diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/docker/default.nix b/pkgs/build-support/docker/default.nix
index 578025c11138..b3db68a665dc 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/docker/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/docker/default.nix
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
   pkgs,
   pigz,
   runCommand,
+  rsync,
   shadow,
   stdenv,
   storeDir ? builtins.storeDir,
@@ -120,7 +121,7 @@ rec {
         };
         inherit fromImage fromImageName fromImageTag;
 
-        buildInputs = [ utillinux e2fsprogs jshon ];
+        buildInputs = [ utillinux e2fsprogs jshon rsync ];
       } ''
       rm -rf $out
 
@@ -238,7 +239,7 @@ rec {
     runCommand "docker-layer-${name}" {
       inherit baseJson contents extraCommands;
 
-      buildInputs = [ jshon ];
+      buildInputs = [ jshon rsync ];
     }
     ''
       mkdir layer
@@ -246,9 +247,8 @@ rec {
         echo "Adding contents..."
         for item in $contents; do
           echo "Adding $item"
-          cp -drf $item/* layer/
+          rsync -a $item/ layer/
         done
-        chmod -R ug+w layer/
       else
         echo "No contents to add to layer."
       fi
@@ -310,9 +310,8 @@ rec {
         echo "Adding contents..."
         for item in ${toString contents}; do
           echo "Adding $item..."
-          cp -drf $item/* layer/
+          rsync -a $item/ layer/
         done
-        chmod -R ug+w layer/
       '';
 
       postMount = ''
diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/docker/examples.nix b/pkgs/build-support/docker/examples.nix
index cce8f53834e4..05b4a9b4f2d2 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/docker/examples.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/docker/examples.nix
@@ -83,12 +83,16 @@ rec {
   };
 
   # 4. example of pulling an image. could be used as a base for other images
-  debian = pullImage {
-    imageName = "debian";
-    imageTag = "jessie";
-    # this hash will need change if the tag is updated at docker hub
-    sha256 = "18kd495lc2k35h03bpcbdjnix17nlqbwf6nmq3sb161blf0dk14q";
-  };
+  #
+  # ***** Currently broken, getting 404s. Perhaps the docker API has changed?
+  #
+  #
+  # debian = pullImage {
+  #   imageName = "debian";
+  #   imageTag = "jessie";
+  #   # this hash will need change if the tag is updated at docker hub
+  #   sha256 = "18kd495lc2k35h03bpcbdjnix17nlqbwf6nmq3sb161blf0dk14q";
+  # };
 
   # 5. example of multiple contents, emacs and vi happily coexisting
   editors = buildImage {