diff --git a/packages/nimble/inst/include/nimble/NimArr.h b/packages/nimble/inst/include/nimble/NimArr.h
index 8d134dc8a..a1a126f42 100644
--- a/packages/nimble/inst/include/nimble/NimArr.h
+++ b/packages/nimble/inst/include/nimble/NimArr.h
@@ -72,7 +72,8 @@ template<int nDim, class T, class T2>
     target.getVptrRef() = ans;
     target.mapCopy(val);
   } else {
-    std::copy(val.getConstPtr(), val.getConstPtr() + length, *ans);
+    if(length > 0)
+      std::copy(val.getConstPtr(), val.getConstPtr() + length, *ans);
   }
 }
 
@@ -172,7 +173,8 @@ class NimArr<1, T> : public NimArrBase<T> {
       if (NimArrBase<T>::own_v) nimble_free(NimArrBase<T>::v);
       NimArrBase<T>::v = nimble_malloc<T>(size1);
       NimArrBase<T>::own_v = true;
-      std::copy(other.v, other.v + size1, NimArrBase<T>::v);
+      if (size1 > 0)
+        std::copy(other.v, other.v + size1, NimArrBase<T>::v);
     }
     NimArrBase<T>::setVptr();
     return *this;
@@ -211,7 +213,8 @@ class NimArr<1, T> : public NimArrBase<T> {
       if (NimArrBase<T>::own_v) nimble_free(NimArrBase<T>::v);
       NimArrBase<T>::v = nimble_malloc<T>(NimArrBase<T>::NAlength);
       NimArrBase<T>::own_v = true;
-      std::copy(other.v, other.v + NimArrBase<T>::NAlength, NimArrBase<T>::v);
+      if (NimArrBase<T>::NAlength > 0)
+        std::copy(other.v, other.v + NimArrBase<T>::NAlength, NimArrBase<T>::v);
     }
     NimArrBase<T>::setVptr();
     return (*this);
@@ -238,7 +241,8 @@ class NimArr<1, T> : public NimArrBase<T> {
     } else {
       NimArrBase<T>::v = nimble_malloc<T>(size1);
       NimArrBase<T>::own_v = true;
-      std::copy(other.v, other.v + size1, NimArrBase<T>::v);
+      if (size1 > 0)
+        std::copy(other.v, other.v + size1, NimArrBase<T>::v);
     }
     NimArrBase<T>::setVptr();
   }
@@ -421,7 +425,8 @@ class NimArr<2, T> : public NimArrBase<T> {
       if (NimArrBase<T>::own_v) nimble_free(NimArrBase<T>::v);
       NimArrBase<T>::v = nimble_malloc<T>(NimArrBase<T>::NAlength);
       NimArrBase<T>::own_v = true;
-      std::copy(other.v, other.v + NimArrBase<T>::NAlength, NimArrBase<T>::v);
+      if (NimArrBase<T>::NAlength > 0)
+        std::copy(other.v, other.v + NimArrBase<T>::NAlength, NimArrBase<T>::v);
     }
     NimArrBase<T>::setVptr();
     return *this;
@@ -454,7 +459,8 @@ class NimArr<2, T> : public NimArrBase<T> {
     } else {
       NimArrBase<T>::v = nimble_malloc<T>(NimArrBase<T>::NAlength);
       NimArrBase<T>::own_v = true;
-      std::copy(other.v, other.v + NimArrBase<T>::NAlength, NimArrBase<T>::v);
+      if (NimArrBase<T>::NAlength > 0)
+        std::copy(other.v, other.v + NimArrBase<T>::NAlength, NimArrBase<T>::v);
     }
     NimArrBase<T>::setVptr();
   }
@@ -666,7 +672,8 @@ class NimArr<3, T> : public NimArrBase<T> {
       if (NimArrBase<T>::own_v) nimble_free(NimArrBase<T>::v);
       NimArrBase<T>::v = nimble_malloc<T>(NimArrBase<T>::NAlength);
       NimArrBase<T>::own_v = true;
-      std::copy(other.v, other.v + NimArrBase<T>::NAlength, NimArrBase<T>::v);
+      if (NimArrBase<T>::NAlength > 0)
+        std::copy(other.v, other.v + NimArrBase<T>::NAlength, NimArrBase<T>::v);
     }
     NimArrBase<T>::setVptr();
     return *this;
@@ -704,7 +711,8 @@ class NimArr<3, T> : public NimArrBase<T> {
     } else {
       NimArrBase<T>::v = nimble_malloc<T>(NimArrBase<T>::NAlength);
       NimArrBase<T>::own_v = true;
-      std::copy(other.v, other.v + NimArrBase<T>::NAlength, NimArrBase<T>::v);
+      if (NimArrBase<T>::NAlength > 0)
+        std::copy(other.v, other.v + NimArrBase<T>::NAlength, NimArrBase<T>::v);
     }
     NimArrBase<T>::setVptr();
   }
