diff --git a/include/pybind11/cast.h b/include/pybind11/cast.h
index bca4e85e3..4c8512535 100644
--- a/include/pybind11/cast.h
+++ b/include/pybind11/cast.h
@@ -381,11 +381,33 @@ protected:
     object temp;
 };
 
-/* Determine suitable casting operator */
+/**
+ * Determine suitable casting operator for pointer-or-lvalue-casting type casters.  The type caster
+ * needs to provide `operator T*()` and `operator T&()` operators.
+ *
+ * If the type supports moving the value away via an `operator T&&() &&` method, it should use
+ * `movable_cast_op_type` instead.
+ */
 template <typename T>
-using cast_op_type = typename std::conditional<std::is_pointer<typename std::remove_reference<T>::type>::value,
-    typename std::add_pointer<intrinsic_t<T>>::type,
-    typename std::add_lvalue_reference<intrinsic_t<T>>::type>::type;
+using cast_op_type =
+    conditional_t<std::is_pointer<typename std::remove_reference<T>::type>::value,
+        typename std::add_pointer<intrinsic_t<T>>::type,
+        typename std::add_lvalue_reference<intrinsic_t<T>>::type>;
+
+/**
+ * Determine suitable casting operator for a type caster with a movable value.  Such a type caster
+ * needs to provide `operator T*()`, `operator T&()`, and `operator T&&() &&`.  The latter will be
+ * called in appropriate contexts where the value can be moved rather than copied.
+ *
+ * These operator are automatically provided when using the PYBIND11_TYPE_CASTER macro.
+ */
+template <typename T>
+using movable_cast_op_type =
+    conditional_t<std::is_pointer<typename std::remove_reference<T>::type>::value,
+        typename std::add_pointer<intrinsic_t<T>>::type,
+    conditional_t<std::is_rvalue_reference<T>::value,
+        typename std::add_rvalue_reference<intrinsic_t<T>>::type,
+        typename std::add_lvalue_reference<intrinsic_t<T>>::type>>;
 
 // std::is_copy_constructible isn't quite enough: it lets std::vector<T> (and similar) through when
 // T is non-copyable, but code containing such a copy constructor fails to actually compile.
@@ -462,7 +484,7 @@ public:
             nullptr, nullptr, holder);
     }
 
-    template <typename T> using cast_op_type = pybind11::detail::cast_op_type<T>;
+    template <typename T> using cast_op_type = cast_op_type<T>;
 
     operator itype*() { return (type *) value; }
     operator itype&() { if (!value) throw reference_cast_error(); return *((itype *) value); }
@@ -498,8 +520,10 @@ template <typename type> using make_caster = type_caster<intrinsic_t<type>>;
 template <typename T> typename make_caster<T>::template cast_op_type<T> cast_op(make_caster<T> &caster) {
     return caster.operator typename make_caster<T>::template cast_op_type<T>();
 }
-template <typename T> typename make_caster<T>::template cast_op_type<T> cast_op(make_caster<T> &&caster) {
-    return cast_op<T>(caster);
+template <typename T> typename make_caster<T>::template cast_op_type<typename std::add_rvalue_reference<T>::type>
+cast_op(make_caster<T> &&caster) {
+    return std::move(caster).operator
+        typename make_caster<T>::template cast_op_type<typename std::add_rvalue_reference<T>::type>();
 }
 
 template <typename type> class type_caster<std::reference_wrapper<type>> : public type_caster_base<type> {
@@ -522,7 +546,8 @@ public:
         } \
         operator type*() { return &value; } \
         operator type&() { return value; } \
-        template <typename _T> using cast_op_type = pybind11::detail::cast_op_type<_T>
+        operator type&&() && { return std::move(value); } \
+        template <typename _T> using cast_op_type = pybind11::detail::movable_cast_op_type<_T>
 
 
 template <typename CharT> using is_std_char_type = any_of<
@@ -892,9 +917,8 @@ public:
 
     template <typename T> using cast_op_type = type;
 
-    operator type() {
-        return type(cast_op<T1>(first), cast_op<T2>(second));
-    }
+    operator type() & { return type(cast_op<T1>(first), cast_op<T2>(second)); }
+    operator type() && { return type(cast_op<T1>(std::move(first)), cast_op<T2>(std::move(second))); }
 protected:
     make_caster<T1> first;
     make_caster<T2> second;
@@ -925,17 +949,21 @@ public:
 
     template <typename T> using cast_op_type = type;
 
