diff --git a/plugins/copyfile/copyfile.plugin.zsh b/plugins/copyfile/copyfile.plugin.zsh
index 3281410e5..ecf0b821b 100644
--- a/plugins/copyfile/copyfile.plugin.zsh
+++ b/plugins/copyfile/copyfile.plugin.zsh
@@ -14,6 +14,6 @@ function copyfile {
     return 1
   fi
 
-  clipcopy $1
+  clipcopy $1 || return 1
   echo ${(%):-"%B$1%b copied to clipboard."}
 }
diff --git a/plugins/copyfile/tests/copyfile.test.zsh b/plugins/copyfile/tests/copyfile.test.zsh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3fdd9fe91
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/copyfile/tests/copyfile.test.zsh
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env zsh
+
+emulate -LR zsh
+
+source "${1:-${0:A:h:h}/copyfile.plugin.zsh}"
+
+test_dir=$(mktemp -d) || exit 1
+trap 'command rm -rf -- "$test_dir"' EXIT
+
+typeset -i clipboard_status=0 failures=0 tests=0
+typeset output expected_output
+
+clipcopy() {
+  print -r -- "$#" "$1" >| "$test_dir/call"
+  if (( clipboard_status )); then
+    print -u2 -r -- "clipboard backend failed"
+    return $clipboard_status
+  fi
+  command cat -- "$1" >| "$test_dir/clipboard"
+}
+
+check_copyfile() {
+  local description="$1" expected_status="$2" expected_stdout="$3" expected_stderr="$4"
+  shift 4
+
+  output=$(copyfile "$@" 2> "$test_dir/stderr")
+  local actual_status=$?
+  (( tests++ ))
+
+  if [[ $actual_status == $expected_status && $output == "$expected_stdout" && $(<"$test_dir/stderr") == "$expected_stderr" ]]; then
+    print -r -- "PASS: $description"
+  else
+    print -u2 -r -- "FAIL: $description"
+    print -u2 -r -- "  status: $actual_status (expected $expected_status)"
+    print -u2 -r -- "  stdout: ${(qqq)output} (expected ${(qqq)expected_stdout})"
+    print -u2 -r -- "  stderr: $(<"$test_dir/stderr") (expected $expected_stderr)"
+    (( failures++ ))
+  fi
+}
+
+for filename in plain.txt 'file with spaces.txt' 'unicode-ą.txt' empty.txt; do
+  if [[ $filename == empty.txt ]]; then
+    : >| "$test_dir/$filename"
+  else
+    print -r -- "contents of $filename" >| "$test_dir/$filename"
+  fi
+
+  expected_output=${(%):-"%B$test_dir/$filename%b copied to clipboard."}
+  clipboard_status=0
+  check_copyfile "successful copy of $filename" 0 "$expected_output" '' "$test_dir/$filename"
+
+  if [[ $(<"$test_dir/call") != "1 $test_dir/$filename" ]] || ! command cmp -s -- "$test_dir/$filename" "$test_dir/clipboard"; then
+    print -u2 -r -- "FAIL: clipboard received a different argument or contents for $filename"
+    (( failures++ ))
+  fi
+
+  for clipboard_status in 1 42 127; do
+    check_copyfile "clipboard exit $clipboard_status for $filename" 1 '' 'clipboard backend failed' "$test_dir/$filename"
+  done
+done
+
+command rm -f -- "$test_dir/call"
+check_copyfile 'missing argument' 1 'Usage: copyfile <file>' ''
+check_copyfile 'empty argument' 1 'Usage: copyfile <file>' '' ''
+check_copyfile 'nonexistent file' 1 "Error: '$test_dir/missing.txt' is not a valid file." '' "$test_dir/missing.txt"
+check_copyfile 'directory argument' 1 "Error: '$test_dir' is not a valid file." '' "$test_dir"
+
+if [[ -e "$test_dir/call" ]]; then
+  print -u2 -r -- 'FAIL: invalid input invoked the clipboard backend'
+  (( failures++ ))
+fi
+
+print -r -- "$tests tests, $failures failures"
+(( failures == 0 ))