diff --git a/cmd/micro/actions.go b/cmd/micro/actions.go
index 009f4bd8..c26b8496 100644
--- a/cmd/micro/actions.go
+++ b/cmd/micro/actions.go
@@ -852,7 +852,7 @@ func (v *View) Copy(usePlugin bool) bool {
 	}
 
 	if v.Cursor.HasSelection() {
-		clipboard.WriteAll(v.Cursor.GetSelection(), "clipboard")
+		v.Cursor.CopySelection("clipboard")
 		v.freshClip = true
 		messenger.Message("Copied selection")
 	}
@@ -903,7 +903,7 @@ func (v *View) Cut(usePlugin bool) bool {
 	}
 
 	if v.Cursor.HasSelection() {
-		clipboard.WriteAll(v.Cursor.GetSelection(), "clipboard")
+		v.Cursor.CopySelection("clipboard")
 		v.Cursor.DeleteSelection()
 		v.Cursor.ResetSelection()
 		v.freshClip = true
diff --git a/cmd/micro/cursor.go b/cmd/micro/cursor.go
index a40aa9cf..8dc6bc5f 100644
--- a/cmd/micro/cursor.go
+++ b/cmd/micro/cursor.go
@@ -29,6 +29,13 @@ func (c *Cursor) Goto(b Cursor) {
 	c.OrigSelection, c.CurSelection = b.OrigSelection, b.CurSelection
 }
 
+// CopySelection copies the user's selection to either "primary" or "clipboard"
+func (c *Cursor) CopySelection(target string) {
+	if c.HasSelection() {
+		clipboard.WriteAll(c.GetSelection(), target)
+	}
+}
+
 // ResetSelection resets the user's selection
 func (c *Cursor) ResetSelection() {
 	c.CurSelection[0] = c.buf.Start()
@@ -38,19 +45,11 @@ func (c *Cursor) ResetSelection() {
 // SetSelectionStart sets the start of the selection
 func (c *Cursor) SetSelectionStart(pos Loc) {
 	c.CurSelection[0] = pos
-	// Copy to primary clipboard for linux
-	if c.HasSelection() {
-		clipboard.WriteAll(c.GetSelection(), "primary")
-	}
 }
 
 // SetSelectionEnd sets the end of the selection
 func (c *Cursor) SetSelectionEnd(pos Loc) {
 	c.CurSelection[1] = pos
-	// Copy to primary clipboard for linux
-	if c.HasSelection() {
-		clipboard.WriteAll(c.GetSelection(), "primary")
-	}
 }
 
 // HasSelection returns whether or not the user has selected anything
diff --git a/cmd/micro/view.go b/cmd/micro/view.go
index 34e29939..1f13acc7 100644
--- a/cmd/micro/view.go
+++ b/cmd/micro/view.go
@@ -532,6 +532,7 @@ func (v *View) HandleEvent(event tcell.Event) {
 						v.doubleClick = false
 
 						v.Cursor.SelectLine()
+						v.Cursor.CopySelection("primary")
 					} else {
 						// Double click
 						v.lastClickTime = time.Now()
@@ -540,6 +541,7 @@ func (v *View) HandleEvent(event tcell.Event) {
 						v.tripleClick = false
 
 						v.Cursor.SelectWord()
+						v.Cursor.CopySelection("primary")
 					}
 				} else {
 					v.doubleClick = false
@@ -559,6 +561,7 @@ func (v *View) HandleEvent(event tcell.Event) {
 					v.Cursor.AddWordToSelection()
 				} else {
 					v.Cursor.SetSelectionEnd(v.Cursor.Loc)
+					v.Cursor.CopySelection("primary")
 				}
 			}
 		case tcell.Button2:
@@ -579,6 +582,7 @@ func (v *View) HandleEvent(event tcell.Event) {
 				if !v.doubleClick && !v.tripleClick {
 					v.MoveToMouseClick(x, y)
 					v.Cursor.SetSelectionEnd(v.Cursor.Loc)
+					v.Cursor.CopySelection("primary")
 				}
 				v.mouseReleased = true
 			}