An image forming apparatus includes a first pair of rotary members pressing against each other, forming a first nip therebetween, a cover sheet supply unit to transport to the first nip a cover sheet to be superimposed on an imaging surface of a recording medium, a separation unit that separates the cover sheet from the recording medium after the recording medium passes through the first nip and includes a second pair of rotary members pressing against each other, forming a second nip therebetween, and a drive unit to rotate the first and second pairs of rotary members in both a normal direction for transporting the cover sheet in a supply direction and a reverse direction. The first and second pairs of rotary members and the drive unit together form a cover sheet return mechanism for returning the cover sheet separated from the recording medium to the supply position.