diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 32bbfc4a8d..9b0ed05b3a 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -660,7 +660,7 @@ endif
 
 	@$(foreach d, $(call qstrip,$(BR2_ROOTFS_OVERLAY)), \
 		$(call MESSAGE,"Copying overlay $(d)"); \
-		rsync -a --ignore-times $(RSYNC_VCS_EXCLUSIONS) \
+		rsync -a --ignore-times --keep-dirlinks $(RSYNC_VCS_EXCLUSIONS) \
 			--chmod=u=rwX,go=rX --exclude .empty --exclude '*~' \
 			$(d)/ $(TARGET_DIR)$(sep))