diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index c73a35e5..f579cc4a 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 ## Development
 * Updated our tests/unit to support newer versions of `unittests` - for now bumping to `v0.4.4` as `v0.5.0` has a bug that impacts us (see helm-unittest/helm-unittest#329), but testing around the bug shows `v0.5.x` should also "just work" (#414) (by @jk464)
+* Use `rsync` to copy pack contents when available, falling back to `cp`. (#414) (by @cognifloyd)
+* Support non-root container environments when copying pack contents (#414) (by @Stealthii)
 
 ## v1.1.0
 * Fix syntax with ensure-packs-volumes-are-writable job (#403, #411) (by @skiedude)
diff --git a/templates/_helpers.tpl b/templates/_helpers.tpl
index 9cadeeab..4b030ffa 100644
--- a/templates/_helpers.tpl
+++ b/templates/_helpers.tpl
@@ -349,9 +349,14 @@ Merge packs and virtualenvs from st2 with those from st2packs images
   command:
     - 'sh'
     - '-ec'
-    - |
-      /bin/cp -aR /opt/stackstorm/packs/. /opt/stackstorm/packs-shared &&
-      /bin/cp -aR /opt/stackstorm/virtualenvs/. /opt/stackstorm/virtualenvs-shared
+    - >
+      if command rsync; then
+        rsync -rlptD /opt/stackstorm/packs/. /opt/stackstorm/packs-shared &&
+        rsync -rlptD /opt/stackstorm/virtualenvs/. /opt/stackstorm/virtualenvs-shared;
+      else
+        cp -RP --preserve=mode,timestamps,links,xattr /opt/stackstorm/packs/. /opt/stackstorm/packs-shared &&
+        cp -RP --preserve=mode,timestamps,links,xattr /opt/stackstorm/virtualenvs/. /opt/stackstorm/virtualenvs-shared;
+      fi
   {{- with .securityContext | default $.Values.st2actionrunner.securityContext | default $.Values.securityContext }}
   {{/* st2actionrunner is likely the most permissive so use that if defined. */}}
   securityContext: {{- toYaml . | nindent 8 }}
@@ -371,9 +376,14 @@ Merge packs and virtualenvs from st2 with those from st2packs images
   command:
     - 'sh'
     - '-ec'
-    - |
-      /bin/cp -aR /opt/stackstorm/packs/. /opt/stackstorm/packs-shared &&
-      /bin/cp -aR /opt/stackstorm/virtualenvs/. /opt/stackstorm/virtualenvs-shared
+    - >
+      if command rsync; then
+        rsync -rlptD /opt/stackstorm/packs/. /opt/stackstorm/packs-shared &&
+        rsync -rlptD /opt/stackstorm/virtualenvs/. /opt/stackstorm/virtualenvs-shared;
+      else
+        cp -RP --preserve=mode,timestamps,links,xattr /opt/stackstorm/packs/. /opt/stackstorm/packs-shared &&
+        cp -RP --preserve=mode,timestamps,links,xattr /opt/stackstorm/virtualenvs/. /opt/stackstorm/virtualenvs-shared
+      fi
   {{- with .Values.st2actionrunner.securityContext | default .Values.securityContext }}
   {{/* st2actionrunner is likely the most permissive so use that if defined. */}}
   securityContext: {{- toYaml . | nindent 8 }}
@@ -392,8 +402,12 @@ Merge packs and virtualenvs from st2 with those from st2packs images
   command:
     - 'sh'
     - '-ec'
-    - |
-      /bin/cp -aR /opt/stackstorm/configs/. /opt/stackstorm/configs-shared
+    - >
+      if command rsync; then
+        rsync -rlptD /opt/stackstorm/configs/. /opt/stackstorm/configs-shared;
+      else
+        cp -RP --preserve=mode,timestamps,links,xattr /opt/stackstorm/configs/. /opt/stackstorm/configs-shared;
+      fi
   {{- with .Values.st2actionrunner.securityContext | default .Values.securityContext }}
   {{/* st2actionrunner is likely the most permissive so use that if defined. */}}
   securityContext: {{- toYaml . | nindent 8 }}