diff --git a/python/cugraph/cugraph/datasets/dataset.py b/python/cugraph/cugraph/datasets/dataset.py
index 229d0fda632..b276a87b88e 100644
--- a/python/cugraph/cugraph/datasets/dataset.py
+++ b/python/cugraph/cugraph/datasets/dataset.py
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ def get_edgelist(self, download=False):
                 header=header,
             )
 
-        return self._edgelist
+        return self._edgelist.copy()
 
     def get_graph(
         self,