diff --git a/meta/classes/package.bbclass b/meta/classes/package.bbclass
index 67acc278d1..2c94478fce 100644
--- a/meta/classes/package.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes/package.bbclass
@@ -855,17 +855,24 @@ python package_do_split_locales() {
 }
 
 python perform_packagecopy () {
-    import subprocess
     import shutil
+    import os
 
     dest = d.getVar('D')
     dvar = d.getVar('PKGD')
 
     # Start by package population by taking a copy of the installed
-    # files to operate on
-    # Preserve sparse files and hard links
-    cmd = 'tar --exclude=./sysroot-only -cf - -C %s -p -S . | tar -xf - -C %s' % (dest, dvar)
-    subprocess.check_output(cmd, shell=True, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
+    # files to operate on.  The original tar|tar copy path can fail on some
+    # host/pseudo combinations with "got *at() syscall for unknown directory".
+    for entry in os.listdir(dest):
+        if entry == 'sysroot-only':
+            continue
+        src = os.path.join(dest, entry)
+        dst = os.path.join(dvar, entry)
+        if os.path.isdir(src) and not os.path.islink(src):
+            shutil.copytree(src, dst, symlinks=True)
+        else:
+            shutil.copy2(src, dst, follow_symlinks=False)
 
     # replace RPATHs for the nativesdk binaries, to make them relocatable
     if bb.data.inherits_class('nativesdk', d) or bb.data.inherits_class('cross-canadian', d):
diff --git a/meta/classes/package_ipk.bbclass b/meta/classes/package_ipk.bbclass
index 9fe3c52fae..2dfce3c163 100644
--- a/meta/classes/package_ipk.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes/package_ipk.bbclass
@@ -229,8 +229,8 @@ def ipk_write_pkg(pkg, d):
             conffiles.close()
 
         os.chdir(basedir)
-        subprocess.check_output("PATH=\"%s\" %s %s %s" % (localdata.getVar("PATH"),
-                                                          d.getVar("OPKGBUILDCMD"), pkg, pkgoutdir),
+        subprocess.check_output("PSEUDO_UNLOAD=1 PATH=\"%s\" %s -o 0 -g 0 %s %s" % (localdata.getVar("PATH"),
+                                                                                    d.getVar("OPKGBUILDCMD"), pkg, pkgoutdir),
                                 stderr=subprocess.STDOUT,
                                 shell=True)