diff --git a/chapter05/kernel-exp.xml b/chapter05/kernel-exp.xml
index e2cfb91cb..0e4df4569 100644
--- a/chapter05/kernel-exp.xml
+++ b/chapter05/kernel-exp.xml
@@ -27,12 +27,12 @@ needing later on.
 </para>
 
 <para>
-<userinput>cp -r ../src/linux/include/linux .</userinput> and
-<userinput>cp -r ../src/linux/include/asm .</userinput>: These
+<userinput>cp -a ../src/linux/include/linux .</userinput> and
+<userinput>cp -a ../src/linux/include/asm .</userinput>: These
 commands copy the kernel headers in the <filename>$LFS/usr/include</filename>
-directory. For details on why we don't link to these directories (anymore) 
-instead of copying them, please refer to the <filename>README</filename>
-file in the kernel source.
+directory. For details on why we don't link to these directories
+(anymore), and instead copy them, please refer to the 
+<filename>README</filename> file in the kernel source.
 </para>
 
 </sect2>
diff --git a/chapter05/kernel-inst.xml b/chapter05/kernel-inst.xml
index 3b51c15c4..0ed696855 100644
--- a/chapter05/kernel-inst.xml
+++ b/chapter05/kernel-inst.xml
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ The kernel configuration file is created by running the following command:
 	<userinput>yes "" | make config &amp;&amp;</userinput>
 	<userinput>make dep &amp;&amp;</userinput>
 	<userinput>cd $LFS/usr/include &amp;&amp;</userinput>
-	<userinput>cp -r ../src/linux/include/linux . &amp;&amp;</userinput>
-	<userinput>cp -r ../src/linux/include/asm .</userinput>
+	<userinput>cp -a ../src/linux/include/linux . &amp;&amp;</userinput>
+	<userinput>cp -a ../src/linux/include/asm .</userinput>
 </literallayout></blockquote>
 
 </sect2>