-    operator type() { return implicit_cast(indices{}); }
+    operator type() & { return implicit_cast(indices{}); }
+    operator type() && { return std::move(*this).implicit_cast(indices{}); }
 
 protected:
     template <size_t... Is>
-    type implicit_cast(index_sequence<Is...>) { return type(cast_op<Tuple>(std::get<Is>(value))...); }
+    type implicit_cast(index_sequence<Is...>) & { return type(cast_op<Tuple>(std::get<Is>(subcasters))...); }
+    template <size_t... Is>
+    type implicit_cast(index_sequence<Is...>) && { return type(cast_op<Tuple>(std::move(std::get<Is>(subcasters)))...); }
+
 
     static constexpr bool load_impl(const sequence &, bool, index_sequence<>) { return true; }
 
     template <size_t... Is>
     bool load_impl(const sequence &seq, bool convert, index_sequence<Is...>) {
-        for (bool r : {std::get<Is>(value).load(seq[Is], convert)...})
+        for (bool r : {std::get<Is>(subcasters).load(seq[Is], convert)...})
             if (!r)
                 return false;
         return true;
@@ -960,7 +988,7 @@ protected:
         return result.release();
     }
 
-    std::tuple<make_caster<Tuple>...> value;
+    std::tuple<make_caster<Tuple>...> subcasters;
 };
 
 /// Helper class which abstracts away certain actions. Users can provide specializations for
@@ -1465,13 +1493,13 @@ public:
     }
 
     template <typename Return, typename Guard, typename Func>
-    enable_if_t<!std::is_void<Return>::value, Return> call(Func &&f) {
-        return call_impl<Return>(std::forward<Func>(f), indices{}, Guard{});
+    enable_if_t<!std::is_void<Return>::value, Return> call(Func &&f) && {
+        return std::move(*this).template call_impl<Return>(std::forward<Func>(f), indices{}, Guard{});
     }
 
     template <typename Return, typename Guard, typename Func>
-    enable_if_t<std::is_void<Return>::value, void_type> call(Func &&f) {
-        call_impl<Return>(std::forward<Func>(f), indices{}, Guard{});
+    enable_if_t<std::is_void<Return>::value, void_type> call(Func &&f) && {
+        std::move(*this).template call_impl<Return>(std::forward<Func>(f), indices{}, Guard{});
         return void_type();
     }
 
@@ -1481,7 +1509,7 @@ private:
 
     template <size_t... Is>
     bool load_impl_sequence(function_call &call, index_sequence<Is...>) {
-        for (bool r : {std::get<Is>(value).load(call.args[Is], call.args_convert[Is])...})
+        for (bool r : {std::get<Is>(argcasters).load(call.args[Is], call.args_convert[Is])...})
             if (!r)
                 return false;
         return true;
@@ -1489,10 +1517,10 @@ private:
 
     template <typename Return, typename Func, size_t... Is, typename Guard>
     Return call_impl(Func &&f, index_sequence<Is...>, Guard &&) {
-        return std::forward<Func>(f)(cast_op<Args>(std::get<Is>(value))...);
+        return std::forward<Func>(f)(cast_op<Args>(std::move(std::get<Is>(argcasters)))...);
     }
 
-    std::tuple<make_caster<Args>...> value;
+    std::tuple<make_caster<Args>...> argcasters;
 };
 
 /// Helper class which collects only positional arguments for a Python function call.
diff --git a/include/pybind11/eigen.h b/include/pybind11/eigen.h
index fc074dbcd..8ceb94101 100644
--- a/include/pybind11/eigen.h
+++ b/include/pybind11/eigen.h
@@ -341,7 +341,8 @@ public:
 
     operator Type*() { return &value; }
     operator Type&() { return value; }
-    template <typename T> using cast_op_type = cast_op_type<T>;
+    operator Type&&() && { return std::move(value); }
+    template <typename T> using cast_op_type = movable_cast_op_type<T>;
 
 private:
     Type value;
diff --git a/include/pybind11/pybind11.h b/include/pybind11/pybind11.h
index 1f36308c9..6ac8edc2b 100644
--- a/include/pybind11/pybind11.h
+++ b/include/pybind11/pybind11.h
@@ -150,8 +150,8 @@ protected:
             using Guard = detail::extract_guard_t<Extra...>;
 
