diff --git a/include/IOSOperator.h b/include/IOSOperator.h
index b195aed..6e5768a 100644
--- a/include/IOSOperator.h
+++ b/include/IOSOperator.h
@@ -26,12 +26,23 @@ public:
 	}
 
 	//! Copies text to the clipboard
+	//! \param text: text in utf-8
 	virtual void copyToClipboard(const c8* text) const = 0;
 
+	//! Copies text to the primary selection
+	//! This is a no-op on some platforms.
+	//! \param text: text in utf-8
+	virtual void copyToPrimarySelection(const c8* text) const = 0;
+
 	//! Get text from the clipboard
-	/** \return Returns 0 if no string is in there. */
+	//! \return Returns 0 if no string is in there, otherwise an utf-8 string.
 	virtual const c8* getTextFromClipboard() const = 0;
 
+	//! Get text from the primary selection
+	//! This is a no-op on some platforms.
+	//! \return Returns 0 if no string is in there, otherwise an utf-8 string.
+	virtual const c8* getTextFromPrimarySelection() const = 0;
+
 	//! Get the total and available system RAM
 	/** \param totalBytes: will contain the total system memory in Kilobytes (1024 B)
 	\param availableBytes: will contain the available memory in Kilobytes (1024 B)
diff --git a/source/Irrlicht/CIrrDeviceLinux.cpp b/source/Irrlicht/CIrrDeviceLinux.cpp
index 3c19099..0efc8f4 100644
--- a/source/Irrlicht/CIrrDeviceLinux.cpp
+++ b/source/Irrlicht/CIrrDeviceLinux.cpp
@@ -1000,12 +1000,15 @@ bool CIrrDeviceLinux::run()
 						send_response(req->property);
 					};
 
-					if (req->selection != X_ATOM_CLIPBOARD ||
+					if ((req->selection != X_ATOM_CLIPBOARD &&
+							req->selection != XA_PRIMARY) ||
 							req->owner != XWindow) {
 						// we are not the owner, refuse request
 						send_response_refuse();
 						break;
 					}
+					const core::stringc &text_buffer = req->selection == X_ATOM_CLIPBOARD ?
+							Clipboard : PrimarySelection;
 
 					// for debugging:
 					//~ {
@@ -1026,8 +1029,8 @@ bool CIrrDeviceLinux::run()
 								req->target, X_ATOM_UTF8_STRING,
 								8, // format = 8-bit
 								PropModeReplace,
-								(unsigned char *)Clipboard.c_str(),
-								Clipboard.size());
+								(unsigned char *)text_buffer.c_str(),
+								text_buffer.size());
 						send_response(req->target);
 						break;
 					}
@@ -1052,8 +1055,8 @@ bool CIrrDeviceLinux::run()
 						set_property_and_notify(
 								X_ATOM_UTF8_STRING,
 								8,
-								Clipboard.c_str(),
-								Clipboard.size()
+								text_buffer.c_str(),
+								text_buffer.size()
 							);
 
 					} else {
@@ -1676,47 +1679,49 @@ void CIrrDeviceLinux::pollJoysticks()
 }
 
 
+#if defined(_IRR_COMPILE_WITH_X11_)
 //! gets text from the clipboard
 //! \return Returns 0 if no string is in there, otherwise utf-8 text.
-const c8 *CIrrDeviceLinux::getTextFromClipboard() const
+const c8 *CIrrDeviceLinux::getTextFromSelection(Atom selection, core::stringc &text_buffer) const
 {
-#if defined(_IRR_COMPILE_WITH_X11_)
-	Window ownerWindow = XGetSelectionOwner(XDisplay, X_ATOM_CLIPBOARD);
+	Window ownerWindow = XGetSelectionOwner(XDisplay, selection);
 	if (ownerWindow == XWindow) {
-		return Clipboard.c_str();
+		return text_buffer.c_str();
 	}
 
-	Clipboard = "";
+	text_buffer = "";
 
 	if (ownerWindow == None) {
-		return Clipboard.c_str();
+		return text_buffer.c_str();
 	}
 
 	// delete the property to be set beforehand
 	XDeleteProperty(XDisplay, XWindow, XA_PRIMARY);
 
-	XConvertSelection(XDisplay, X_ATOM_CLIPBOARD, X_ATOM_UTF8_STRING, XA_PRIMARY,
+	XConvertSelection(XDisplay, selection, X_ATOM_UTF8_STRING, XA_PRIMARY,
 			XWindow, CurrentTime);
 	XFlush(XDisplay);
 
 	// wait for event via a blocking call
 	XEvent event_ret;
+	std::pair<Window, Atom> args(XWindow, selection);
 	XIfEvent(XDisplay, &event_ret, [](Display *_display, XEvent *event, XPointer arg) {
+		auto p = reinterpret_cast<std::pair<Window, Atom> *>(arg);
 		return (Bool) (event->type == SelectionNotify &&
-				event->xselection.requestor == *(Window *)arg &&
-				event->xselection.selection == X_ATOM_CLIPBOARD &&
+				event->xselection.requestor == p->first &&
+				event->xselection.selection == p->second &&
 				event->xselection.target == X_ATOM_UTF8_STRING);
-	}, (XPointer)&XWindow);
+	}, (XPointer)&args);
 
