diff --git a/default-plugins/status-bar/src/main.rs b/default-plugins/status-bar/src/main.rs
index 1a26ca14f2..27dc3262d9 100644
--- a/default-plugins/status-bar/src/main.rs
+++ b/default-plugins/status-bar/src/main.rs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ struct State {
     tabs: Vec<TabInfo>,
     tip_name: String,
     mode_info: ModeInfo,
-    diplay_text_copied_hint: bool,
+    text_copy_destination: Option<CopyDestination>,
     display_system_clipboard_failure: bool,
 }
 
@@ -156,14 +156,14 @@ impl ZellijPlugin for State {
             Event::TabUpdate(tabs) => {
                 self.tabs = tabs;
             }
-            Event::CopyToClipboard => {
-                self.diplay_text_copied_hint = true;
+            Event::CopyToClipboard(copy_destination) => {
+                self.text_copy_destination = Some(copy_destination);
             }
             Event::SystemClipboardFailure => {
                 self.display_system_clipboard_failure = true;
             }
             Event::InputReceived => {
-                self.diplay_text_copied_hint = false;
+                self.text_copy_destination = None;
                 self.display_system_clipboard_failure = false;
             }
             _ => {}
@@ -186,64 +186,7 @@ impl ZellijPlugin for State {
         );
 
         let first_line = format!("{}{}", superkey, ctrl_keys);
-
-        let mut second_line = LinePart::default();
-        for t in &mut self.tabs {
-            if t.active {
-                match self.mode_info.mode {
-                    InputMode::Normal => {
-                        if t.is_fullscreen_active {
-                            second_line = if self.diplay_text_copied_hint {
-                                text_copied_hint(&self.mode_info.palette)
-                            } else if self.display_system_clipboard_failure {
-                                system_clipboard_error(&self.mode_info.palette)
-                            } else {
-                                fullscreen_panes_to_hide(&self.mode_info.palette, t.panes_to_hide)
-                            }
-                        } else {
-                            second_line = if self.diplay_text_copied_hint {
-                                text_copied_hint(&self.mode_info.palette)
-                            } else if self.display_system_clipboard_failure {
-                                system_clipboard_error(&self.mode_info.palette)
-                            } else {
-                                keybinds(&self.mode_info, &self.tip_name, cols)
-                            }
-                        }
-                    }
-                    InputMode::Locked => {
-                        if t.is_fullscreen_active {
-                            second_line = if self.diplay_text_copied_hint {
-                                text_copied_hint(&self.mode_info.palette)
-                            } else if self.display_system_clipboard_failure {
-                                system_clipboard_error(&self.mode_info.palette)
-                            } else {
-                                locked_fullscreen_panes_to_hide(
-                                    &self.mode_info.palette,
-                                    t.panes_to_hide,
-                                )
-                            }
-                        } else {
-                            second_line = if self.diplay_text_copied_hint {
-                                text_copied_hint(&self.mode_info.palette)
-                            } else if self.display_system_clipboard_failure {
-                                system_clipboard_error(&self.mode_info.palette)
-                            } else {
-                                keybinds(&self.mode_info, &self.tip_name, cols)
-                            }
-                        }
-                    }
-                    _ => {
-                        second_line = if self.diplay_text_copied_hint {
-                            text_copied_hint(&self.mode_info.palette)
-                        } else if self.display_system_clipboard_failure {
-                            system_clipboard_error(&self.mode_info.palette)
-                        } else {
-                            keybinds(&self.mode_info, &self.tip_name, cols)
-                        }
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-        }
+        let second_line = self.second_line(cols);
 
         // [48;5;238m is gray background, [0K is so that it fills the rest of the line
         // [m is background reset, [0K is so that it clears the rest of the line
@@ -258,3 +201,32 @@ impl ZellijPlugin for State {
         println!("\u{1b}[m{}\u{1b}[0K", second_line);
     }
 }
+
+impl State {
+    fn second_line(&self, cols: usize) -> LinePart {
+        let active_tab = self.tabs.iter().find(|t| t.active);
+
+        if let Some(copy_destination) = self.text_copy_destination {
+            text_copied_hint(&self.mode_info.palette, copy_destination)
+        } else if self.display_system_clipboard_failure {
+            system_clipboard_error(&self.mode_info.palette)
+        } else if let Some(active_tab) = active_tab {
+            if active_tab.is_fullscreen_active {
+                match self.mode_info.mode {
+                    InputMode::Normal => {
+                        fullscreen_panes_to_hide(&self.mode_info.palette, active_tab.panes_to_hide)
+                    }
+                    InputMode::Locked => locked_fullscreen_panes_to_hide(
+                        &self.mode_info.palette,
+                        active_tab.panes_to_hide,
+                    ),
+                    _ => keybinds(&self.mode_info, &self.tip_name, cols),
+                }
+            } else {
+                keybinds(&self.mode_info, &self.tip_name, cols)
+            }
+        } else {
+            LinePart::default()
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/default-plugins/status-bar/src/second_line.rs b/default-plugins/status-bar/src/second_line.rs
index 32a444255c..13e847b998 100644
--- a/default-plugins/status-bar/src/second_line.rs
+++ b/default-plugins/status-bar/src/second_line.rs
@@ -229,12 +229,19 @@ pub fn keybinds(help: &ModeInfo, tip_name: &str, max_width: usize) -> LinePart {
     best_effort_shortcut_list(help, tip_body.short, max_width)
 }
 
