diff --git a/inc/mod/pages.php b/inc/mod/pages.php
index 5b1ceb06..3fc08491 100644
--- a/inc/mod/pages.php
+++ b/inc/mod/pages.php
@@ -1340,8 +1340,8 @@ function mod_move($originBoard, $postID) {
         if ($targetBoard === $originBoard)
             error(_('Target and source board are the same.'));
 
-        // copy() if leaving a shadow thread behind; else, rename().
-        $clone = $shadow ? 'copy' : 'rename';
+        // Fake copy if leaving a shadow thread behind; else, rename().
+        $clone = $shadow ? 'link' : 'rename';
 
         // indicate that the post is a thread
         $post['op'] = true;
@@ -1634,7 +1634,8 @@ function mod_merge($originBoard, $postID) {
             $op = $post;
             $op['id'] = $newID;
 
-            $clone = $shadow ? 'copy' : 'rename';
+            // Fake copy if leaving a shadow thread behind; else, rename().
+            $clone = $shadow ? 'link' : 'rename';
 
             if ($post['has_file']) {
                 // copy image