diff --git a/base-notebook/start.sh b/base-notebook/start.sh
index cbf474e7..052c9fb2 100755
--- a/base-notebook/start.sh
+++ b/base-notebook/start.sh
@@ -93,9 +93,14 @@ if [ "$(id -u)" == 0 ] ; then
     # home directory as a fallback if they don't have one mounted already.
     if [[ "${NB_USER}" != "jovyan" ]]; then
         if [[ ! -e "/home/${NB_USER}" ]]; then
-            echo "Copying home dir to /home/${NB_USER}"
+            echo "Attempting to copy /home/jovyan to /home/${NB_USER}..."
             mkdir "/home/${NB_USER}"
-            cp -a /home/jovyan/. "/home/${NB_USER}/" || ln -s /home/jovyan "/home/${NB_USER}"
+            if cp -a /home/jovyan/. "/home/${NB_USER}/"; then
+                echo "Done"
+            else
+                echo "Failed. Attempting to symlink /home/jovyan to /home/${NB_USER}..."
+                ln -s /home/jovyan "/home/${NB_USER}" && echo "Done"
+            fi
         fi
         # Ensure the current working directory is updated
         if [[ "${PWD}/" == "/home/jovyan/"* ]]; then