async t => {
   const root = new Link({
     path: '/some/path',