diff --git a/Meta/build-root-filesystem.sh b/Meta/build-root-filesystem.sh
index 47517a5c3d..ac637ccf92 100755
--- a/Meta/build-root-filesystem.sh
+++ b/Meta/build-root-filesystem.sh
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ fi
 umask 0022
 
 printf "installing base system... "
-cp -R "$SERENITY_ROOT"/Base/* mnt/
-cp -R Root/* mnt/
+cp -PdR "$SERENITY_ROOT"/Base/* mnt/
+cp -PdR Root/* mnt/
 # If umask was 027 or similar when the repo was cloned,
 # file permissions in Base/ are too restrictive. Restore
 # the permissions needed in the image.