diff --git a/backend/drive/drive.go b/backend/drive/drive.go
index 01e3fd6a4..798db047f 100644
--- a/backend/drive/drive.go
+++ b/backend/drive/drive.go
@@ -299,6 +299,17 @@ a non root folder as its starting point.
 			Default:  true,
 			Help:     "Send files to the trash instead of deleting permanently.\n\nDefaults to true, namely sending files to the trash.\nUse `--drive-use-trash=false` to delete files permanently instead.",
 			Advanced: true,
+		}, {
+			Name:    "copy_shortcut_content",
+			Default: false,
+			Help: `Server side copy contents of shortcuts instead of the shortcut.
+
+When doing server side copies, normally rclone will copy shortcuts as
+shortcuts.
+
+If this flag is used then rclone will copy the contents of shortcuts
+rather than shortcuts themselves when doing server side copies.`,
+			Advanced: true,
 		}, {
 			Name:     "skip_gdocs",
 			Default:  false,
@@ -578,6 +589,7 @@ type Options struct {
 	TeamDriveID               string               `config:"team_drive"`
 	AuthOwnerOnly             bool                 `config:"auth_owner_only"`
 	UseTrash                  bool                 `config:"use_trash"`
+	CopyShortcutContent       bool                 `config:"copy_shortcut_content"`
 	SkipGdocs                 bool                 `config:"skip_gdocs"`
 	SkipChecksumGphotos       bool                 `config:"skip_checksum_gphotos"`
 	SharedWithMe              bool                 `config:"shared_with_me"`
@@ -2374,9 +2386,16 @@ func (f *Fs) Copy(ctx context.Context, src fs.Object, remote string) (fs.Object,
 		createInfo.Description = ""
 	}
 
-	// get the ID of the thing to copy - this is the shortcut if available
+	// get the ID of the thing to copy
+	// copy the contents if CopyShortcutContent
+	// else copy the shortcut only
+
 	id := shortcutID(srcObj.id)
 
+	if f.opt.CopyShortcutContent {
+		id = actualID(srcObj.id)
+	}
+
 	var info *drive.File
 	err = f.pacer.Call(func() (bool, error) {
 		info, err = f.svc.Files.Copy(id, createInfo).
diff --git a/docs/content/drive.md b/docs/content/drive.md
index 23b062dc5..beb17bf9d 100644
--- a/docs/content/drive.md
+++ b/docs/content/drive.md
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ For shortcuts pointing to files:
 - When downloading the contents of the destination file is downloaded.
 - When updating shortcut file with a non shortcut file, the shortcut is removed then a new file is uploaded in place of the shortcut.
 - When server-side moving (renaming) the shortcut is renamed, not the destination file.
-- When server-side copying the shortcut is copied, not the contents of the shortcut.
+- When server-side copying the shortcut is copied, not the contents of the shortcut. (unless `--drive-copy-shortcut-content` is in use in which case the contents of the shortcut gets copied).
 - When deleting the shortcut is deleted not the linked file.
 - When setting the modification time, the modification time of the linked file will be set.