diff --git a/cmd/wmiipsel.c b/cmd/wmiipsel.c
index 51117b7d..4a5613cd 100644
--- a/cmd/wmiipsel.c
+++ b/cmd/wmiipsel.c
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
-#include <X11/Xlib.h>
-#include <X11/Xatom.h>
+#include <blitz.h>
 
 static char version[] = "wmiipsel - " VERSION ", (C)opyright MMIV-MMVI Anselm R. Garbe\n";
 
@@ -22,8 +21,8 @@ usage()
 int
 main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
-	char buf[4096];
-	unsigned int i, len;
+	unsigned char *data;
+	unsigned long i, offset, len, remain;
 
 	/* command line args */
 	if(argc > 1) {
@@ -33,10 +32,15 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		} else
 			usage();
 	}
-	if((len = blitz_getselection(buf, sizeof(buf)))) {
+	len = offset = 0;
+	do {
+		data = blitz_getselection(offset, &len, &remain);
 		for(i = 0; i < len; i++)
-			putchar(buf[i]);
-		putchar('\n');
+			putchar(data[i]);
+		offset += len;
+		free(data);
 	}
+	while(remain);
+	putchar('\n');
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/liblitz/blitz.c b/liblitz/blitz.c
index 2754e862..78af3bff 100644
--- a/liblitz/blitz.c
+++ b/liblitz/blitz.c
@@ -3,14 +3,15 @@
  * See LICENSE file for license details.
  */
 
+#include <string.h>
 #include <cext.h>
 #include <X11/Xlib.h>
 #include <X11/Xatom.h>
 
 #include "blitz.h"
 
-unsigned int
-blitz_getselection(char *buf, unsigned int len)
+unsigned char *
+blitz_getselection(unsigned long offset, unsigned long *len, unsigned long *remain)
 {
 	Display *dpy;
 	Atom xa_clip_string;
@@ -18,17 +19,12 @@ blitz_getselection(char *buf, unsigned int len)
 	XEvent ev;
 	Atom typeret;
 	int format;
-	unsigned long nitems, bytesleft;
 	unsigned char *data;
-	unsigned int ret;
+	unsigned char *result = nil;
 
-	ret = 0;
-	if(!buf || !len)
-		return ret;
-	buf[0] = 0;
 	dpy = XOpenDisplay(nil);
 	if(!dpy)
-		return ret;
+		return nil;
 	xa_clip_string = XInternAtom(dpy, "BLITZ_SEL_STRING", False);
 	w = XCreateSimpleWindow(dpy, DefaultRootWindow(dpy), 10, 10, 200, 200,
 			1, CopyFromParent, CopyFromParent);
@@ -37,15 +33,16 @@ blitz_getselection(char *buf, unsigned int len)
 	XFlush(dpy);
 	XNextEvent(dpy, &ev);
 	if(ev.type == SelectionNotify && ev.xselection.property != None) {
-		XGetWindowProperty(dpy, w, ev.xselection.property, 0L, len, False,
-				AnyPropertyType, &typeret, &format, &nitems, &bytesleft, &data);
-		if(format == 8)
-			cext_strlcpy(buf, (const char *)data, len);
-		ret = nitems < len ? nitems : len - 1;
-		buf[ret] = 0;
+		XGetWindowProperty(dpy, w, ev.xselection.property, offset, 4096L, False,
+				AnyPropertyType, &typeret, &format, len, remain, &data);
+		if(*len) {
+			result = cext_emallocz(sizeof(unsigned char) * *len);
+			memcpy(result, data, *len);
+			result[*len - 1] = 0;
+		}
 		XDeleteProperty(dpy, w, ev.xselection.property);
 	}
 	XDestroyWindow(dpy, w);
 	XCloseDisplay(dpy);
-	return ret;
+	return result;
 }
diff --git a/liblitz/blitz.h b/liblitz/blitz.h
index 08ae5faa..272e682b 100644
--- a/liblitz/blitz.h
+++ b/liblitz/blitz.h
@@ -89,6 +89,10 @@ struct BlitzInput {
 	void (*draw)(void *aux);
 };
 
+/* blitz.c */
+unsigned char *blitz_getselection(unsigned long offset,
+		unsigned long *len, unsigned long *remain);
+
 /* brush.c */
 void blitz_draw_label(BlitzBrush *b, char *text);
 void blitz_draw_tile(BlitzBrush *b);