diff --git a/src/server/plugins/engine/models/FormModel.test.ts b/src/server/plugins/engine/models/FormModel.test.ts
index cd77cfcec..80bfe8ea4 100644
--- a/src/server/plugins/engine/models/FormModel.test.ts
+++ b/src/server/plugins/engine/models/FormModel.test.ts
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ describe('FormModel', () => {
   })
 
   describe('getFormContext', () => {
-    it.each([FormAction.Validate, FormAction.SaveAndExit, undefined])(
+    it.each([FormAction.Validate, undefined])(
       'returns a form context with the correct payload and state when action is %s',
       (action) => {
         const formModel = new FormModel(fieldsRequiredDefinition, {
diff --git a/src/server/plugins/engine/models/FormModel.ts b/src/server/plugins/engine/models/FormModel.ts
index 42cfcad80..db3c12668 100644
--- a/src/server/plugins/engine/models/FormModel.ts
+++ b/src/server/plugins/engine/models/FormModel.ts
@@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ function validateFormPayload(
   if (
     !request.payload ||
     (action &&
-      ![FormAction.Validate, FormAction.SaveAndExit].includes(action) &&
+      action !== FormAction.Validate &&
       !action.startsWith(FormAction.External))
   ) {
     return context
diff --git a/test/form/save-and-exit.test.js b/test/form/save-and-exit.test.js
index d527249e1..560db299a 100644
--- a/test/form/save-and-exit.test.js
+++ b/test/form/save-and-exit.test.js
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ describe('Save and Exit functionality', () => {
       expect(response.statusCode).toBe(StatusCodes.SEE_OTHER)
     })
 
-    it('should prevent invalid form state being persisted', async () => {
+    it('should allow invalid form state for current page', async () => {
       const payload = {
         licenceLength: '',
         action: 'save-and-exit',
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ describe('Save and Exit functionality', () => {
         payload
       })
 
-      expect(response.statusCode).not.toBe(StatusCodes.MOVED_TEMPORARILY) // we shouldn't be redirected to the next question
+      expect(response.statusCode).not.toBe(StatusCodes.SEE_OTHER)
     })
 
     it('should return 404 for non-existent page', async () => {