@@ -949,7 +957,8 @@ class NimArr<4, T> : public NimArrBase<T> {
       if (NimArrBase<T>::own_v) nimble_free(NimArrBase<T>::v);
       NimArrBase<T>::v = nimble_malloc<T>(NimArrBase<T>::NAlength);
       NimArrBase<T>::own_v = true;
-      std::copy(other.v, other.v + NimArrBase<T>::NAlength, NimArrBase<T>::v);
+      if (NimArrBase<T>::NAlength > 0)
+        std::copy(other.v, other.v + NimArrBase<T>::NAlength, NimArrBase<T>::v);
     }
     NimArrBase<T>::setVptr();
     return *this;
@@ -994,7 +1003,8 @@ class NimArr<4, T> : public NimArrBase<T> {
     } else {
       NimArrBase<T>::v = nimble_malloc<T>(NimArrBase<T>::NAlength);
       NimArrBase<T>::own_v = true;
-      std::copy(other.v, other.v + NimArrBase<T>::NAlength, NimArrBase<T>::v);
+      if (NimArrBase<T>::NAlength > 0)
+        std::copy(other.v, other.v + NimArrBase<T>::NAlength, NimArrBase<T>::v);
     }
     NimArrBase<T>::setVptr();
   }
@@ -1270,7 +1280,8 @@ class NimArr<5, T> : public NimArrBase<T> {
       if (NimArrBase<T>::own_v) nimble_free(NimArrBase<T>::v);
       NimArrBase<T>::v = nimble_malloc<T>(NimArrBase<T>::NAlength);
       NimArrBase<T>::own_v = true;
-      std::copy(other.v, other.v + NimArrBase<T>::NAlength, NimArrBase<T>::v);
+      if (NimArrBase<T>::NAlength > 0)
+        std::copy(other.v, other.v + NimArrBase<T>::NAlength, NimArrBase<T>::v);
     }
     NimArrBase<T>::setVptr();
     return *this;
@@ -1321,7 +1332,8 @@ class NimArr<5, T> : public NimArrBase<T> {
     } else {
       NimArrBase<T>::v = nimble_malloc<T>(NimArrBase<T>::NAlength);
       NimArrBase<T>::own_v = true;
-      std::copy(other.v, other.v + NimArrBase<T>::NAlength, NimArrBase<T>::v);
+      if (NimArrBase<T>::NAlength > 0)
+        std::copy(other.v, other.v + NimArrBase<T>::NAlength, NimArrBase<T>::v);
     }
     NimArrBase<T>::setVptr();
   }
@@ -1626,7 +1638,8 @@ class NimArr<6, T> : public NimArrBase<T> {
       if (NimArrBase<T>::own_v) nimble_free(NimArrBase<T>::v);
       NimArrBase<T>::v = nimble_malloc<T>(NimArrBase<T>::NAlength);
       NimArrBase<T>::own_v = true;
-      std::copy(other.v, other.v + NimArrBase<T>::NAlength, NimArrBase<T>::v);
+      if (NimArrBase<T>::NAlength > 0)
+        std::copy(other.v, other.v + NimArrBase<T>::NAlength, NimArrBase<T>::v);
     }
     NimArrBase<T>::setVptr();
     return *this;
@@ -1683,7 +1696,8 @@ class NimArr<6, T> : public NimArrBase<T> {
     } else {
       NimArrBase<T>::v = nimble_malloc<T>(NimArrBase<T>::NAlength);
       NimArrBase<T>::own_v = true;
-      std::copy(other.v, other.v + NimArrBase<T>::NAlength, NimArrBase<T>::v);
+      if (NimArrBase<T>::NAlength > 0)
+        std::copy(other.v, other.v + NimArrBase<T>::NAlength, NimArrBase<T>::v);
     }
     NimArrBase<T>::setVptr();
   }
diff --git a/packages/nimble/inst/include/nimble/RcppNimbleUtils.h b/packages/nimble/inst/include/nimble/RcppNimbleUtils.h
index 14d149e3b..5cea58c92 100644
--- a/packages/nimble/inst/include/nimble/RcppNimbleUtils.h
+++ b/packages/nimble/inst/include/nimble/RcppNimbleUtils.h
@@ -245,13 +245,15 @@ void SEXP_2_NimArr(SEXP Sn, NimArr<ndim, double> &ans) {
   ans.setSize(inputDims);
   int nn = LENGTH(Sn);
   if(Rf_isReal(Sn)) {
-    std::copy(REAL(Sn), REAL(Sn) + nn, ans.getPtr() );
+    if(nn > 0)
+      std::copy(REAL(Sn), REAL(Sn) + nn, ans.getPtr() );
   } else {
     NIM_ASSERT3(Rf_isInteger(Sn) || Rf_isLogical(Sn),
       "could not handle input of type %s to SEXP_2_NimArr<%d, double>\n",
       Rf_type2char(TYPEOF(Sn)), ndim);
     int *iSn = Rf_isInteger(Sn) ? INTEGER(Sn) : LOGICAL(Sn);
-    std::copy(iSn, iSn + nn, ans.getPtr()); //v);
+    if(nn > 0)
+      std::copy(iSn, iSn + nn, ans.getPtr()); //v);
   }
 }
 
