diff --git a/mongoengine/document.py b/mongoengine/document.py
index 0ba5db126..184017922 100644
--- a/mongoengine/document.py
+++ b/mongoengine/document.py
@@ -332,6 +332,7 @@ def save(
         _refs=None,
         save_condition=None,
         signal_kwargs=None,
+        upsert=None,
         **kwargs,
     ):
         """Save the :class:`~mongoengine.Document` to the database. If the
@@ -361,6 +362,8 @@ def save(
             Raises :class:`OperationError` if the conditions are not satisfied
         :param signal_kwargs: (optional) kwargs dictionary to be passed to
             the signal calls.
+        :param upsert: (optional) explicitly forces upsert to value if it is an
+            update
 
         .. versionchanged:: 0.5
             In existing documents it only saves changed fields using
@@ -407,7 +410,7 @@ def save(
                 object_id = self._save_create(doc, force_insert, write_concern)
             else:
                 object_id, created = self._save_update(
-                    doc, save_condition, write_concern
+                    doc, save_condition, write_concern, upsert
                 )
 
             if cascade is None:
@@ -505,11 +508,15 @@ def _integrate_shard_key(self, doc, select_dict):
 
         return select_dict
 
-    def _save_update(self, doc, save_condition, write_concern):
+    def _save_update(self, doc, save_condition, write_concern, upsert=None):
         """Update an existing document.
 
         Helper method, should only be used inside save().
         """
+        if upsert and (save_condition is not None):
+            raise ValueError(
+                "Updating with a save_condition implies upsert is False or None but upsert is True"
+            )
         collection = self._get_collection()
         object_id = doc["_id"]
         created = False
@@ -524,12 +531,13 @@ def _save_update(self, doc, save_condition, write_concern):
 
         update_doc = self._get_update_doc()
         if update_doc:
-            upsert = save_condition is None
+            if upsert is None:
+                upsert = save_condition is None
             with set_write_concern(collection, write_concern) as wc_collection:
                 last_error = wc_collection.update_one(
                     select_dict, update_doc, upsert=upsert
                 ).raw_result
-            if not upsert and last_error["n"] == 0:
+            if save_condition is not None and last_error["n"] == 0:
                 raise SaveConditionError(
                     "Race condition preventing document update detected"
                 )
diff --git a/tests/document/test_instance.py b/tests/document/test_instance.py
index 1469c9bb6..60fa62fd9 100644
--- a/tests/document/test_instance.py
+++ b/tests/document/test_instance.py
@@ -1457,6 +1457,65 @@ def test_inserts_if_you_set_the_pk(self):
 
         assert 2 == self.Person.objects.count()
 
+    def test_save_upsert_false_doesnt_insert_when_deleted(self):
+        class Person(Document):
+            name = StringField()
+
+        Person.drop_collection()
+
+        p1 = Person(name="Wilson Snr")
+        p1.save()
+        p2 = Person.objects().first()
+        p1.delete()
+        p2.name = " Bob Snr"
+        p2.save(upsert=False)
+
+        assert Person.objects.count() == 0
+
+    def test_save_upsert_true_inserts_when_deleted(self):
+        class Person(Document):
+            name = StringField()
+
+        Person.drop_collection()
+
+        p1 = Person(name="Wilson Snr")
+        p1.save()
+        p2 = Person.objects().first()
+        p1.delete()
+        p2.name = "Bob Snr"
+        p2.save(upsert=True)
+
+        assert Person.objects.count() == 1
+
+    def test_save_upsert_null_inserts_when_deleted(self):
+        # probably want to remove this as this is bad but preserved for backwards compatibility
+        # see https://github.com/MongoEngine/mongoengine/issues/564
+        class Person(Document):
+            name = StringField()
+
+        Person.drop_collection()
+
+        p1 = Person(name="Wilson Snr")
+        p1.save()
+        p2 = Person.objects().first()
+        p1.delete()
+        p2.name = "Bob Snr"
+        p2.save(upsert=None)  # default if you dont pass it
+
+        assert Person.objects.count() == 1
+
+    def test_save_upsert_raises_value_error_when_upsert_and_save_condition_set(self):
+        class Person(Document):
+            name = StringField()
+
+        Person.drop_collection()
+
+        p1 = Person(name="Wilson Snr")
+        p1.save()
+        p1.name = "Bob Snr"
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            p1.save(save_condition={}, upsert=True)
+
     def test_can_save_if_not_included(self):
         class EmbeddedDoc(EmbeddedDocument):
             pass