-pub fn text_copied_hint(palette: &Palette) -> LinePart {
-    let hint = " Text copied to clipboard";
+pub fn text_copied_hint(palette: &Palette, copy_destination: CopyDestination) -> LinePart {
     let green_color = match palette.green {
         PaletteColor::Rgb((r, g, b)) => RGB(r, g, b),
         PaletteColor::EightBit(color) => Fixed(color),
     };
+    let hint = match copy_destination {
+        CopyDestination::Command => "Text piped to external command",
+        #[cfg(not(target_os = "macos"))]
+        CopyDestination::Primary => "Text copied to primary selection",
+        #[cfg(target_os = "macos")] // primary selection does not exist on macos
+        CopyDestination::Primary => "Text copied to clipboard",
+        CopyDestination::System => "Text copied to clipboard",
+    };
     LinePart {
         part: Style::new().fg(green_color).bold().paint(hint).to_string(),
         len: hint.len(),
diff --git a/zellij-server/src/screen.rs b/zellij-server/src/screen.rs
index c8f80eba4b..6039c6f63e 100644
--- a/zellij-server/src/screen.rs
+++ b/zellij-server/src/screen.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ use std::os::unix::io::RawFd;
 use std::rc::Rc;
 use std::str;
 
+use zellij_utils::input::options::Clipboard;
 use zellij_utils::pane_size::Size;
 use zellij_utils::{input::layout::Layout, position::Position, zellij_tile};
 
@@ -194,10 +195,12 @@ pub(crate) struct Screen {
     draw_pane_frames: bool,
     session_is_mirrored: bool,
     copy_command: Option<String>,
+    copy_clipboard: Clipboard,
 }
 
 impl Screen {
     /// Creates and returns a new [`Screen`].
+    #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
     pub fn new(
         bus: Bus<ScreenInstruction>,
         client_attributes: &ClientAttributes,
@@ -206,6 +209,7 @@ impl Screen {
         draw_pane_frames: bool,
         session_is_mirrored: bool,
         copy_command: Option<String>,
+        copy_clipboard: Clipboard,
     ) -> Self {
         Screen {
             bus,
@@ -222,6 +226,7 @@ impl Screen {
             draw_pane_frames,
             session_is_mirrored,
             copy_command,
+            copy_clipboard,
         }
     }
 
@@ -495,6 +500,7 @@ impl Screen {
             self.session_is_mirrored,
             client_id,
             self.copy_command.clone(),
+            self.copy_clipboard.clone(),
         );
         tab.apply_layout(layout, new_pids, tab_index, client_id);
         if self.session_is_mirrored {
@@ -700,6 +706,7 @@ pub(crate) fn screen_thread_main(
         draw_pane_frames,
         session_is_mirrored,
         config_options.copy_command,
+        config_options.copy_clipboard.unwrap_or_default(),
     );
     loop {
         let (event, mut err_ctx) = screen
diff --git a/zellij-server/src/tab/clipboard.rs b/zellij-server/src/tab/clipboard.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0529bb0020
--- /dev/null
+++ b/zellij-server/src/tab/clipboard.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+use zellij_tile::prelude::CopyDestination;
+use zellij_utils::{anyhow::Result, input::options::Clipboard};
+
+use crate::ClientId;
+
+use super::{copy_command::CopyCommand, Output};
+
+pub(crate) enum ClipboardProvider {
+    Command(CopyCommand),
+    Osc52(Clipboard),
+}
+
+impl ClipboardProvider {
+    pub(crate) fn set_content(
+        &self,
+        content: &str,
+        output: &mut Output,
+        client_ids: impl Iterator<Item = ClientId>,
+    ) -> Result<()> {
+        match &self {
+            ClipboardProvider::Command(command) => {
+                command.set(content.to_string())?;
+            }
+            ClipboardProvider::Osc52(clipboard) => {
+                let dest = match clipboard {
+                    #[cfg(not(target_os = "macos"))]
+                    Clipboard::Primary => 'p',
+                    #[cfg(target_os = "macos")] // primary selection does not exist on macos
+                    Clipboard::Primary => 'c',
+                    Clipboard::System => 'c',
+                };
+                output.push_str_to_multiple_clients(
+                    &format!("\u{1b}]52;{};{}\u{1b}\\", dest, base64::encode(content)),
+                    client_ids,
+                );
+            }
+        };
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn as_copy_destination(&self) -> CopyDestination {
+        match self {
+            ClipboardProvider::Command(_) => CopyDestination::Command,
+            ClipboardProvider::Osc52(clipboard) => match clipboard {
+                Clipboard::Primary => CopyDestination::Primary,
+                Clipboard::System => CopyDestination::System,
+            },
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/zellij-server/src/tab/copy_command.rs b/zellij-server/src/tab/copy_command.rs
index 6124095027..0b2d84cf41 100644
--- a/zellij-server/src/tab/copy_command.rs
+++ b/zellij-server/src/tab/copy_command.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 use std::io::prelude::*;
 use std::process::{Command, Stdio};
 
