diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index af15d42cd79a..0095f986fa80 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -36,6 +36,10 @@ Unreleased
 
 - Add a META rule for 'compiler-libs.native-toplevel' (#4175, @altgr)
 
+- Use Action_builder.copy instead of Action_build.symlink when copying compiled
+  interfaces in virtual rules. Fix sandbox installation of implementations of
+  virtual packages (fixes #4190, @dannywillems)
+
 2.8.2 (21/01/2021)
 ------------------
 
diff --git a/src/dune_rules/virtual_rules.ml b/src/dune_rules/virtual_rules.ml
index 06a9f14f4491..775763a61988 100644
--- a/src/dune_rules/virtual_rules.ml
+++ b/src/dune_rules/virtual_rules.ml
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ let setup_copy_rules_for_impl ~sctx ~dir vimpl =
   let vlib_obj_dir = Lib.obj_dir vlib in
   let add_rule = Super_context.add_rule sctx ~dir in
   let copy_to_obj_dir ~src ~dst =
-    add_rule ~loc:(Loc.of_pos __POS__) (Action_builder.symlink ~src ~dst)
+    add_rule ~loc:(Loc.of_pos __POS__) (Action_builder.copy ~src ~dst)
   in
   let { Lib_config.has_native; ext_obj; _ } = ctx.lib_config in
   let { Mode.Dict.byte; native } =