diff --git a/makesymlinks.sh b/makesymlinks.sh
index 83bd125..743a19e 100755
--- a/makesymlinks.sh
+++ b/makesymlinks.sh
@@ -37,6 +37,6 @@ fi
 
 # copy example bashrc.local if one doesn't exist yet
 if [ ! -f ~/.bashrc.local ]; then 
-    ln -s $file/.bashrc.local ~/.bashrc.local
+    cp $file/.bashrc.local ~/.bashrc.local
 fi