 	_IRR_DEBUG_BREAK_IF(!(event_ret.type == SelectionNotify &&
 			event_ret.xselection.requestor == XWindow &&
-			event_ret.xselection.selection == X_ATOM_CLIPBOARD &&
+			event_ret.xselection.selection == selection &&
 			event_ret.xselection.target == X_ATOM_UTF8_STRING));
 
 	Atom property_set = event_ret.xselection.property;
 	if (event_ret.xselection.property == None) {
 		// request failed => empty string
-		return Clipboard.c_str();
+		return text_buffer.c_str();
 	}
 
 	// check for data
@@ -1743,15 +1748,15 @@ const c8 *CIrrDeviceLinux::getTextFromClipboard() const
 	// for debugging:
 	//~ {
 		//~ char *type_name = XGetAtomName(XDisplay, type);
-		//~ fprintf(stderr, "CIrrDeviceLinux::getTextFromClipboard: actual type: %s (=%ld)\n",
+		//~ fprintf(stderr, "CIrrDeviceLinux::getTextFromSelection: actual type: %s (=%ld)\n",
 				//~ type_name, type);
 		//~ XFree(type_name);
 	//~ }
 
 	if (type != X_ATOM_UTF8_STRING && type != X_ATOM_UTF8_MIME_TYPE) {
-		os::Printer::log("CIrrDeviceLinux::getTextFromClipboard: did not get utf-8 string",
+		os::Printer::log("CIrrDeviceLinux::getTextFromSelection: did not get utf-8 string",
 				ELL_WARNING);
-		return Clipboard.c_str();
+		return text_buffer.c_str();
 	}
 
 	if (bytesLeft > 0) {
@@ -1760,20 +1765,49 @@ const c8 *CIrrDeviceLinux::getTextFromClipboard() const
 									bytesLeft, 0, AnyPropertyType, &type, &format,
 									&numItems, &dummy, &data);
 		if (result == Success)
-			Clipboard = (irr::c8 *)data;
+			text_buffer = (irr::c8 *)data;
 		XFree (data);
 	}
 
 	// delete the property again, to inform the owner about the successful transfer
 	XDeleteProperty(XDisplay, XWindow, property_set);
 
-	return Clipboard.c_str();
+	return text_buffer.c_str();
+}
+#endif
 
+//! gets text from the clipboard
+//! \return Returns 0 if no string is in there, otherwise utf-8 text.
+const c8 *CIrrDeviceLinux::getTextFromClipboard() const
+{
+#if defined(_IRR_COMPILE_WITH_X11_)
+	return getTextFromSelection(X_ATOM_CLIPBOARD, Clipboard);
 #else
 	return nullptr;
 #endif
 }
 
+//! gets text from the primary selection
+//! \return Returns 0 if no string is in there, otherwise utf-8 text.
+const c8 *CIrrDeviceLinux::getTextFromPrimarySelection() const
+{
+#if defined(_IRR_COMPILE_WITH_X11_)
+	return getTextFromSelection(XA_PRIMARY, PrimarySelection);
+#else
+	return nullptr;
+#endif
+}
+
+#if defined(_IRR_COMPILE_WITH_X11_)
+bool CIrrDeviceLinux::becomeSelectionOwner(Atom selection) const
+{
+	XSetSelectionOwner (XDisplay, selection, XWindow, CurrentTime);
+	XFlush (XDisplay);
+	Window owner = XGetSelectionOwner(XDisplay, selection);
+	return owner == XWindow;
+}
+#endif
+
 //! copies text to the clipboard
 void CIrrDeviceLinux::copyToClipboard(const c8 *text) const
 {
@@ -1781,15 +1815,23 @@ void CIrrDeviceLinux::copyToClipboard(const c8 *text) const
 	// Actually there is no clipboard on X but applications just say they own the clipboard and return text when asked.
 	// Which btw. also means that on X you lose clipboard content when closing applications.
 	Clipboard = text;
-	XSetSelectionOwner (XDisplay, X_ATOM_CLIPBOARD, XWindow, CurrentTime);
-	XFlush (XDisplay);
-	Window owner = XGetSelectionOwner(XDisplay, X_ATOM_CLIPBOARD);
-	if (owner != XWindow) {
+	if (!becomeSelectionOwner(X_ATOM_CLIPBOARD)) {
 		os::Printer::log("CIrrDeviceLinux::copyToClipboard: failed to set owner", ELL_WARNING);
 	}
 #endif
 }
 
