diff --git a/wagtail/core/models.py b/wagtail/core/models.py
index 2d2670d62e..1017418597 100644
--- a/wagtail/core/models.py
+++ b/wagtail/core/models.py
@@ -1756,6 +1756,10 @@ class Page(AbstractPage, index.Indexed, ClusterableModel, metaclass=PageBase):
         :param log_action flag for logging the action. Pass None to skip logging.
             Can be passed an action string. Defaults to 'wagtail.copy'
         """
+
+        if self._state.adding:
+            raise RuntimeError('Page.copy() called on an unsaved page')
+
         exclude_fields = self.default_exclude_fields_in_copy + self.exclude_fields_in_copy + (exclude_fields or [])
         specific_self = self.specific
         if keep_live:
diff --git a/wagtail/core/tests/test_page_model.py b/wagtail/core/tests/test_page_model.py
index b51862a60c..ff78b5d142 100644
--- a/wagtail/core/tests/test_page_model.py
+++ b/wagtail/core/tests/test_page_model.py
@@ -1484,6 +1484,12 @@ class TestCopyPage(TestCase):
             # reset excluded fields for future tests
             EventPage.exclude_fields_in_copy = []
 
+    def test_copy_unsaved_page(self):
+        """Test that unsaved page will not be copied."""
+        new_page = SimplePage(slug='testpurp', title='testpurpose')
+        with self.assertRaises(RuntimeError):
+            new_page.copy()
+
 
 class TestCopyForTranslation(TestCase):
     fixtures = ['test.json']