diff --git a/pkg_util-vserver.conf b/pkg_util-vserver.conf
index 89f4132..59fbcaa 100644
--- a/pkg_util-vserver.conf
+++ b/pkg_util-vserver.conf
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ sheba_activate_vserver() {
 	# interesting nodes from the host
 	#
 	for x in console full log null ptmx random tty urandom zero; do
-		cp -a /dev/$x dev/
+		cp -a /dev/\$x dev/
 	done
 
 	# some friendly symlinks