+//! copies text to the primary selection
+void CIrrDeviceLinux::copyToPrimarySelection(const c8 *text) const
+{
+#if defined(_IRR_COMPILE_WITH_X11_)
+	PrimarySelection = text;
+	if (!becomeSelectionOwner(XA_PRIMARY)) {
+		os::Printer::log("CIrrDeviceLinux::copyToPrimarySelection: failed to set owner", ELL_WARNING);
+	}
+#endif
+}
+
 #ifdef _IRR_COMPILE_WITH_X11_
 // return true if the passed event has the type passed in parameter arg
 Bool PredicateIsEventType(Display *display, XEvent *event, XPointer arg)
diff --git a/source/Irrlicht/CIrrDeviceLinux.h b/source/Irrlicht/CIrrDeviceLinux.h
index 2d8945c..544a736 100644
--- a/source/Irrlicht/CIrrDeviceLinux.h
+++ b/source/Irrlicht/CIrrDeviceLinux.h
@@ -97,11 +97,20 @@ namespace irr
 		//! \return Returns 0 if no string is in there, otherwise utf-8 text.
 		virtual const c8 *getTextFromClipboard() const;
 
+		//! gets text from the primary selection
+		//! \return Returns 0 if no string is in there, otherwise utf-8 text.
+		virtual const c8 *getTextFromPrimarySelection() const;
+
 		//! copies text to the clipboard
-		//! This sets the clipboard selection and _not_ the primary selection which you have on X on the middle mouse button.
+		//! This sets the clipboard selection and _not_ the primary selection.
 		//! @param text The text in utf-8
 		virtual void copyToClipboard(const c8 *text) const;
 
+		//! copies text to the primary selection
+		//! This sets the primary selection which you have on X on the middle mouse button.
+		//! @param text The text in utf-8
+		virtual void copyToPrimarySelection(const c8 *text) const;
+
 		//! Remove all messages pending in the system message loop
 		void clearSystemMessages() override;
 
@@ -141,6 +150,9 @@ namespace irr
 		bool createInputContext();
 		void destroyInputContext();
 		EKEY_CODE getKeyCode(XEvent &event);
+
+		const c8 *getTextFromSelection(Atom selection, core::stringc &text_buffer) const;
+		bool becomeSelectionOwner(Atom selection) const;
 #endif
 
 		//! Implementation of the linux cursor control
@@ -413,6 +425,7 @@ namespace irr
 		bool HasNetWM;
 		// text is utf-8
 		mutable core::stringc Clipboard;
+		mutable core::stringc PrimarySelection;
 #endif
 #if defined(_IRR_LINUX_X11_XINPUT2_)
 		int currentTouchedCount;
diff --git a/source/Irrlicht/COSOperator.cpp b/source/Irrlicht/COSOperator.cpp
index 25b04ad..906035a 100644
--- a/source/Irrlicht/COSOperator.cpp
+++ b/source/Irrlicht/COSOperator.cpp
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@ const core::stringc& COSOperator::getOperatingSystemVersion() const
 
 
 //! copies text to the clipboard
-//! \param text: text in utf-8
 void COSOperator::copyToClipboard(const c8 *text) const
 {
 	if (strlen(text)==0)
@@ -102,8 +101,20 @@ void COSOperator::copyToClipboard(const c8 *text) const
 }
 
 
+//! copies text to the primary selection
+void COSOperator::copyToPrimarySelection(const c8 *text) const
+{
+	if (strlen(text)==0)
+		return;
+
+#if defined(_IRR_COMPILE_WITH_X11_DEVICE_)
+    if ( IrrDeviceLinux )
+        IrrDeviceLinux->copyToPrimarySelection(text);
+#endif
+}
+
+
 //! gets text from the clipboard
-//! \return Returns 0 if no string is in there, otherwise an utf-8 string.
 const c8* COSOperator::getTextFromClipboard() const
 {
 #if defined(_IRR_WINDOWS_API_)
@@ -147,6 +158,21 @@ const c8* COSOperator::getTextFromClipboard() const
 }
 
 
+//! gets text from the primary selection
+const c8* COSOperator::getTextFromPrimarySelection() const
+{
+#if defined(_IRR_COMPILE_WITH_X11_DEVICE_)
+    if ( IrrDeviceLinux )
+        return IrrDeviceLinux->getTextFromPrimarySelection();
+    return 0;
+
+#else
+
+	return 0;
+#endif
+}
+
+
 bool COSOperator::getSystemMemory(u32* Total, u32* Avail) const
 {
 #if defined(_IRR_WINDOWS_API_)
diff --git a/source/Irrlicht/COSOperator.h b/source/Irrlicht/COSOperator.h
index 6ef0f9b..6510579 100644
--- a/source/Irrlicht/COSOperator.h
+++ b/source/Irrlicht/COSOperator.h
@@ -27,13 +27,17 @@ public:
 	const core::stringc& getOperatingSystemVersion() const override;
 
 	//! copies text to the clipboard
-	//! \param text: text in utf-8
 	void copyToClipboard(const c8 *text) const override;
 
+	//! copies text to the primary selection
+	void copyToPrimarySelection(const c8 *text) const override;
+
 	//! gets text from the clipboard
-	//! \return Returns 0 if no string is in there, otherwise an utf-8 string.
 	const c8* getTextFromClipboard() const override;
 
+	//! gets text from the primary selection
+	const c8* getTextFromPrimarySelection() const override;
+
 	//! gets the total and available system RAM in kB
 	//! \param Total: will contain the total system memory
 	//! \param Avail: will contain the available memory