+use zellij_utils::anyhow::{Context, Result};
+
 pub struct CopyCommand {
     command: String,
     args: Vec<String>,
@@ -15,25 +17,18 @@ impl CopyCommand {
             args: command_with_args.collect(),
         }
     }
-    pub fn set(&self, value: String) -> bool {
-        let process = match Command::new(self.command.clone())
+    pub fn set(&self, value: String) -> Result<()> {
+        let process = Command::new(self.command.clone())
             .args(self.args.clone())
             .stdin(Stdio::piped())
             .spawn()
-        {
-            Err(why) => {
-                eprintln!("couldn't spawn {}: {}", self.command, why);
-                return false;
-            }
-            Ok(process) => process,
-        };
+            .with_context(|| format!("couldn't spawn {}", self.command))?;
+        process
+            .stdin
+            .context("could not get stdin")?
+            .write_all(value.as_bytes())
+            .with_context(|| format!("couldn't write to {} stdin", self.command))?;
 
-        match process.stdin.unwrap().write_all(value.as_bytes()) {
-            Err(why) => {
-                eprintln!("couldn't write to {} stdin: {}", self.command, why);
-                false
-            }
-            Ok(_) => true,
-        }
+        Ok(())
     }
 }
diff --git a/zellij-server/src/tab/mod.rs b/zellij-server/src/tab/mod.rs
index 66533aa3f9..c91ac87a9a 100644
--- a/zellij-server/src/tab/mod.rs
+++ b/zellij-server/src/tab/mod.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 //! `Tab`s holds multiple panes. It tracks their coordinates (x/y) and size,
 //! as well as how they should be resized
 
+mod clipboard;
 mod copy_command;
 mod pane_grid;
 mod pane_resizer;
 
 use copy_command::CopyCommand;
+use zellij_utils::input::options::Clipboard;
 use zellij_utils::position::{Column, Line};
 use zellij_utils::{position::Position, serde, zellij_tile};
 
@@ -41,6 +43,8 @@ use zellij_utils::{
     pane_size::{Offset, PaneGeom, Size, Viewport},
 };
 
+use self::clipboard::ClipboardProvider;
+
 // FIXME: This should be replaced by `RESIZE_PERCENT` at some point
 const MIN_TERMINAL_HEIGHT: usize = 5;
 const MIN_TERMINAL_WIDTH: usize = 5;
@@ -121,7 +125,7 @@ pub(crate) struct Tab {
     session_is_mirrored: bool,
     pending_vte_events: HashMap<RawFd, Vec<VteBytes>>,
     selecting_with_mouse: bool,
-    copy_command: Option<String>,
+    clipboard_provider: ClipboardProvider,
     // TODO: used only to focus the pane when the layout is loaded
     // it seems that optimization is possible using `active_panes`
     focus_pane_id: Option<PaneId>,
@@ -306,6 +310,7 @@ impl Tab {
         session_is_mirrored: bool,
         client_id: ClientId,
         copy_command: Option<String>,
+        copy_clipboard: Clipboard,
     ) -> Self {
         let panes = BTreeMap::new();
 
@@ -318,6 +323,11 @@ impl Tab {
         let mut connected_clients = HashSet::new();
         connected_clients.insert(client_id);
 
