diff --git a/roles/fetch-javascript-output/README.rst b/roles/fetch-javascript-output/README.rst
index 150b24991..e1cd8b386 100644
--- a/roles/fetch-javascript-output/README.rst
+++ b/roles/fetch-javascript-output/README.rst
@@ -12,3 +12,9 @@ Collect outputs from a javascript build
 
    Directory, relative to zuul_work_dir, in which javascript output content
    is to be found.
+
+.. zuul:rolevar:: javascript_copy_links
+   :default: true
+
+   Whether to copy the data pointed to by symlinks in the built content, or
+   to copy them as symbolic links.
diff --git a/roles/fetch-javascript-output/defaults/main.yaml b/roles/fetch-javascript-output/defaults/main.yaml
index 642843fe6..788c31bb7 100644
--- a/roles/fetch-javascript-output/defaults/main.yaml
+++ b/roles/fetch-javascript-output/defaults/main.yaml
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 zuul_work_dir: "{{ zuul.project.src_dir }}"
 javascript_content_dir: dist
+javascript_copy_links: true
diff --git a/roles/fetch-javascript-output/tasks/main.yaml b/roles/fetch-javascript-output/tasks/main.yaml
index 1085e9840..a2febd117 100644
--- a/roles/fetch-javascript-output/tasks/main.yaml
+++ b/roles/fetch-javascript-output/tasks/main.yaml
@@ -115,6 +115,6 @@
     src: "{{ zuul_work_dir }}/{{ javascript_content_dir }}/"
     dest: "{{ log_path }}/html/"
     mode: pull
-    copy_links: true
+    copy_links: "{{ javascript_copy_links }}"
     verify_host: true
   when: javascript_output.stat.exists