             /* Perform the function call */
-            handle result = cast_out::cast(args_converter.template call<Return, Guard>(cap->f),
-                                           policy, call.parent);
+            handle result = cast_out::cast(
+                std::move(args_converter).template call<Return, Guard>(cap->f), policy, call.parent);
 
             /* Invoke call policy post-call hook */
             detail::process_attributes<Extra...>::postcall(call, result);
diff --git a/include/pybind11/stl.h b/include/pybind11/stl.h
index f37dd795e..495f85d3d 100644
--- a/include/pybind11/stl.h
+++ b/include/pybind11/stl.h
@@ -60,11 +60,11 @@ template <typename Type, typename Key> struct set_caster {
             return false;
         auto s = reinterpret_borrow<pybind11::set>(src);
         value.clear();
-        key_conv conv;
         for (auto entry : s) {
+            key_conv conv;
             if (!conv.load(entry, convert))
                 return false;
-            value.insert(cast_op<Key>(conv));
+            value.insert(cast_op<Key &&>(std::move(conv)));
         }
         return true;
     }
@@ -90,14 +90,14 @@ template <typename Type, typename Key, typename Value> struct map_caster {
         if (!isinstance<dict>(src))
             return false;
         auto d = reinterpret_borrow<dict>(src);
-        key_conv kconv;
-        value_conv vconv;
         value.clear();
         for (auto it : d) {
+            key_conv kconv;
+            value_conv vconv;
             if (!kconv.load(it.first.ptr(), convert) ||
                 !vconv.load(it.second.ptr(), convert))
                 return false;
-            value.emplace(cast_op<Key>(kconv), cast_op<Value>(vconv));
+            value.emplace(cast_op<Key &&>(std::move(kconv)), cast_op<Value &&>(std::move(vconv)));
         }
         return true;
     }
@@ -124,13 +124,13 @@ template <typename Type, typename Value> struct list_caster {
         if (!isinstance<sequence>(src))
             return false;
         auto s = reinterpret_borrow<sequence>(src);
-        value_conv conv;
         value.clear();
         reserve_maybe(s, &value);
         for (auto it : s) {
+            value_conv conv;
             if (!conv.load(it, convert))
                 return false;
-            value.push_back(cast_op<Value>(conv));
+            value.push_back(cast_op<Value &&>(std::move(conv)));
         }
         return true;
     }
@@ -185,12 +185,12 @@ public:
         auto l = reinterpret_borrow<list>(src);
         if (!require_size(l.size()))
             return false;
-        value_conv conv;
         size_t ctr = 0;
         for (auto it : l) {
+            value_conv conv;
             if (!conv.load(it, convert))
                 return false;
-            value[ctr++] = cast_op<Value>(conv);
+            value[ctr++] = cast_op<Value &&>(std::move(conv));
         }
         return true;
     }
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ template<typename T> struct optional_caster {
         if (!inner_caster.load(src, convert))
             return false;
 
-        value.emplace(cast_op<typename T::value_type>(inner_caster));
+        value.emplace(cast_op<typename T::value_type &&>(std::move(inner_caster)));
         return true;
     }
 
