diff --git a/rodeo-overlay.sh b/rodeo-overlay.sh
index 1e416d5..5d4ca6a 100644
--- a/rodeo-overlay.sh
+++ b/rodeo-overlay.sh
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ initial_mount () {
 
 transfer_directory() {
   dir="$1"
-  cp -r "/$dir" "/rodeo/root/$dir"
-  mkdir "/$dir" "/rodeo/tmp/$dir"
+  mv "/$dir" "/rodeo/root/$dir"
+  mkdir -p "/$dir" "/rodeo/tmp/$dir"
   echo "$dir" >> /rodeo/configuration/managed_directories
   info "Added $dir to the list of managed directories"
   initial_mount