diff --git a/common/database.cpp b/common/database.cpp
index c0193b927..a3405970d 100644
--- a/common/database.cpp
+++ b/common/database.cpp
@@ -1860,7 +1860,35 @@ bool Database::CopyCharacter(
 
 	const int64 new_character_id = (CharacterDataRepository::GetMaxId(*this) + 1);
 
-	std::vector<std::string> tables_to_zero_id = { "keyring", "data_buckets", "character_instance_safereturns" };
+	// validate destination name doesn't exist already
+	const auto& destination_characters = CharacterDataRepository::GetWhere(
+		*this,
+		fmt::format(
+			"`name` = '{}' AND `deleted_at` IS NULL LIMIT 1",
+			Strings::Escape(destination_character_name)
+		)
+	);
+	if (!destination_characters.empty()) {
+		LogError("Character [{}] already exists", destination_character_name);
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	std::vector<std::string> tables_to_zero_id = {
+		"keyring",
+		"data_buckets",
+		"character_instance_safereturns",
+		"character_expedition_lockouts",
+		"character_instance_lockouts",
+		"character_parcels",
+		"character_tribute",
+		"player_titlesets",
+	};
+
+	std::vector<std::string> ignore_tables = {
+		"guilds",
+	};
+
+	size_t total_rows_copied = 0;
 
 	TransactionBegin();
 
@@ -1868,6 +1896,10 @@ bool Database::CopyCharacter(
 		const std::string& table_name               = t.first;
 		const std::string& character_id_column_name = t.second;
 
+		if (Strings::Contains(ignore_tables, table_name)) {
+			continue;
+		}
+
 		auto results = QueryDatabase(
 			fmt::format(
 				"SHOW COLUMNS FROM {}",
@@ -1918,6 +1950,10 @@ bool Database::CopyCharacter(
 					value = std::to_string(destination_account_id);
 				}
 
+				if (!Strings::IsNumber(value)) {
+					value = Strings::Escape(value);
+				}
+
 				new_values.emplace_back(value);
 			}
 
@@ -1950,6 +1986,11 @@ bool Database::CopyCharacter(
 				)
 			);
 
+			size_t rows_copied = insert_rows.size(); // Rows copied for this table
+			total_rows_copied += rows_copied; // Increment grand total
+
+			LogInfo("Copying table [{}] rows [{}]", table_name, Strings::Commify(rows_copied));
+
 			if (!insert.ErrorMessage().empty()) {
 				TransactionRollback();
 				return false;
@@ -1959,6 +2000,13 @@ bool Database::CopyCharacter(
 
 	TransactionCommit();
 
+	LogInfo(
+		"Character [{}] copied to [{}] total rows [{}]",
+		source_character_name,
+		destination_character_name,
+		Strings::Commify(total_rows_copied)
+	);
+
 	return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/world/cli/copy_character.cpp b/world/cli/copy_character.cpp
index 7d915ad15..86c268217 100644
--- a/world/cli/copy_character.cpp
+++ b/world/cli/copy_character.cpp
@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@ void WorldserverCLI::CopyCharacter(int argc, char **argv, argh::parser &cmd, std
 	};
 	std::vector<std::string> options   = {};
 
+	EQEmuCommand::ValidateCmdInput(arguments, options, cmd, argc, argv);
+
 	if (cmd[{"-h", "--help"}]) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	EQEmuCommand::ValidateCmdInput(arguments, options, cmd, argc, argv);
-
 	std::string source_character_name      = cmd(2).str();
 	std::string destination_character_name = cmd(3).str();
 	std::string destination_account_name   = cmd(4).str();