diff --git a/tests/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
index eae177ea5..36988c360 100644
--- a/tests/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ set(PYBIND11_TEST_FILES
   test_chrono.cpp
   test_class_args.cpp
   test_constants_and_functions.cpp
-  test_copy_move_policies.cpp
+  test_copy_move.cpp
   test_docstring_options.cpp
   test_eigen.cpp
   test_enum.cpp
diff --git a/tests/test_copy_move.cpp b/tests/test_copy_move.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..898fc39d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_copy_move.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,177 @@
+/*
+    tests/test_copy_move_policies.cpp -- 'copy' and 'move' return value policies
+                                         and related tests
+
+    Copyright (c) 2016 Ben North <ben@redfrontdoor.org>
+
+    All rights reserved. Use of this source code is governed by a
+    BSD-style license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+*/
+
+#include "pybind11_tests.h"
+#include "constructor_stats.h"
+#include <pybind11/stl.h>
+
+template <typename derived>
+struct empty {
+    static const derived& get_one() { return instance_; }
+    static derived instance_;
+};
+
+struct lacking_copy_ctor : public empty<lacking_copy_ctor> {
+    lacking_copy_ctor() {}
+    lacking_copy_ctor(const lacking_copy_ctor& other) = delete;
+};
+
+template <> lacking_copy_ctor empty<lacking_copy_ctor>::instance_ = {};
+
+struct lacking_move_ctor : public empty<lacking_move_ctor> {
+    lacking_move_ctor() {}
+    lacking_move_ctor(const lacking_move_ctor& other) = delete;
+    lacking_move_ctor(lacking_move_ctor&& other) = delete;
+};
+
+template <> lacking_move_ctor empty<lacking_move_ctor>::instance_ = {};
+
+/* Custom type caster move/copy test classes */
+class MoveOnlyInt {
+public:
+    MoveOnlyInt() { print_default_created(this); }
+    MoveOnlyInt(int v) : value{std::move(v)} { print_created(this, value); }
+    MoveOnlyInt(MoveOnlyInt &&m) { print_move_created(this, m.value); std::swap(value, m.value); }
+    MoveOnlyInt &operator=(MoveOnlyInt &&m) { print_move_assigned(this, m.value); std::swap(value, m.value); return *this; }
+    MoveOnlyInt(const MoveOnlyInt &) = delete;
+    MoveOnlyInt &operator=(const MoveOnlyInt &) = delete;
+    ~MoveOnlyInt() { print_destroyed(this); }
+
+    int value;
+};
+class MoveOrCopyInt {
+public:
+    MoveOrCopyInt() { print_default_created(this); }
+    MoveOrCopyInt(int v) : value{std::move(v)} { print_created(this, value); }
+    MoveOrCopyInt(MoveOrCopyInt &&m) { print_move_created(this, m.value); std::swap(value, m.value); }
+    MoveOrCopyInt &operator=(MoveOrCopyInt &&m) { print_move_assigned(this, m.value); std::swap(value, m.value); return *this; }
+    MoveOrCopyInt(const MoveOrCopyInt &c) { print_copy_created(this, c.value); value = c.value; }
+    MoveOrCopyInt &operator=(const MoveOrCopyInt &c) { print_copy_assigned(this, c.value); value = c.value; return *this; }
+    ~MoveOrCopyInt() { print_destroyed(this); }
+
+    int value;
+};
+class CopyOnlyInt {
+public:
+    CopyOnlyInt() { print_default_created(this); }
+    CopyOnlyInt(int v) : value{std::move(v)} { print_created(this, value); }
+    CopyOnlyInt(const CopyOnlyInt &c) { print_copy_created(this, c.value); value = c.value; }
+    CopyOnlyInt &operator=(const CopyOnlyInt &c) { print_copy_assigned(this, c.value); value = c.value; return *this; }
+    ~CopyOnlyInt() { print_destroyed(this); }
+
+    int value;
+};
+namespace pybind11 { namespace detail {
+template <> struct type_caster<MoveOnlyInt> {
+    PYBIND11_TYPE_CASTER(MoveOnlyInt, _("MoveOnlyInt"));
+    bool load(handle src, bool) { value = MoveOnlyInt(src.cast<int>()); return true; }
+    static handle cast(const MoveOnlyInt &m, return_value_policy r, handle p) { return pybind11::cast(m.value, r, p); }
+};
+
+template <> struct type_caster<MoveOrCopyInt> {
+    PYBIND11_TYPE_CASTER(MoveOrCopyInt, _("MoveOrCopyInt"));
