diff --git a/multibuild.eclass b/multibuild.eclass
index 4dc9b19..2466226 100644
--- a/multibuild.eclass
+++ b/multibuild.eclass
@@ -274,20 +274,27 @@ multibuild_merge_root() {
 
 	local cp_args=()
 
-	if cp -a --version &>/dev/null; then
-		cp_args+=( -a )
+	# fix bug 447370
+	if use userland_BSD; then
+		cd "${src}"
+		tar cf - . | tar xf - -C "${dest}"
+		ret=${?}
 	else
-		cp_args+=( -P -R -p )
+		if cp -a --version &>/dev/null; then
+			cp_args+=( -a )
+		else
+			cp_args+=( -P -R -p )
+		fi
+
+		if cp --reflink=auto --version &>/dev/null; then
+			# enable reflinking if possible to make this faster
+			cp_args+=( --reflink=auto )
+		fi
+
+		cp "${cp_args[@]}" "${src}"/. "${dest}"/
+		ret=${?}
 	fi
 
-	if cp --reflink=auto --version &>/dev/null; then
-		# enable reflinking if possible to make this faster
-		cp_args+=( --reflink=auto )
-	fi
-
-	cp "${cp_args[@]}" "${src}"/. "${dest}"/
-	ret=${?}
-
 	# Remove the lock.
 	rm "${lockfile}" || die