diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/admin/oxidized.nix b/nixos/modules/services/admin/oxidized.nix
index 687cdfb5ba57..39112c3970d5 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/admin/oxidized.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/admin/oxidized.nix
@@ -97,8 +97,8 @@ in
 
       preStart = ''
         mkdir -p ${cfg.dataDir}/.config/oxidized
-        cp -v ${cfg.routerDB} ${cfg.dataDir}/.config/oxidized/router.db
-        cp -v ${cfg.configFile} ${cfg.dataDir}/.config/oxidized/config
+        ln -f -s ${cfg.routerDB} ${cfg.dataDir}/.config/oxidized/router.db
+        ln -f -s ${cfg.configFile} ${cfg.dataDir}/.config/oxidized/config
       '';
 
       serviceConfig = {