diff --git a/awx/ui/client/src/inventories/manage/copy-move/copy-move-groups.controller.js b/awx/ui/client/src/inventories/manage/copy-move/copy-move-groups.controller.js
index 90ce9c5fda..0ae7afb857 100644
--- a/awx/ui/client/src/inventories/manage/copy-move/copy-move-groups.controller.js
+++ b/awx/ui/client/src/inventories/manage/copy-move/copy-move-groups.controller.js
@@ -26,24 +26,43 @@
                     GroupManageService.associateGroup(group, $scope.selected.id).then(() => $state.go('^', null, {reload: true}));
                     break;
                 case 'move':
-                    // at the root group level, no dissassociation is needed
-                    if (!$stateParams.group){
-                        GroupManageService.associateGroup(group, $scope.selected.id).then(() => $state.go('^', null, {reload: true}));
-                        }
-                    else{
-                        // unsure if orphaned resources get garbage collected, safe bet is to associate before disassociate
-                        GroupManageService.associateGroup(group, $scope.selected.id).then(() => {
-                            GroupManageService.disassociateGroup(group, _.last($stateParams.group))
-                            .then(() => $state.go('^', null, {reload: true}));
-                        });                        
+                    switch($scope.targetRootGroup){
+                        case true:
+                            // disassociating group will bubble it to the root group level
+                            GroupManageService.disassociateGroup(group.id, _.last($stateParams.group)).then(() => $state.go('^', null, {reload: true}));
+                            break;
+                        default:
+                            // at the root group level, no dissassociation is needed
+                            if (!$stateParams.group){
+                                GroupManageService.associateGroup(group, $scope.selected.id).then(() => $state.go('^', null, {reload: true}));
+                                }
+                            else{
+                                // unsure if orphaned resources get garbage collected, safe bet is to associate before disassociate
+                                GroupManageService.associateGroup(group, $scope.selected.id).then(() => {
+                                    GroupManageService.disassociateGroup(group.id, _.last($stateParams.group))
+                                    .then(() => $state.go('^', null, {reload: true}));
+                                });
+                            }
+                            break;
                     }
-                    break;
             }
         };
+        $scope.toggleTargetRootGroup = function(){
+            $scope.selected = !$scope.selected;
+            // cannot perform copy operations to root group level
+            $scope.submitMode = 'move';
+            // toggle off anything currently selected in the list, for clarity
+            _.forEach($scope.groups, (item) => {item.checked = null;});
+            // disable list selections
+            $('#copyMove-list :input').each((idx, el) => {
+                $(el).prop('disabled', (idx, value) => !value);
+            });
+        };
         var init = function(){
         var url = GetBasePath('inventory') + $stateParams.inventory_id + '/groups/';
         url += $stateParams.group ? '?not__id__in=' + group.id + ',' + _.last($stateParams.group) : '?not__id=' + group.id;
         list.basePath = url;
+        $scope.atRootLevel = $stateParams.group ? false : true;
         view.inject(list, {
                 mode: 'lookup',
                 id: 'copyMove-list',
@@ -65,4 +84,4 @@
             // remove the current group from list
         };
         init();
-    }];
\ No newline at end of file
+    }];
diff --git a/awx/ui/client/src/inventories/manage/copy-move/copy-move-hosts.controller.js b/awx/ui/client/src/inventories/manage/copy-move/copy-move-hosts.controller.js
index 14774de3ba..f04346f775 100644
--- a/awx/ui/client/src/inventories/manage/copy-move/copy-move-hosts.controller.js
+++ b/awx/ui/client/src/inventories/manage/copy-move/copy-move-hosts.controller.js
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
                         HostManageService.associateGroup(host, $scope.selected.id).then(() => {
                             HostManageService.disassociateGroup(host, _.last($stateParams.group))
                             .then(() => $state.go('^', null, {reload: true}));
-                        });                        
+                        });
                     }
                     break;
             }
@@ -62,4 +62,4 @@
             $scope.search(list.iterator, null, true, false);
         };
         init();
-    }];
\ No newline at end of file
+    }];
diff --git a/awx/ui/client/src/inventories/manage/copy-move/copy-move.block.less b/awx/ui/client/src/inventories/manage/copy-move/copy-move.block.less
index 76bdc2724c..aa865c165b 100644
--- a/awx/ui/client/src/inventories/manage/copy-move/copy-move.block.less
+++ b/awx/ui/client/src/inventories/manage/copy-move/copy-move.block.less
@@ -23,4 +23,7 @@
 .copyMove-buttons{
     height: 30px;
     margin-top: 10px;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
+.copyMove-root{
+    margin-top: 10px;
+}
diff --git a/awx/ui/client/src/inventories/manage/copy-move/copy-move.partial.html b/awx/ui/client/src/inventories/manage/copy-move/copy-move.partial.html
index a148985287..39a87a729f 100644
--- a/awx/ui/client/src/inventories/manage/copy-move/copy-move.partial.html
+++ b/awx/ui/client/src/inventories/manage/copy-move/copy-move.partial.html
@@ -2,16 +2,18 @@
     <div class="Form-header">
