diff --git a/coreutils/cp.c b/coreutils/cp.c
index 6a82f6bff..97731e83f 100644
--- a/coreutils/cp.c
+++ b/coreutils/cp.c
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 #include "libcoreutils/coreutils.h"
 
 /* WARNING!! ORDER IS IMPORTANT!! */
-static const char cp_opts[] = "pdRfiar";
+static const char cp_opts[] = "pdRfiarP";
 
 extern int cp_main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
@@ -73,6 +73,12 @@ extern int cp_main(int argc, char **argv)
  		 */
 		flags |= FILEUTILS_RECUR;
 	}
+	if (flags & 128) {
+		/* Make -P a synonym for -d,
+		 * -d is the GNU option while -P is the POSIX 2003 option
+		 */
+		flags |= FILEUTILS_DEREFERENCE;
+	}
 
 	flags ^= FILEUTILS_DEREFERENCE;		/* The sense of this flag was reversed. */
 
diff --git a/include/usage.h b/include/usage.h
index d928a10a3..7cf44d74a 100644
--- a/include/usage.h
+++ b/include/usage.h
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@
 	"Copies SOURCE to DEST, or multiple SOURCE(s) to DIRECTORY.\n" \
 	"\n" \
 	"\t-a\tSame as -dpR\n" \
-	"\t-d\tPreserves links\n" \
+	"\t-d,-P\tPreserves links\n" \
 	"\t-p\tPreserves file attributes if possible\n" \
 	"\t-f\tforce (implied; ignored) - always set\n" \
 	"\t-i\tinteractive, prompt before overwrite\n" \