@@ -269,13 +271,15 @@ void SEXP_2_NimArr(SEXP Sn, NimArr<ndim, int> &ans) {
   ans.setSize(inputDims);
   int nn = LENGTH(Sn);
   if(Rf_isReal(Sn)) {
-    std::copy(REAL(Sn), REAL(Sn) + nn, ans.getPtr() );
+    if(nn > 0)
+      std::copy(REAL(Sn), REAL(Sn) + nn, ans.getPtr() );
   } else {
     NIM_ASSERT3(Rf_isInteger(Sn) || Rf_isLogical(Sn),
       "could not handle input type %s to SEXP_2_NimArr<%d, int>\n",
       Rf_type2char(TYPEOF(Sn)), ndim);
     int *iSn = Rf_isInteger(Sn) ? INTEGER(Sn) : LOGICAL(Sn);
-    std::copy(iSn, iSn + nn, ans.getPtr()); //v);
+    if(nn > 0)
+      std::copy(iSn, iSn + nn, ans.getPtr()); //v);
   }
 }
 
@@ -292,13 +296,15 @@ void SEXP_2_NimArr(SEXP Sn, NimArr<ndim, bool> &ans) {
   ans.setSize(inputDims);
   int nn = LENGTH(Sn);
   if(Rf_isReal(Sn)) {
-    std::copy(REAL(Sn), REAL(Sn) + nn, ans.getPtr() );
+    if(nn > 0)
+      std::copy(REAL(Sn), REAL(Sn) + nn, ans.getPtr() );
   } else {
     NIM_ASSERT3(Rf_isInteger(Sn) || Rf_isLogical(Sn),
       "could not handle input type %s to SEXP_2_NimArr<%d, bool>\n",
       Rf_type2char(TYPEOF(Sn)), ndim);
     int *iSn = Rf_isInteger(Sn) ? INTEGER(Sn) : LOGICAL(Sn);
-    std::copy(iSn, iSn + nn, ans.getPtr()); //v);
+    if(nn > 0)
+      std::copy(iSn, iSn + nn, ans.getPtr()); //v);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/nimble/inst/include/nimble/accessorClasses.h b/packages/nimble/inst/include/nimble/accessorClasses.h
index 99ab9ed65..3868aab8c 100644
--- a/packages/nimble/inst/include/nimble/accessorClasses.h
+++ b/packages/nimble/inst/include/nimble/accessorClasses.h
@@ -739,9 +739,10 @@ class NodeVectorClassNew_derivs : public NodeVectorClassNew {
     NimArrVars.setSize(length_wrt);
     getValues(NimArrVars, model_wrt_accessor);
 
-    std::copy(NimArrVars.getPtr(),
-	      NimArrVars.getPtr() + length_wrt,
-	      independentVars.begin());
+    if(length_wrt > 0)
+      std::copy(NimArrVars.getPtr(),
+		NimArrVars.getPtr() + length_wrt,
+		independentVars.begin());
 
     //std::cout<<"done runTape_setInd"<<std::endl;
     // 2. Run tape
diff --git a/packages/nimble/inst/include/nimble/nimbleCppADbaseClass.cpp b/packages/nimble/inst/include/nimble/nimbleCppADbaseClass.cpp
index c38e0330d..3bba8d3e9 100644
--- a/packages/nimble/inst/include/nimble/nimbleCppADbaseClass.cpp
+++ b/packages/nimble/inst/include/nimble/nimbleCppADbaseClass.cpp
@@ -274,7 +274,8 @@ void getDerivs_internal(vector<BASE> &independentVars,
       if (ordersFound[0]) {
         ansList->value.setSize(res_dimy_o0, false, false);
         if(outAlly_o0) {
-          std::copy(value_ans.begin(), value_ans.end(), ansList->value.getPtr());
+          if(!value_ans.empty())
+            std::copy(value_ans.begin(), value_ans.end(), ansList->value.getPtr());
         } else {
           BASE *LHS = ansList->value.getPtr();
           for(size_t iii=0;iii<res_dimy_o0;iii++,LHS++) {
@@ -909,9 +910,10 @@ void nimbleFunctionCppADbase::getDerivs_calculate_internal(nimbleCppADinfoClass
   NimArrVars.setSize(length_wrt);
   getValues(NimArrVars, nodes.model_wrt_accessor);
 
-  std::copy(NimArrVars.getPtr(),
-            NimArrVars.getPtr() + length_wrt,
-            ADinfo.independentVars.begin());
+  if(length_wrt > 0)
+    std::copy(NimArrVars.getPtr(),
+              NimArrVars.getPtr() + length_wrt,
+              ADinfo.independentVars.begin());
   /* set dynamic */
   // Copy extraInput (CppAD "dynamic") values from the model into the dynamicVars
   // *and* set them in the tape.