diff --git a/kernel/sy_old/mars_main.c b/kernel/sy_old/mars_main.c
index bf6a2aa8..63a1fc1a 100644
--- a/kernel/sy_old/mars_main.c
+++ b/kernel/sy_old/mars_main.c
@@ -1528,6 +1528,13 @@ int __make_copy(
 	for (i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
 		struct mars_brick *aio;
 
+		/* do not change names underway */
+		if (copy && copy->inputs[i] && copy->inputs[i]->connect) {
+			aio = copy->inputs[i]->connect->brick;
+			if (aio && aio->power.button)
+				goto found;
+		}
+
 		cc.argv[i] = argv[i];
 		if (parent) {
 			cc.fullpath[i] = path_make("%s/%s", parent, argv[i]);
@@ -1556,7 +1563,10 @@ int __make_copy(
 			make_msg(msg_pair, "cannot instantiate '%s'", cc.fullpath[i]);
 			goto done;
 		}
+
+	found:
 		cc.output[i] = aio->outputs[0];
+
 		/* When switching off, use a short timeout for aborting.
 		 * Important on very slow networks (since a large number
 		 * of requests may be pending).