diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/core/PersistRequestBean.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/core/PersistRequestBean.java
index ceb1f211d..a139912c1 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/core/PersistRequestBean.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/core/PersistRequestBean.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.persist.PersistExecute;
 import com.avaje.ebeaninternal.server.transaction.BeanPersistIdMap;
 
 import javax.persistence.OptimisticLockException;
+import javax.persistence.PersistenceException;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
@@ -436,6 +437,16 @@ public final class PersistRequestBean<T> extends PersistRequest implements BeanP
     return beanDescriptor.isDraftable();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Checks for @Draftable entity beans with @Draft property that the bean is a 'draft'.
+   * Save or Update is not allowed to execute using 'live' beans - must use publish().
+   */
+  public void checkDraft() {
+    if (beanDescriptor.isDraftable() && !beanDescriptor.isDraftInstance(entityBean)) {
+      throw new PersistenceException("Save or update is not allowed on a 'live' bean - only draft beans");
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * Return the parent bean for cascading save with unidirectional relationship.
    */
@@ -827,4 +838,5 @@ public final class PersistRequestBean<T> extends PersistRequest implements BeanP
   public boolean isSoftDelete() {
     return Type.SOFT_DELETE == type;
   }
+
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanDescriptor.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanDescriptor.java
index df81a623a..bf5184a3c 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanDescriptor.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanDescriptor.java
@@ -2002,6 +2002,17 @@ public class BeanDescriptor<T> implements MetaBeanInfo, SpiBeanType<T> {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Return true if the bean is considered a 'draft' instance.
+   */
+  public boolean isDraftInstance(EntityBean entityBean) {
+    if (draft != null) {
+      return Boolean.TRUE == draft.getValue(entityBean);
+    }
+    // no draft property - so just ignore the check / return true
+    return true;
+  }
+
   /**
    * If there is a @DraftDirty property set it's value on the bean.
    */
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/persist/DefaultPersister.java b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/persist/DefaultPersister.java
index 46d3e476a..658d644d3 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/persist/DefaultPersister.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/avaje/ebeaninternal/server/persist/DefaultPersister.java
@@ -354,6 +354,7 @@ public final class DefaultPersister implements Persister {
 
     PersistRequestBean<?> req = createRequest(entityBean, t, PersistRequest.Type.UPDATE);
     req.setDeleteMissingChildren(deleteMissingChildren);
+    req.checkDraft();
     try {
       req.initTransIfRequiredWithBatchCascade();
       if (req.isReference()) {