diff --git a/bin/cp/cp.c b/bin/cp/cp.c
--- a/bin/cp/cp.c
+++ b/bin/cp/cp.c
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@
 	char *recpath = NULL;
 	int atflags, dne, badcp, len, rval;
 	mode_t mask, mode;
-	bool beneath = type != FILE_TO_FILE;
+	bool beneath = Rflag && type != FILE_TO_FILE;
 	bool skipdp = false;
 
 	/*
diff --git a/bin/cp/tests/cp_test.sh b/bin/cp/tests/cp_test.sh
--- a/bin/cp/tests/cp_test.sh
+++ b/bin/cp/tests/cp_test.sh
@@ -479,10 +479,15 @@
 	mkdir bar
 	ln -s baz bar/foo
 	atf_check cp foo bar
-	atf_check cmp -s foo bar/foo
-	rm -f bar/foo
+	atf_check cmp -s foo bar/baz
+	rm -f bar/foo bar/baz
+	ln -s baz bar/foo
+	atf_check cp foo bar/
+	atf_check cmp -s foo bar/baz
+	rm -f bar/foo bar/baz
+	ln -s $PWD/baz bar/foo
 	atf_check cp foo bar/
-	atf_check cmp -s foo bar/foo
+	atf_check cmp -s foo baz
 }
 
 atf_test_case to_dirlink