diff --git a/doc/man/mcedit.1.in b/doc/man/mcedit.1.in
index 57a9b9971..56bcaf17b 100644
--- a/doc/man/mcedit.1.in
+++ b/doc/man/mcedit.1.in
@@ -556,6 +556,9 @@ Toggle show visible tabs, if editor_visible_tabs=1 tabs showed as '<\-\-\-\->'
 .I editor_persistent_selections
 Do not remove block selection after moving the cursor.
 .TP
+.I editor_drop_selection_on_copy
+Reset selection after copy to clipboard.
+.TP
 .I editor_cursor_beyond_eol
 Allow moving cursor beyond the end of line.
 .TP
diff --git a/src/editor/edit.h b/src/editor/edit.h
index 2382d732f..5db38c7eb 100644
--- a/src/editor/edit.h
+++ b/src/editor/edit.h
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ extern int option_return_does_auto_indent;
 extern int option_backspace_through_tabs;
 extern int option_fake_half_tabs;
 extern int option_persistent_selections;
+extern int option_drop_selection_on_copy;
 extern int option_cursor_beyond_eol;
 extern gboolean option_cursor_after_inserted_block;
 extern int option_line_state;
diff --git a/src/editor/editcmd.c b/src/editor/editcmd.c
index b726b850d..202cb79fa 100644
--- a/src/editor/editcmd.c
+++ b/src/editor/editcmd.c
@@ -91,6 +91,9 @@ int search_create_bookmark = FALSE;
 /* queries on a save */
 int edit_confirm_save = 1;
 
+/* whether we need to drop selection on copy to buffer */
+int option_drop_selection_on_copy = 1;
+
 /*** file scope macro definitions ****************************************************************/
 
 #define space_width 1
@@ -2899,6 +2902,9 @@ edit_copy_to_X_buf_cmd (WEdit * edit)
     /* try use external clipboard utility */
     mc_event_raise (MCEVENT_GROUP_CORE, "clipboard_file_to_ext_clip", NULL);
 
+    if (option_drop_selection_on_copy)
+        edit_mark_cmd (edit, TRUE);
+
     return TRUE;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/setup.c b/src/setup.c
index e02584ede..2da22b095 100644
--- a/src/setup.c
+++ b/src/setup.c
@@ -349,6 +349,7 @@ static const struct
     { "editor_edit_confirm_save", &edit_confirm_save },
     { "editor_syntax_highlighting", &option_syntax_highlighting },
     { "editor_persistent_selections", &option_persistent_selections },
+    { "editor_drop_selection_on_copy", &option_drop_selection_on_copy },
     { "editor_cursor_beyond_eol", &option_cursor_beyond_eol },
     { "editor_cursor_after_inserted_block", &option_cursor_after_inserted_block },
     { "editor_visible_tabs", &visible_tabs },