diff --git a/nipype/interfaces/freesurfer/tests/test_auto_MRIsExpand.py b/nipype/interfaces/freesurfer/tests/test_auto_MRIsExpand.py
index cde82e2bd3..3be9600467 100644
--- a/nipype/interfaces/freesurfer/tests/test_auto_MRIsExpand.py
+++ b/nipype/interfaces/freesurfer/tests/test_auto_MRIsExpand.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ def test_MRIsExpand_inputs():
     usedefault=True,
     ),
     in_file=dict(argstr='%s',
-    copyfile=False,
+    copyfile=True,
     mandatory=True,
     position=-3,
     ),
@@ -32,11 +32,11 @@ def test_MRIsExpand_inputs():
     usedefault=True,
     ),
     pial=dict(argstr='-pial %s',
-    copyfile=False,
+    copyfile=True,
     ),
     smooth_averages=dict(argstr='-A %d',
     ),
-    sphere=dict(copyfile=False,
+    sphere=dict(copyfile=True,
     usedefault=True,
     ),
     spring=dict(argstr='-S %g',
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ def test_MRIsExpand_inputs():
     thickness=dict(argstr='-thickness',
     ),
     thickness_name=dict(argstr='-thickness_name %s',
-    copyfile=False,
+    copyfile=True,
     ),
     write_iterations=dict(argstr='-W %d',
     ),
diff --git a/nipype/interfaces/freesurfer/utils.py b/nipype/interfaces/freesurfer/utils.py
index 7cd802e969..c12bd058da 100644
--- a/nipype/interfaces/freesurfer/utils.py
+++ b/nipype/interfaces/freesurfer/utils.py
@@ -2912,7 +2912,7 @@ class MRIsExpandInputSpec(FSTraitedSpec):
     # Input spec derived from
     # https://github.com/freesurfer/freesurfer/blob/102e053/mris_expand/mris_expand.c
     in_file = File(
-        exists=True, mandatory=True, argstr='%s', position=-3, copyfile=False,
+        exists=True, mandatory=True, argstr='%s', position=-3, copyfile=True,
         desc='Surface to expand')
     distance = traits.Float(
         mandatory=True, argstr='%g', position=-2,
@@ -2926,7 +2926,7 @@ class MRIsExpandInputSpec(FSTraitedSpec):
         argstr='-thickness',
         desc='Expand by fraction of cortical thickness, not mm')
     thickness_name = traits.Str(
-        argstr="-thickness_name %s", copyfile=False,
+        argstr="-thickness_name %s", copyfile=True,
         desc=('Name of thickness file (implicit: "thickness")\n'
               'If no path, uses directory of `in_file`\n'
               'If no path AND missing "lh." or "rh.", derive from `in_file`'))
@@ -2936,12 +2936,12 @@ class MRIsExpandInputSpec(FSTraitedSpec):
         desc=('Tuple of (n_averages, min_averages) parameters '
               '(implicit: (16, 0))'))
     pial = traits.Str(
-        argstr='-pial %s', copyfile=False,
+        argstr='-pial %s', copyfile=True,
         desc=('Name of pial file (implicit: "pial")\n'
               'If no path, uses directory of `in_file`\n'
               'If no path AND missing "lh." or "rh.", derive from `in_file`'))
     sphere = traits.Str(
-        'sphere', copyfile=False, usedefault=True,
+        'sphere', copyfile=True, usedefault=True,
         desc='WARNING: Do not change this trait')
     spring = traits.Float(argstr='-S %g', desc="Spring term (implicit: 0.05)")
     dt = traits.Float(argstr='-T %g', desc='dt (implicit: 0.25)')