+    bool load(handle src, bool) { value = MoveOrCopyInt(src.cast<int>()); return true; }
+    static handle cast(const MoveOrCopyInt &m, return_value_policy r, handle p) { return pybind11::cast(m.value, r, p); }
+};
+
+template <> struct type_caster<CopyOnlyInt> {
+protected:
+    CopyOnlyInt value;
+public:
+    static PYBIND11_DESCR name() { return _("CopyOnlyInt"); }
+    bool load(handle src, bool) { value = CopyOnlyInt(src.cast<int>()); return true; }
+    static handle cast(const CopyOnlyInt &m, return_value_policy r, handle p) { return pybind11::cast(m.value, r, p); }
+    static handle cast(const CopyOnlyInt *src, return_value_policy policy, handle parent) {
+        if (!src) return none().release();
+        return cast(*src, policy, parent);
+    }
+    operator CopyOnlyInt*() { return &value; }
+    operator CopyOnlyInt&() { return value; }
+    template <typename T> using cast_op_type = pybind11::detail::cast_op_type<T>;
+};
+}}
+
+
+test_initializer copy_move_policies([](py::module &m) {
+    py::class_<lacking_copy_ctor>(m, "lacking_copy_ctor")
+        .def_static("get_one", &lacking_copy_ctor::get_one,
+                    py::return_value_policy::copy);
+    py::class_<lacking_move_ctor>(m, "lacking_move_ctor")
+        .def_static("get_one", &lacking_move_ctor::get_one,
+                    py::return_value_policy::move);
+
+    m.def("move_only", [](MoveOnlyInt m) {
+        return m.value;
+    });
+    m.def("move_or_copy", [](MoveOrCopyInt m) {
+        return m.value;
+    });
+    m.def("copy_only", [](CopyOnlyInt m) {
+        return m.value;
+    });
+    m.def("move_and_copy_casts", [](py::object o) {
+        int r = 0;
+        r += py::cast<MoveOrCopyInt>(o).value; /* moves */
+        r += py::cast<MoveOnlyInt>(o).value; /* moves */
+        r += py::cast<CopyOnlyInt>(o).value; /* copies */
+        MoveOrCopyInt m1(py::cast<MoveOrCopyInt>(o)); /* moves */
+        MoveOnlyInt m2(py::cast<MoveOnlyInt>(o)); /* moves */
+        CopyOnlyInt m3(py::cast<CopyOnlyInt>(o)); /* copies */
+        r += m1.value + m2.value + m3.value;
+
+        return r;
+    });
+    m.def("move_pair", [](std::pair<MoveOnlyInt, MoveOrCopyInt> p) {
+        return p.first.value + p.second.value;
+    });
+    m.def("move_tuple", [](std::tuple<MoveOnlyInt, MoveOrCopyInt, MoveOnlyInt> t) {
+        return std::get<0>(t).value + std::get<1>(t).value + std::get<2>(t).value;
+    });
+    m.def("copy_tuple", [](std::tuple<CopyOnlyInt, CopyOnlyInt> t) {
+        return std::get<0>(t).value + std::get<1>(t).value;
+    });
+    m.def("move_copy_nested", [](std::pair<MoveOnlyInt, std::pair<std::tuple<MoveOrCopyInt, CopyOnlyInt, std::tuple<MoveOnlyInt>>, MoveOrCopyInt>> x) {
+        return x.first.value + std::get<0>(x.second.first).value + std::get<1>(x.second.first).value +
+            std::get<0>(std::get<2>(x.second.first)).value + x.second.second.value;
+    });
+    m.def("move_and_copy_cstats", []() {
+        ConstructorStats::gc();
+        // Reset counts to 0 so that previous tests don't affect later ones:
+        auto &mc = ConstructorStats::get<MoveOrCopyInt>();
+        mc.move_assignments = mc.move_constructions = mc.copy_assignments = mc.copy_constructions = 0;
+        auto &mo = ConstructorStats::get<MoveOnlyInt>();
+        mo.move_assignments = mo.move_constructions = mo.copy_assignments = mo.copy_constructions = 0;
+        auto &co = ConstructorStats::get<CopyOnlyInt>();
+        co.move_assignments = co.move_constructions = co.copy_assignments = co.copy_constructions = 0;
+        py::dict d;
+        d["MoveOrCopyInt"] = py::cast(mc, py::return_value_policy::reference);
+        d["MoveOnlyInt"] = py::cast(mo, py::return_value_policy::reference);
+        d["CopyOnlyInt"] = py::cast(co, py::return_value_policy::reference);
+        return d;
+    });
+#ifdef PYBIND11_HAS_OPTIONAL
+    m.attr("has_optional") = true;
