diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 248de09..6edba19 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ torrents and authentication.
 - [x] responsive ui
 - [x] automatically update metadata of shows
 - [x] automatically download new seasons/episodes of shows
+- [x] add fallback to just copy files if hardlinks don't work
 - [ ] support for movies
 - [ ] expand README with more information and a quickstart guide
 - [ ] add notification system
@@ -44,7 +45,6 @@ torrents and authentication.
 - [ ] make indexer module multithreaded
 - [ ] add support for deluge and transmission
 - [ ] improve reliability of scheduled tasks
-- [ ] add fallback to just copy files if hardlinks don't work
 - [ ] _maybe_ rework the logo
 - [ ] _maybe_ add support for configuration via toml config file
 
diff --git a/media_manager/main.py b/media_manager/main.py
index a8093f0..21a6fd0 100644
--- a/media_manager/main.py
+++ b/media_manager/main.py
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ from media_manager.tv.service import (  # noqa: E402
 )
 
 from media_manager.config import BasicConfig  # noqa: E402
+import shutil # noqa: E402
 
 import media_manager.torrent.router as torrent_router  # noqa: E402
 from fastapi import FastAPI  # noqa: E402
@@ -202,7 +203,7 @@ app.mount(
 
 log.info("Hello World!")
 
-# Startup checks
+# Startup filesystem checks
 try:
     test_dir = basic_config.tv_directory / Path(".media_manager_test_dir")
     test_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
@@ -219,11 +220,6 @@ try:
     test_dir.unlink()
     log.info(f"Successfully created test file in Image directory at: {test_dir}")
 
-    test_dir = basic_config.image_directory / Path(".media_manager_test_dir")
-    test_dir.touch()
-    test_dir.unlink()
-    log.info(f"Successfully created test file in Image directory at: {test_dir}")
-
     # check if hardlink creation works
     test_dir = basic_config.tv_directory / Path(".media_manager_test_dir")
     test_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
@@ -235,14 +231,19 @@ try:
     test_torrent_file.touch()
 
     test_hardlink = test_dir / Path(".media_manager.test.hardlink")
-    test_hardlink.hardlink_to(test_torrent_file)
-    if not test_hardlink.samefile(test_torrent_file):
-        log.critical("Hardlink creation failed!")
-
-    test_hardlink.unlink()
-    test_torrent_file.unlink()
-    torrent_dir.rmdir()
-    test_dir.rmdir()
+    try:
+        test_hardlink.hardlink_to(test_torrent_file)
+        if not test_hardlink.samefile(test_torrent_file):
+            log.critical("Hardlink creation failed!")
+        log.info("Successfully created test hardlink in TV directory")
+    except OSError as e:
+        log.error(f"Hardlink creation failed, falling back to copying files. Error: {e}")
+        shutil.copy(src=test_torrent_file, dst=test_hardlink)
+    finally:
+        test_hardlink.unlink()
+        test_torrent_file.unlink()
+        torrent_dir.rmdir()
+        test_dir.rmdir()
 
 except Exception as e:
     log.error(f"Error creating test directory: {e}")
diff --git a/media_manager/torrent/utils.py b/media_manager/torrent/utils.py
index b0bcfbb..ada4aa4 100644
--- a/media_manager/torrent/utils.py
+++ b/media_manager/torrent/utils.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import logging
 import mimetypes
 from pathlib import Path
-
+import shutil
 import patoolib
 
 from media_manager.config import BasicConfig
@@ -43,7 +43,14 @@ def get_torrent_filepath(torrent: Torrent):
 def import_file(target_file: Path, source_file: Path):
     if target_file.exists():
         target_file.unlink()
-    target_file.hardlink_to(source_file)
+    try:
+        target_file.hardlink_to(source_file)
+    except OSError as e:
+        log.error(
+            f"Failed to create hardlink from {source_file} to {target_file}: {e}. "
+            "Falling back to copying the file."
+        )
+        shutil.copy(src=source_file, dst=target_file)
 
 
 def import_torrent(torrent: Torrent) -> (list[Path], list[Path], list[Path]):