diff --git a/input.c b/input.c
index 9e3ad64e..96fcaf4c 100644
--- a/input.c
+++ b/input.c
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ wl_pointer_button(void *data, struct wl_pointer *wl_pointer,
                 break;
             }
         } else {
-            if (term->mouse.count == 1 && button == BTN_MIDDLE)
+            if (term->mouse.count == 1 && button == BTN_MIDDLE && selection_enabled(term))
                 selection_from_primary(term);
             selection_cancel(term);
         }
diff --git a/selection.c b/selection.c
index 586b1c3d..8dd00da0 100644
--- a/selection.c
+++ b/selection.c
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 #define min(x, y) ((x) < (y) ? (x) : (y))
 #define max(x, y) ((x) > (y) ? (x) : (y))
 
-static bool
+bool
 selection_enabled(const struct terminal *term)
 {
     return term->mouse_tracking == MOUSE_NONE || term->kbd.shift;
diff --git a/selection.h b/selection.h
index 8622c04a..d7b96d01 100644
--- a/selection.h
+++ b/selection.h
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 extern const struct wl_data_device_listener data_device_listener;
 extern const struct zwp_primary_selection_device_v1_listener primary_selection_device_listener;
 
+bool selection_enabled(const struct terminal *term);
 void selection_start(struct terminal *term, int col, int row);
 void selection_update(struct terminal *term, int col, int row);
 void selection_finalize(struct terminal *term, uint32_t serial);