diff --git a/project/sync/cli.py b/project/sync/cli.py
index fd97c65..253e1c6 100644
--- a/project/sync/cli.py
+++ b/project/sync/cli.py
@@ -12,5 +12,6 @@ def cli(private):
     if private and exit_code == 0:
         if not config.get('private_repo'):
             print("private repo not set")
-        exit_code = repos.clone_public_data()
+            return 1
+        exit_code = repos.clone_private_data()
     return exit_code
diff --git a/project/utils/repos.py b/project/utils/repos.py
index d7523d1..4757658 100644
--- a/project/utils/repos.py
+++ b/project/utils/repos.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import os, shutil
+from distutils.dir_util import copy_tree
 from . import config, constants
 
 
@@ -29,14 +30,13 @@ def clone_private_data():
     if exit_code != 0:
         return exit_code
 
-    shutil.copytree(
+    copy_tree(
         constants.PRIVATE_DATA_DIR,
         constants.PUBLIC_DATA_DIR
     )
     return exit_code
 
 
-
 def has_data(data):
     public_path = os.path.join(constants.PUBLIC_DATA_DIR, data)
     private_path = os.path.join(constants.PRIVATE_DATA_DIR, data)