diff --git a/eppy/modeleditor.py b/eppy/modeleditor.py
index 560a6f3b..b8cc9d4a 100644
--- a/eppy/modeleditor.py
+++ b/eppy/modeleditor.py
@@ -996,6 +996,9 @@ def save(self, filename=None, lineendings="default", encoding="latin-1"):
             is compatible with the EnergyPlus IDFEditor.
 
         """
+        if self.idfabsname is None and isinstance(self.idfname, str):
+            # this happens when the user sets self.idfname to an in-memory idf
+            self.idfabsname = os.path.abspath(self.idfname)
         if filename is None:
             filename = self.idfabsname
         s = self.idfstr()
@@ -1023,6 +1026,13 @@ def save(self, filename=None, lineendings="default", encoding="latin-1"):
             except TypeError:
                 filename.write(s.decode(encoding))
 
+        try:
+            pass
+        except Exception as e:
+            raise e
+        else:
+            pass
+
     def saveas(self, filename, lineendings="default", encoding="latin-1"):
         """Save the IDF as a text file with the filename passed.
 
diff --git a/tests/test_modeleditor.py b/tests/test_modeleditor.py
index 873077af..3c16494f 100644
--- a/tests/test_modeleditor.py
+++ b/tests/test_modeleditor.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 #  (See accompanying file LICENSE or copy at
 #  http://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)
 # =======================================================================
-"""py.test for modeleditor"""
+"""Main py.test modeleditor. Other tests are in test_modeleditor.py"""
 
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 from __future__ import division
@@ -690,3 +690,20 @@ def test_copyidf():
     idf = IDF(StringIO(idftxt))
     new_idf = idf.copyidf()
     assert idf.idfstr() == new_idf.idfstr()
+
+
+def test_name_and_save_inmemoryidf():
+    """py.test to name and save a file that is created in memory"""
+    # fixing and testing an error from user documentation code
+    # fix for issue #408
+
+    idftxt = "VERSION, 7.3;"
+    fhandle = StringIO(idftxt)
+    idf_notemptyfile = IDF(fhandle)
+    idf_notemptyfile.idfname = "notemptyfile_randomchars_laksdfjl.idf"
+    try:
+        idf_notemptyfile.save()
+    except Exception as e:
+        raise e
+    finally:
+        os.remove("notemptyfile_randomchars_laksdfjl.idf")
diff --git a/tests/test_modeleditor1.py b/tests/test_modeleditor1.py
index 0236b2d1..9588687f 100644
--- a/tests/test_modeleditor1.py
+++ b/tests/test_modeleditor1.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #  (See accompanying file LICENSE or copy at
 #  http://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)
 # =======================================================================
-"""py.test for some functions of modeleditor"""
+"""py.test for some functions of modeleditor. Other tests are in test_modeleditor.py"""
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 from __future__ import division
 from __future__ import print_function