An image forming apparatus 1 has an intermediate transfer belt 17 that rotates in synchronization with the operation of a photoconductive section 11 where a toner image is formed, and a secondary transfer section S at which paper P temporarily adhering to a surface of this intermediate transfer belt 17 can be separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17. The image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a distance detecting unit 66 that detects a distance “L” to the paper P sent out from this secondary transfer section S, and a control section 74 that judges whether or not the paper P is normally separated from the secondary transfer section S based on distance data fed from this distance detecting unit 66.