diff --git a/net/zerotier/files/etc/config/zerotier b/net/zerotier/files/etc/config/zerotier
index f342f851b5..34b1ad347e 100644
--- a/net/zerotier/files/etc/config/zerotier
+++ b/net/zerotier/files/etc/config/zerotier
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ config zerotier sample_config
 
 	# persistent configuration folder (for ZT controller mode)
 	#option config_path '/etc/zerotier'
+	# copy <config_path> to RAM to prevent writing to flash (for ZT controller mode)
+	#option copy_config_path '1'
 
 	#option port '9993'
 
diff --git a/net/zerotier/files/etc/init.d/zerotier b/net/zerotier/files/etc/init.d/zerotier
index c308b4246e..625c6db776 100755
--- a/net/zerotier/files/etc/init.d/zerotier
+++ b/net/zerotier/files/etc/init.d/zerotier
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ section_enabled() {
 
 start_instance() {
 	local cfg="$1"
-	local port secret config_path local_conf path
+	local port secret config_path local_conf copy_config_path path
 	local args=""
 
 	if ! section_enabled "$cfg"; then
@@ -26,23 +26,28 @@ start_instance() {
 	config_get port $cfg 'port'
 	config_get secret $cfg 'secret'
 	config_get local_conf $cfg 'local_conf'
+	config_get_bool copy_config_path $cfg 'copy_config_path' 0
 
 	path=${CONFIG_PATH}_$cfg
 
 	# Remove existing link or folder
 	rm -rf $path
 
-	# Create link from CONFIG_PATH to config_path
+	# Create link or copy files from CONFIG_PATH to config_path
 	if [ -n "$config_path" -a "$config_path" != "$path" ]; then
 		if [ ! -d "$config_path" ]; then
 			echo "ZeroTier config_path does not exist: $config_path" 1>&2
 			return
 		fi
 
-		# ensure that the symlink target exists
+		# ensure that the target exists
 		mkdir -p $(dirname $path)
 
-		ln -s $config_path $path
+		if [ "$copy_config_path" = "1" ]; then
+			cp -r $config_path $path
+		else
+			ln -s $config_path $path
+		fi
 	fi
 
 	mkdir -p $path/networks.d