diff --git a/src/vt/vrt/collection/param/construct_po.h b/src/vt/vrt/collection/param/construct_po.h
index 0df5eaa583..02a4b09262 100644
--- a/src/vt/vrt/collection/param/construct_po.h
+++ b/src/vt/vrt/collection/param/construct_po.h
@@ -94,9 +94,37 @@ struct ConstructParams {
 
 public:
   ConstructParams() = default;
-  ConstructParams(ConstructParams const&) = default;
   ConstructParams(ConstructParams&&) = default;
 
+  ConstructParams(ConstructParams const& x)
+    : bounds_(x.bounds_),
+      has_bounds_(x.has_bounds_),
+      bulk_inserts_(x.bulk_inserts_),
+      bulk_insert_bounds_(x.bulk_insert_bounds_),
+      cons_fn_(x.cons_fn_),
+      dynamic_membership_(x.dynamic_membership_),
+      collective_(x.collective_),
+      constructed_(x.constructed_),
+      migratable_(x.migratable_),
+      map_han_(x.map_han_),
+      proxy_bits_(x.proxy_bits_),
+      map_object_(x.map_object_)
+  {
+    vtAssert(
+      not collective_,
+      "Should only call copy ctor during rooted construction"
+    );
+    if (x.list_inserts_.size() > 0 or
+        x.list_insert_here_.size() > 0) {
+      vtAbort(
+        "listInsert/listInsertHere can not be used with rooted construction"
+      );
+    }
+    if (x.cons_fn_) {
+      vtAbort("elementConstructor can not be used with rooted construction");
+    }
+  }
+
   friend CollectionManager;
 
   ~ConstructParams() {
@@ -190,6 +218,8 @@ struct ConstructParams {
   /**
    * \brief Specify a non-default constructor for each element
    *
+   * \note Only valid with collective construction
+   *
    * \param[in] in_cons_fn the construction function
    */
   ThisType&& elementConstructor(ConstructFnType in_cons_fn) {
@@ -351,6 +381,9 @@ struct ConstructParams {
       | map_han_
       | proxy_bits_
       | map_object_;
+    s.skip(list_inserts_);
+    s.skip(list_insert_here_);
+    s.skip(cons_fn_);
   }
 
 private:
diff --git a/src/vt/vrt/collection/param/construct_po_msg.h b/src/vt/vrt/collection/param/construct_po_msg.h
index 4644b5e337..edfe53c3ed 100644
--- a/src/vt/vrt/collection/param/construct_po_msg.h
+++ b/src/vt/vrt/collection/param/construct_po_msg.h
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ struct ConstructParamMsg : vt::Message {
   vt_msg_serialize_required(); // po
 
   ConstructParamMsg() = default;
-  explicit ConstructParamMsg(param::ConstructParams<ColT> in_po)
+  explicit ConstructParamMsg(param::ConstructParams<ColT>& in_po)
     : po(in_po)
   { }