diff --git a/hermes_cli/profiles.py b/hermes_cli/profiles.py
index 73137fc7e3d..950c4ef4275 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/profiles.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/profiles.py
@@ -1061,6 +1061,7 @@ def create_profile(
         shutil.copytree(
             source_dir,
             profile_dir,
+            symlinks=True,
             ignore=_clone_all_copytree_ignore(source_dir),
         )
         # Strip runtime files
@@ -1095,7 +1096,7 @@ def create_profile(
             # same agent capabilities as the source profile.
             source_skills = source_dir / "skills"
             if source_skills.is_dir():
-                shutil.copytree(source_skills, profile_dir / "skills", dirs_exist_ok=True)
+                shutil.copytree(source_skills, profile_dir / "skills", symlinks=True, dirs_exist_ok=True)
 
             # Clone memory and other subdirectory files
             for relpath in _CLONE_SUBDIR_FILES: