diff --git a/crates/install-wheel-rs/src/linker.rs b/crates/install-wheel-rs/src/linker.rs
index 9226474f60a42..c4f3ee85f7672 100644
--- a/crates/install-wheel-rs/src/linker.rs
+++ b/crates/install-wheel-rs/src/linker.rs
@@ -296,10 +296,17 @@ fn clone_wheel_files(
     let mut count = 0usize;
     let mut attempt = Attempt::default();
 
-    // On macOS, directly can be recursively copied with a single `clonefile` call.
+    // On macOS, directories can be recursively copied with a single `clonefile` call.
     // So we only need to iterate over the top-level of the directory, and copy each file or
     // subdirectory unless the subdirectory exists already in which case we'll need to recursively
     // merge its contents with the existing directory.
+    //
+    // On linux, we need to always reflink recursively, as `FICLONE` ioctl does not support directories.
+    // Also note, that reflink is only supported on certain filesystems (btrfs, xfs, ...), and only when
+    // it does not cross filesystem boundaries.
+    //
+    // On windows, we also always need to reflink recursively, as `FSCTL_DUPLICATE_EXTENTS_TO_FILE` ioctl
+    // is not supported on directories. Also, it is only supported on certain filesystems (ReFS, SMB, ...).
     for entry in fs::read_dir(wheel.as_ref())? {
         clone_recursive(
             site_packages.as_ref(),
@@ -365,7 +372,7 @@ fn clone_recursive(
 
     debug!("Cloning {} to {}", from.display(), to.display());
 
-    if cfg!(windows) && from.is_dir() {
+    if (cfg!(windows) || cfg!(target_os = "linux")) && from.is_dir() {
         // On Windows, reflinking directories is not supported, so we copy each file instead.
         fs::create_dir_all(&to)?;
         for entry in fs::read_dir(from)? {