diff --git a/inc/mod/pages.php b/inc/mod/pages.php
index 980ccb2e..73bb467b 100644
--- a/inc/mod/pages.php
+++ b/inc/mod/pages.php
@@ -8,6 +8,13 @@ use Vichan\Functions\Net;
 
 defined('TINYBOARD') or exit;
 
+function _link_or_copy(string $target, string $link): bool {
+    if (!link($target, $link)) {
+        error_log("Failed to link() $target to $link. FAlling back to copy()");
+        return copy($target, $link);
+    }
+    return true;
+}
 
 function mod_page($title, $template, $args, $subtitle = false) {
     global $config, $mod;
@@ -1348,7 +1355,7 @@ function mod_move($originBoard, $postID) {
             error(_('Target and source board are the same.'));
 
         // link() if leaving a shadow thread behind; else, rename().
-        $clone = $shadow ? 'link' : 'rename';
+        $clone = $shadow ? '_link_or_copy' : 'rename';
 
         // indicate that the post is a thread
         $post['op'] = true;
@@ -1641,7 +1648,7 @@ function mod_merge($originBoard, $postID) {
             $op = $post;
             $op['id'] = $newID;
 
-            $clone = $shadow ? 'link' : 'rename';
+            $clone = $shadow ? '_link_or_copy' : 'rename';
 
             if ($post['has_file']) {
                 // copy image