+    m.def("move_optional", [](std::optional<MoveOnlyInt> o) {
+        return o->value;
+    });
+    m.def("move_or_copy_optional", [](std::optional<MoveOrCopyInt> o) {
+        return o->value;
+    });
+    m.def("copy_optional", [](std::optional<CopyOnlyInt> o) {
+        return o->value;
+    });
+    m.def("move_optional_tuple", [](std::optional<std::tuple<MoveOrCopyInt, MoveOnlyInt, CopyOnlyInt>> x) {
+        return std::get<0>(*x).value + std::get<1>(*x).value + std::get<2>(*x).value;
+    });
+#else
+    m.attr("has_optional") = false;
+#endif
+
+});
diff --git a/tests/test_copy_move.py b/tests/test_copy_move.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d6479c588
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_copy_move.py
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+import pytest
+from pybind11_tests import has_optional
+
+
+def test_lacking_copy_ctor():
+    from pybind11_tests import lacking_copy_ctor
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError) as excinfo:
+        lacking_copy_ctor.get_one()
+    assert "the object is non-copyable!" in str(excinfo.value)
+
+
+def test_lacking_move_ctor():
+    from pybind11_tests import lacking_move_ctor
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError) as excinfo:
+        lacking_move_ctor.get_one()
+    assert "the object is neither movable nor copyable!" in str(excinfo.value)
+
+
+def test_move_and_copy_casts():
+    """Cast some values in C++ via custom type casters and count the number of moves/copies."""
+    from pybind11_tests import move_and_copy_casts, move_and_copy_cstats
+
+    cstats = move_and_copy_cstats()
+    c_m, c_mc, c_c = cstats["MoveOnlyInt"], cstats["MoveOrCopyInt"], cstats["CopyOnlyInt"]
+
+    # The type move constructions/assignments below each get incremented: the move assignment comes
+    # from the type_caster load; the move construction happens when extracting that via a cast or
+    # loading into an argument.
+    assert move_and_copy_casts(3) == 18
+    assert c_m.copy_assignments + c_m.copy_constructions == 0
+    assert c_m.move_assignments == 2
+    assert c_m.move_constructions == 2
+    assert c_mc.alive() == 0
+    assert c_mc.copy_assignments + c_mc.copy_constructions == 0
+    assert c_mc.move_assignments == 2
+    assert c_mc.move_constructions == 2
+    assert c_c.alive() == 0
+    assert c_c.copy_assignments == 2
+    assert c_c.copy_constructions == 2
+    assert c_m.alive() + c_mc.alive() + c_c.alive() == 0
+
+
+def test_move_and_copy_loads():
+    """Call some functions that load arguments via custom type casters and count the number of
+    moves/copies."""
+    from pybind11_tests import (move_and_copy_cstats, move_only, move_or_copy, copy_only,
+                                move_pair, move_tuple, copy_tuple, move_copy_nested)
+
+    cstats = move_and_copy_cstats()
+    c_m, c_mc, c_c = cstats["MoveOnlyInt"], cstats["MoveOrCopyInt"], cstats["CopyOnlyInt"]
+
+    assert move_only(10) == 10  # 1 move, c_m
+    assert move_or_copy(11) == 11  # 1 move, c_mc
+    assert copy_only(12) == 12  # 1 copy, c_c
+    assert move_pair((13, 14)) == 27  # 1 c_m move, 1 c_mc move
+    assert move_tuple((15, 16, 17)) == 48  # 2 c_m moves, 1 c_mc move
+    assert copy_tuple((18, 19)) == 37  # 2 c_c copies
+    # Direct constructions: 2 c_m moves, 2 c_mc moves, 1 c_c copy
+    # Extra moves/copies when moving pairs/tuples: 3 c_m, 3 c_mc, 2 c_c
+    assert move_copy_nested((1, ((2, 3, (4,)), 5))) == 15
+
+    assert c_m.copy_assignments + c_m.copy_constructions == 0
+    assert c_m.move_assignments == 6
+    assert c_m.move_constructions == 9
+    assert c_mc.copy_assignments + c_mc.copy_constructions == 0
+    assert c_mc.move_assignments == 5
+    assert c_mc.move_constructions == 8
+    assert c_c.copy_assignments == 4
+    assert c_c.copy_constructions == 6
+    assert c_m.alive() + c_mc.alive() + c_c.alive() == 0
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(not has_optional, reason='no <optional>')
