diff --git a/asyncssh/sftp.py b/asyncssh/sftp.py
index 4b8f0ca..209bee3 100644
--- a/asyncssh/sftp.py
+++ b/asyncssh/sftp.py
@@ -3759,7 +3759,8 @@ async def _copy(self, srcfs: _SFTPFSProtocol, dstfs: _SFTPFSProtocol,
                     preserve: bool, recurse: bool, follow_symlinks: bool,
                     block_size: int, max_requests: int,
                     progress_handler: SFTPProgressHandler,
-                    error_handler: SFTPErrorHandler) -> None:
+                    error_handler: SFTPErrorHandler,
+                    remote_only: bool) -> None:
         """Copy a file, directory, or symbolic link"""
 
         try:
@@ -3795,7 +3796,8 @@ async def _copy(self, srcfs: _SFTPFSProtocol, dstfs: _SFTPFSProtocol,
                     await self._copy(srcfs, dstfs, srcfile, dstfile,
                                      srcname.attrs, preserve, recurse,
                                      follow_symlinks, block_size, max_requests,
-                                     progress_handler, error_handler)
+                                     progress_handler, error_handler,
+                                     remote_only)
 
                 self.logger.info('  Finished copy of directory %s to %s',
                                  srcpath, dstpath)
@@ -3810,6 +3812,9 @@ async def _copy(self, srcfs: _SFTPFSProtocol, dstfs: _SFTPFSProtocol,
             else:
                 self.logger.info('  Copying file %s to %s', srcpath, dstpath)
 
+                if remote_only and not self.supports_remote_copy:
+                    raise SFTPOpUnsupported('Remote copy not supported')
+
                 await _SFTPFileCopier(block_size, max_requests, 0,
                                       srcattrs.size or 0, srcfs, dstfs,
                                       srcpath, dstpath, progress_handler).run()
@@ -3846,7 +3851,8 @@ async def _begin_copy(self, srcfs: _SFTPFSProtocol, dstfs: _SFTPFSProtocol,
                           recurse: bool, follow_symlinks: bool,
                           block_size: int, max_requests: int,
                           progress_handler: SFTPProgressHandler,
-                          error_handler: SFTPErrorHandler) -> None:
+                          error_handler: SFTPErrorHandler,
+                          remote_only: bool = False) -> None:
         """Begin a new file upload, download, or copy"""
 
         if block_size <= 0:
@@ -3903,7 +3909,8 @@ async def _begin_copy(self, srcfs: _SFTPFSProtocol, dstfs: _SFTPFSProtocol,
 
             await self._copy(srcfs, dstfs, srcfile, dstfile, srcname.attrs,
                              preserve, recurse, follow_symlinks, block_size,
-                             max_requests, progress_handler, error_handler)
+                             max_requests, progress_handler, error_handler,
+                             remote_only)
 
     async def get(self, remotepaths: _SFTPPaths,
                   localpath: Optional[_SFTPPath] = None, *,
@@ -4222,13 +4229,10 @@ async def copy(self, srcpaths: _SFTPPaths,
 
         """
 
-        if remote_only and not self.supports_remote_copy:
-            raise SFTPOpUnsupported('Remote copy not supported')
-
         await self._begin_copy(self, self, srcpaths, dstpath, 'remote copy',
                                False, preserve, recurse, follow_symlinks,
                                block_size, max_requests, progress_handler,
-                               error_handler)
+                               error_handler, remote_only)
 
     async def mget(self, remotepaths: _SFTPPaths,
                    localpath: Optional[_SFTPPath] = None, *,
@@ -4295,13 +4299,10 @@ async def mcopy(self, srcpaths: _SFTPPaths,
 
         """
 
-        if remote_only and not self.supports_remote_copy:
-            raise SFTPOpUnsupported('Remote copy not supported')
-
         await self._begin_copy(self, self, srcpaths, dstpath, 'remote mcopy',
                                True, preserve, recurse, follow_symlinks,
                                block_size, max_requests, progress_handler,
-                               error_handler)
+                               error_handler, remote_only)
 
     async def remote_copy(self, src: _SFTPClientFileOrPath,
                           dst: _SFTPClientFileOrPath, src_offset: int = 0,
diff --git a/tests/test_sftp.py b/tests/test_sftp.py
index 59b377d..a853508 100644
--- a/tests/test_sftp.py
+++ b/tests/test_sftp.py
@@ -777,9 +777,14 @@ async def _test_copy_remote_only(self, sftp):
 
             for method in ('copy', 'mcopy'):
                 with self.subTest(method=method):
-                    with self.assertRaises(SFTPOpUnsupported):
-                        await getattr(sftp, method)('src', 'dst',
-                                                    remote_only=True)
+                    try:
+                        self._create_file('src')
+
+                        with self.assertRaises(SFTPOpUnsupported):
+                            await getattr(sftp, method)('src', 'dst',
+                                                        remote_only=True)
+                    finally:
+                        remove('src')
 
         with patch('asyncssh.sftp.SFTPServerHandler._extensions', []):
             # pylint: disable=no-value-for-parameter