         <div class="Form-title ng-binding">{{item.name}}</div>
     </div>
-    <div class="form-group copyMove-choices">
-        <label class="radio-inline">
-            <input type="radio" ng-model="submitMode" value="copy" class="ng-pristine ng-valid ng-touched"> Copy
+    <div class="form-group copyMove-choices clearfix">
+        <label class="radio-inline" ng-disabled="atRootLevel || targetRootGroup">
+            <input type="radio" ng-model="submitMode" value="copy" class="ng-pristine ng-valid ng-touched" ng-disabled="atRootLevel || targetRootGroup"> Copy
         </label>
         <label class="radio-inline">
             <input type="radio" ng-model="submitMode" value="move" class="ng-pristine ng-untouched ng-valid"> Move
         </label>
     </div>
-    <div id="copyMove-select"></div>
     <div id="copyMove-list"></div>
+    <div class="copyMove-root form-group pull-left" ng-hide="atRootLevel">
+        <span><input type="checkbox" ng-model="targetRootGroup" ng-change="toggleTargetRootGroup()">  Use the inventory root</span>
+    </div>
     <div class="copyMove-buttons">
         <button type="button" class="pull-right btn btn-sm btn-default Form-cancelButton" ng-click="formCancel()">Cancel</button>
         <button type="button" class="pull-right btn btn-sm Form-saveButton" ng-disabled="!selected" ng-click="formSave()">Save</button>
diff --git a/awx/ui/client/src/inventories/manage/groups/groups.service.js b/awx/ui/client/src/inventories/manage/groups/groups.service.js
index 83b5ed224e..54ed90dfc7 100644
--- a/awx/ui/client/src/inventories/manage/groups/groups.service.js
+++ b/awx/ui/client/src/inventories/manage/groups/groups.service.js
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ export default
                 return Rest.post(group)
                     .success(this.success.bind(this))
                     .error(this.error.bind(this))
-                    .finally(Wait('stop'));  
+                    .finally(Wait('stop'));
             },
             put: function(group){
                 Wait('start');
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ export default
                 return Rest.put(group)
                     .success(this.success.bind(this))
                     .error(this.error.bind(this))
-                    .finally(Wait('stop'));  
+                    .finally(Wait('stop'));
             },
             delete: function(id){
                 Wait('start');
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ export default
                 return Rest.destroy()
                     .success(this.success.bind(this))
                     .error(this.error.bind(this))
-                    .finally(Wait('stop'));                        
+                    .finally(Wait('stop'));
             },
             getCredential: function(id){
                 Wait('start');
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ export default
                 Rest.setUrl(this.url);
                 return Rest.get()
                     .success(this.success.bind(this))
-                    .error(this.error.bind(this)) 
-                    .finally(Wait('stop'));   
+                    .error(this.error.bind(this))
+                    .finally(Wait('stop'));
             },
             getInventorySource: function(params){
                 Wait('start');
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ export default
                 return Rest.get()
                     .success(this.success.bind(this))
                     .error(this.error.bind(this))
-                    .finally(Wait('stop'));  
+                    .finally(Wait('stop'));
             },
             putInventorySource: function(params, url){
                 Wait('start');
@@ -79,9 +79,9 @@ export default
                 return Rest.put(params)
                     .success(this.success.bind(this))
                     .error(this.error.bind(this))
-                    .finally(Wait('stop'));    
+                    .finally(Wait('stop'));
             },
-            // these relationship setters could be consolidated, but verbosity makes the operation feel more clear @ controller level            
+            // these relationship setters could be consolidated, but verbosity makes the operation feel more clear @ controller level
             associateGroup: function(group, target){
                 Wait('start');
                 this.url = GetBasePath('groups') + target + '/children/';
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ export default
                 return Rest.post(group)
                     .success(this.success.bind(this))
                     .error(this.error.bind(this))
-                    .finally(Wait('stop'));   
+                    .finally(Wait('stop'));
             },
             disassociateGroup: function(group, parent){
                 Wait('start');
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ export default
                 return Rest.post({id: group, disassociate: 1})
                     .success(this.success.bind(this))
                     .error(this.error.bind(this))
-                    .finally(Wait('stop'));                      
+                    .finally(Wait('stop'));
             },
             promote: function(group, inventory){
                 Wait('start');
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ export default
                 return Rest.post({id: group, disassociate: 1})
                     .success(this.success.bind(this))
                     .error(this.error.bind(this))
-                    .finally(Wait('stop'));  
-            }            
+                    .finally(Wait('stop'));
+            }
         };
-    }];
\ No newline at end of file
+    }];