diff --git a/xarray/core/dataset.py b/xarray/core/dataset.py
index 5a7f757ba8a..8d898d082ee 100644
--- a/xarray/core/dataset.py
+++ b/xarray/core/dataset.py
@@ -7066,7 +7066,7 @@ def to_pandas(self) -> pd.Series | pd.DataFrame:
             "Please use Dataset.to_dataframe() instead."
         )
 
-    def _to_dataframe(self, ordered_dims: Mapping[Any, int]):
+    def _to_dataframe(self, ordered_dims: Mapping[Any, int], copy: bool = True):
         from xarray.core.extension_array import PandasExtensionArray
 
         columns_in_order = [k for k in self.variables if k not in self.dims]
@@ -7104,6 +7104,7 @@ def _to_dataframe(self, ordered_dims: Mapping[Any, int]):
                 },
             },
             index=index,
+            copy=copy,
         )
         for extension_array_column in extension_array_columns_different_index:
             extension_array = self.variables[extension_array_column].data