diff --git a/nixos/modules/virtualisation/azure-image.nix b/nixos/modules/virtualisation/azure-image.nix
index 9fac543b03d5..4a27af6c48e3 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/virtualisation/azure-image.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/virtualisation/azure-image.nix
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ in
 
           mkdir -p /mnt/nix/store
           echo "copying everything (will take a while)..."
-          cp -prd $storePaths /mnt/nix/store/
+          ${pkgs.rsync}/bin/rsync -a $storePaths /mnt/nix/store/
 
           echo Register the paths in the Nix database.
           printRegistration=1 perl ${pkgs.pathsFromGraph} /tmp/xchg/closure | \