+        let clipboard_provider = match copy_command {
+            Some(command) => ClipboardProvider::Command(CopyCommand::new(command)),
+            None => ClipboardProvider::Osc52(copy_clipboard),
+        };
+
         Tab {
             index,
             position,
@@ -342,7 +352,7 @@ impl Tab {
             connected_clients_in_app,
             connected_clients,
             selecting_with_mouse: false,
-            copy_command,
+            clipboard_provider,
             focus_pane_id: None,
         }
     }
@@ -1936,7 +1946,7 @@ impl Tab {
                 .send_to_plugin(PluginInstruction::Update(
                     None,
                     None,
-                    Event::CopyToClipboard,
+                    Event::CopyToClipboard(self.clipboard_provider.as_copy_destination()),
                 ))
                 .unwrap();
         }
@@ -1944,35 +1954,27 @@ impl Tab {
 
     fn write_selection_to_clipboard(&self, selection: &str) {
         let mut output = Output::default();
-        let mut system_clipboard_failure = false;
         output.add_clients(&self.connected_clients);
-        match self.copy_command.clone() {
-            Some(copy_command) => {
-                let system_clipboard = CopyCommand::new(copy_command);
-                system_clipboard_failure = !system_clipboard.set(selection.to_owned());
-            }
-            None => {
-                output.push_str_to_multiple_clients(
-                    &format!("\u{1b}]52;c;{}\u{1b}\\", base64::encode(selection)),
-                    self.connected_clients.iter().copied(),
-                );
-            }
-        }
+        let client_ids = self.connected_clients.iter().copied();
 
-        // TODO: ideally we should be sending the Render instruction from the screen
-        self.senders
-            .send_to_server(ServerInstruction::Render(Some(output)))
-            .unwrap();
-        self.senders
-            .send_to_plugin(PluginInstruction::Update(
-                None,
-                None,
-                if system_clipboard_failure {
+        let clipboard_event =
+            match self
+                .clipboard_provider
+                .set_content(selection, &mut output, client_ids)
+            {
+                Ok(_) => {
+                    self.senders
+                        .send_to_server(ServerInstruction::Render(Some(output)))
+                        .unwrap();
+                    Event::CopyToClipboard(self.clipboard_provider.as_copy_destination())
+                }
+                Err(err) => {
+                    log::error!("could not write selection to clipboard: {}", err);
                     Event::SystemClipboardFailure
-                } else {
-                    Event::CopyToClipboard
-                },
-            ))
+                }
+            };
+        self.senders
+            .send_to_plugin(PluginInstruction::Update(None, None, clipboard_event))
             .unwrap();
     }
     fn is_inside_viewport(&self, pane_id: &PaneId) -> bool {
diff --git a/zellij-server/src/tab/unit/tab_tests.rs b/zellij-server/src/tab/unit/tab_tests.rs
index 5ac63f6b8f..527894aa48 100644
--- a/zellij-server/src/tab/unit/tab_tests.rs
+++ b/zellij-server/src/tab/unit/tab_tests.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ use crate::{
 use std::convert::TryInto;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 use zellij_utils::input::layout::LayoutTemplate;
+use zellij_utils::input::options::Clipboard;
 use zellij_utils::ipc::IpcReceiverWithContext;
 use zellij_utils::pane_size::Size;
 
@@ -97,6 +98,7 @@ fn create_new_tab(size: Size) -> Tab {
     connected_clients.insert(client_id);
     let connected_clients = Rc::new(RefCell::new(connected_clients));
     let copy_command = None;
+    let copy_clipboard = Clipboard::default();
     let mut tab = Tab::new(
         index,
         position,
@@ -112,6 +114,7 @@ fn create_new_tab(size: Size) -> Tab {
         session_is_mirrored,
         client_id,
         copy_command,
+        copy_clipboard,
     );
     tab.apply_layout(
         LayoutTemplate::default().try_into().unwrap(),
diff --git a/zellij-server/src/unit/screen_tests.rs b/zellij-server/src/unit/screen_tests.rs
index 1fbc85fced..97a6f3516d 100644
--- a/zellij-server/src/unit/screen_tests.rs
+++ b/zellij-server/src/unit/screen_tests.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ use std::convert::TryInto;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 use zellij_utils::input::command::TerminalAction;
 use zellij_utils::input::layout::LayoutTemplate;
+use zellij_utils::input::options::Clipboard;
 use zellij_utils::ipc::IpcReceiverWithContext;
 use zellij_utils::pane_size::Size;
 
