diff --git a/src/Container/GenericContainer.php b/src/Container/GenericContainer.php
index 45d3998..4fd5639 100644
--- a/src/Container/GenericContainer.php
+++ b/src/Container/GenericContainer.php
@@ -338,12 +338,12 @@ public function start(): StartedGenericContainer
             return $this->start();
         }
 
-        $this->dockerClient->containerStart($this->id);
-
         if ($this->filesToCopy !== [] || $this->directoriesToCopy !== [] || $this->contentsToCopy !== []) {
             $this->copyToContainer();
         }
 
+        $this->dockerClient->containerStart($this->id);
+
         $startedContainer = new StartedGenericContainer($this->id);
         $this->waitStrategy->wait($startedContainer);