diff --git a/Source/Core/Core/WiiRoot.cpp b/Source/Core/Core/WiiRoot.cpp
index 5aa435c806..2f74f11580 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Core/WiiRoot.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/Core/WiiRoot.cpp
@@ -5,14 +5,19 @@
 #include "Core/WiiRoot.h"
 
 #include <string>
+#include <vector>
 
 #include "Common/CommonPaths.h"
+#include "Common/CommonTypes.h"
+#include "Common/File.h"
 #include "Common/FileUtil.h"
 #include "Common/Logging/Log.h"
 #include "Common/NandPaths.h"
 #include "Common/StringUtil.h"
 #include "Core/ConfigManager.h"
+#include "Core/IOS/FS/FileSystem.h"
 #include "Core/IOS/IOS.h"
+#include "Core/IOS/Uids.h"
 #include "Core/Movie.h"
 #include "Core/NetPlayClient.h"
 #include "Core/SysConf.h"
@@ -79,15 +84,63 @@ void ShutdownWiiRoot()
   }
 }
 
+/// Copy a directory from host_source_path (on the host FS) to nand_target_path on the NAND.
+///
+/// Both paths should not have trailing slashes. To specify the NAND root, use "".
+static bool CopySysmenuFilesToFS(IOS::HLE::FS::FileSystem* fs, const std::string& host_source_path,
+                                 const std::string& nand_target_path)
+{
+  const auto entries = File::ScanDirectoryTree(host_source_path, false);
+  for (const File::FSTEntry& entry : entries.children)
+  {
+    const std::string host_path = host_source_path + '/' + entry.virtualName;
+    const std::string nand_path = nand_target_path + '/' + entry.virtualName;
+    constexpr IOS::HLE::FS::Mode rw_mode = IOS::HLE::FS::Mode::ReadWrite;
+
+    if (entry.isDirectory)
+    {
+      fs->CreateDirectory(IOS::SYSMENU_UID, IOS::SYSMENU_GID, nand_path, 0, rw_mode, rw_mode,
+                          rw_mode);
+
+      if (!CopySysmenuFilesToFS(fs, host_path, nand_path))
+        return false;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+      // Do not overwrite any existing files.
+      if (fs->GetMetadata(IOS::SYSMENU_UID, IOS::SYSMENU_UID, nand_path).Succeeded())
+        continue;
+
+      File::IOFile host_file{host_path, "rb"};
+      std::vector<u8> file_data(host_file.GetSize());
+      if (!host_file.ReadBytes(file_data.data(), file_data.size()))
+        return false;
+
+      const auto nand_file = fs->CreateAndOpenFile(IOS::SYSMENU_UID, IOS::SYSMENU_GID, nand_path,
+                                                   rw_mode, rw_mode, rw_mode);
+      if (!nand_file || !nand_file->Write(file_data.data(), file_data.size()))
+        return false;
+    }
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
 void InitializeWiiFileSystemContents()
 {
-  File::CopyDir(File::GetSysDirectory() + WII_USER_DIR, File::GetUserPath(D_SESSION_WIIROOT_IDX));
+  const auto fs = IOS::HLE::GetIOS()->GetFS();
+
+  // Some games (such as Mario Kart Wii) assume that NWC24 files will always be present
+  // even upon the first launch as they are normally created by the system menu.
+  // Because we do not require the system menu to be run, WiiConnect24 files must be copied
+  // to the NAND manually.
+  if (!CopySysmenuFilesToFS(fs.get(), File::GetSysDirectory() + WII_USER_DIR, ""))
+    WARN_LOG(CORE, "Failed to copy initial System Menu files to the NAND");
 
   if (s_temp_wii_root.empty())
     return;
 
   // Generate a SYSCONF with default settings for the temporary Wii NAND.
-  SysConf sysconf{IOS::HLE::GetIOS()->GetFS()};
+  SysConf sysconf{fs};
   sysconf.Save();
 
   InitializeDeterministicWiiSaves();