diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish.yml b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
index 3f01c4d48..a45b9348f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: 'Copy build to site repo'
         run: |
-          rsync -a src/target/website/. ./asf-site
+          rsync -avP --delete --exclude .git src/target/website/. ./asf-site
         shell: bash
 
       - name: 'commit site'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/staging.yml b/.github/workflows/staging.yml
index bd6b9561b..4a066d529 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/staging.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/staging.yml
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: 'Copy to staging'
         run: |
-          rsync -a src/target/website/. ./site-staging 
+          rsync -avP --delete --exclude .git src/target/website/. ./asf-staging
         shell: bash
 
       - name: 'commit staging'