diff --git a/src/agnocastlib/include/agnocast_smart_pointer.hpp b/src/agnocastlib/include/agnocast_smart_pointer.hpp
index e186e721..32518379 100644
--- a/src/agnocastlib/include/agnocast_smart_pointer.hpp
+++ b/src/agnocastlib/include/agnocast_smart_pointer.hpp
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class ipc_shared_ptr
     timestamp_(r.timestamp_),
     is_created_by_sub_(r.is_created_by_sub_)
   {
-    if (!is_created_by_sub_) {
+    if (ptr_ != nullptr && !is_created_by_sub_) {
       RCLCPP_ERROR(
         logger,
         "Copying an ipc_shared_ptr is not allowed if it was created by borrow_loaned_message().");
diff --git a/src/agnocastlib/test/test_agnocast_smart_pointer.cpp b/src/agnocastlib/test/test_agnocast_smart_pointer.cpp
index 498e7d75..cabfc80a 100644
--- a/src/agnocastlib/test/test_agnocast_smart_pointer.cpp
+++ b/src/agnocastlib/test/test_agnocast_smart_pointer.cpp
@@ -72,6 +72,14 @@ TEST_F(AgnocastSmartPointerTest, copy_constructor_isnt_created_by_sub)
     "Copying an ipc_shared_ptr is not allowed if it was created by borrow_loaned_message().");
 }
 
+TEST_F(AgnocastSmartPointerTest, copy_constructor_empty)
+{
+  EXPECT_GLOBAL_CALL(increment_rc_core, increment_rc_core(dummy_tn, dummy_pid, dummy_ts)).Times(0);
+  EXPECT_GLOBAL_CALL(decrement_rc, decrement_rc(dummy_tn, dummy_pid, dummy_ts)).Times(0);
+  agnocast::ipc_shared_ptr<int> sut;
+  EXPECT_NO_THROW(agnocast::ipc_shared_ptr<int> sut2{sut});
+}
+
 TEST_F(AgnocastSmartPointerTest, move_constructor_normal)
 {
   int * ptr = new int(0);