diff --git a/src/SUNalg.cpp b/src/SUNalg.cpp
index 0ffb9fc..c94012f 100755
--- a/src/SUNalg.cpp
+++ b/src/SUNalg.cpp
@@ -86,10 +86,12 @@ isinit_d(false){}
 SU_vector::SU_vector(const SU_vector& V):
 dim(V.dim),
 size(V.size),
-isinit(true),
+isinit(V.isinit || V.isinit_d),
 isinit_d(false){
-  alloc_aligned(dim,size,components,ptr_offset);
-  std::copy(V.components,V.components+size,components);
+  if(isinit){
+    alloc_aligned(dim,size,components,ptr_offset);
+    std::copy(V.components,V.components+size,components);
+  }
 }
 
 SU_vector::SU_vector(SU_vector&& V):
diff --git a/test/copy_construct_SU_vector.test.cpp b/test/copy_construct_SU_vector.test.cpp
index be94dfb..b9a4639 100755
--- a/test/copy_construct_SU_vector.test.cpp
+++ b/test/copy_construct_SU_vector.test.cpp
@@ -54,9 +54,21 @@ void exercise_constructor(unsigned int dim){
 	std::cout << '\n';
 }
 
+void copy_empty(){
+	SU_vector v1; //owns and refers to no memory
+	CLEAR_MEM_CACHE;
+	alloc_counting::reset_allocation_counters();
+	SU_vector v2(v1); //should not allocate
+	auto allocated=alloc_counting::mem_allocated;
+	if(allocated)
+		std::cout << allocated << " bytes allocated when no allocation should occur\n";
+}
+
 int main(){
 	alloc_counting::pattern_fill_allocs=true;
 	alloc_counting::alloc_fill_pattern=0xFF;
 	for(unsigned int i=2; i<=6; i++)
 		exercise_constructor(i);
+	
+	copy_empty();
 }