+def test_move_and_copy_load_optional():
+    """Tests move/copy loads of std::optional arguments"""
+    from pybind11_tests import (move_and_copy_cstats, move_optional, move_or_copy_optional,
+                                copy_optional, move_optional_tuple)
+
+    cstats = move_and_copy_cstats()
+    c_m, c_mc, c_c = cstats["MoveOnlyInt"], cstats["MoveOrCopyInt"], cstats["CopyOnlyInt"]
+
+    # The extra move/copy constructions below come from the std::optional move (which has to move
+    # its arguments):
+    assert move_optional(10) == 10  # c_m: 1 move assign, 2 move construct
+    assert move_or_copy_optional(11) == 11  # c_mc: 1 move assign, 2 move construct
+    assert copy_optional(12) == 12  # c_c: 1 copy assign, 2 copy construct
+    # 1 move assign + move construct moves each of c_m, c_mc, 1 c_c copy
+    # +1 move/copy construct each from moving the tuple
+    # +1 move/copy construct each from moving the optional (which moves the tuple again)
+    assert move_optional_tuple((3, 4, 5)) == 12
+
+    assert c_m.copy_assignments + c_m.copy_constructions == 0
+    assert c_m.move_assignments == 2
+    assert c_m.move_constructions == 5
+    assert c_mc.copy_assignments + c_mc.copy_constructions == 0
+    assert c_mc.move_assignments == 2
+    assert c_mc.move_constructions == 5
+    assert c_c.copy_assignments == 2
+    assert c_c.copy_constructions == 5
+    assert c_m.alive() + c_mc.alive() + c_c.alive() == 0
diff --git a/tests/test_copy_move_policies.cpp b/tests/test_copy_move_policies.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 6f7907c1f..000000000
--- a/tests/test_copy_move_policies.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,41 +0,0 @@
-/*
-    tests/test_copy_move_policies.cpp -- 'copy' and 'move'
-                                         return value policies
-
-    Copyright (c) 2016 Ben North <ben@redfrontdoor.org>
-
-    All rights reserved. Use of this source code is governed by a
-    BSD-style license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
-*/
-
-#include "pybind11_tests.h"
-
-template <typename derived>
-struct empty {
-    static const derived& get_one() { return instance_; }
-    static derived instance_;
-};
-
-struct lacking_copy_ctor : public empty<lacking_copy_ctor> {
-    lacking_copy_ctor() {}
-    lacking_copy_ctor(const lacking_copy_ctor& other) = delete;
-};
-
-template <> lacking_copy_ctor empty<lacking_copy_ctor>::instance_ = {};
-
-struct lacking_move_ctor : public empty<lacking_move_ctor> {
-    lacking_move_ctor() {}
-    lacking_move_ctor(const lacking_move_ctor& other) = delete;
-    lacking_move_ctor(lacking_move_ctor&& other) = delete;
-};
-
-template <> lacking_move_ctor empty<lacking_move_ctor>::instance_ = {};
-
-test_initializer copy_move_policies([](py::module &m) {
-    py::class_<lacking_copy_ctor>(m, "lacking_copy_ctor")
-        .def_static("get_one", &lacking_copy_ctor::get_one,
-                    py::return_value_policy::copy);
-    py::class_<lacking_move_ctor>(m, "lacking_move_ctor")
-        .def_static("get_one", &lacking_move_ctor::get_one,
-                    py::return_value_policy::move);
-});
diff --git a/tests/test_copy_move_policies.py b/tests/test_copy_move_policies.py
deleted file mode 100644
index edcf38075..000000000
--- a/tests/test_copy_move_policies.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,15 +0,0 @@
-import pytest
-
-
-def test_lacking_copy_ctor():
-    from pybind11_tests import lacking_copy_ctor
-    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError) as excinfo:
-        lacking_copy_ctor.get_one()
-    assert "the object is non-copyable!" in str(excinfo.value)
-
-
-def test_lacking_move_ctor():
-    from pybind11_tests import lacking_move_ctor
-    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError) as excinfo:
-        lacking_move_ctor.get_one()
-    assert "the object is neither movable nor copyable!" in str(excinfo.value)