@@ -92,6 +93,7 @@ fn create_new_screen(size: Size) -> Screen {
     let draw_pane_frames = false;
     let session_is_mirrored = true;
     let copy_command = None;
+    let copy_clipboard = Clipboard::default();
     Screen::new(
         bus,
         &client_attributes,
@@ -100,6 +102,7 @@ fn create_new_screen(size: Size) -> Screen {
         draw_pane_frames,
         session_is_mirrored,
         copy_command,
+        copy_clipboard,
     )
 }
 
diff --git a/zellij-tile/src/data.rs b/zellij-tile/src/data.rs
index dae7cd09e8..9b9f67b288 100644
--- a/zellij-tile/src/data.rs
+++ b/zellij-tile/src/data.rs
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ pub enum Event {
     Key(Key),
     Mouse(Mouse),
     Timer(f64),
-    CopyToClipboard,
+    CopyToClipboard(CopyDestination),
     SystemClipboardFailure,
     InputReceived,
     Visible(bool),
@@ -267,3 +267,10 @@ impl Default for PluginCapabilities {
         PluginCapabilities { arrow_fonts: true }
     }
 }
+
+#[derive(Debug, Copy, Clone, PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub enum CopyDestination {
+    Command,
+    Primary,
+    System,
+}
diff --git a/zellij-utils/assets/config/default.yaml b/zellij-utils/assets/config/default.yaml
index 749f7f8f26..607e8ea4b7 100644
--- a/zellij-utils/assets/config/default.yaml
+++ b/zellij-utils/assets/config/default.yaml
@@ -477,3 +477,11 @@ plugins:
 #copy_command: "xclip -selection clipboard" # x11
 #copy_command: "wl-copy"                    # wayland
 #copy_command: "pbcopy"                     # osx
+
+# Choose the destination for copied text
+# Allows using the primary selection buffer (on x11/wayland) instead of the system clipboard.
+# Does not apply when using copy_command.
+# Options:
+#   - system (default)
+#   - primary
+# copy_clipboard: primary
diff --git a/zellij-utils/src/input/options.rs b/zellij-utils/src/input/options.rs
index 41f241f69b..34b4dc88a4 100644
--- a/zellij-utils/src/input/options.rs
+++ b/zellij-utils/src/input/options.rs
@@ -79,6 +79,25 @@ pub struct Options {
     #[clap(long)]
     #[serde(default)]
     pub copy_command: Option<String>,
+
+    /// OSC52 destination clipboard
+    #[clap(long, arg_enum, ignore_case = true, conflicts_with = "copy-command")]
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub copy_clipboard: Option<Clipboard>,
+}
+
+#[derive(ArgEnum, Deserialize, Serialize, Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
+pub enum Clipboard {
+    #[serde(alias = "system")]
+    System,
+    #[serde(alias = "primary")]
+    Primary,
+}
+
+impl Default for Clipboard {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self::System
+    }
 }
 
 impl Options {
@@ -105,6 +124,7 @@ impl Options {
         let on_force_close = other.on_force_close.or(self.on_force_close);
         let scroll_buffer_size = other.scroll_buffer_size.or(self.scroll_buffer_size);
         let copy_command = other.copy_command.or_else(|| self.copy_command.clone());
+        let copy_clipboard = other.copy_clipboard.or_else(|| self.copy_clipboard.clone());
 
         Options {
             simplified_ui,
@@ -118,6 +138,7 @@ impl Options {
             on_force_close,
             scroll_buffer_size,
             copy_command,
+            copy_clipboard,
         }
     }
 
@@ -148,6 +169,7 @@ impl Options {
         let on_force_close = other.on_force_close.or(self.on_force_close);
         let scroll_buffer_size = other.scroll_buffer_size.or(self.scroll_buffer_size);
         let copy_command = other.copy_command.or_else(|| self.copy_command.clone());
+        let copy_clipboard = other.copy_clipboard.or_else(|| self.copy_clipboard.clone());
 
         Options {
             simplified_ui,
@@ -161,6 +183,7 @@ impl Options {
             on_force_close,
             scroll_buffer_size,
             copy_command,
+            copy_clipboard,
         }
     }
 
@@ -210,6 +233,7 @@ impl From<CliOptions> for Options {
             on_force_close: opts.on_force_close,
             scroll_buffer_size: opts.scroll_buffer_size,
             copy_command: opts.copy_command,
+            copy_clipboard: opts.copy_clipboard,
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/zellij-utils/src/lib.rs b/zellij-utils/src/lib.rs
index 7115c1b462..7eb9825ab5 100644
--- a/zellij-utils/src/lib.rs
+++ b/zellij-utils/src/lib.rs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ pub mod position;
 pub mod setup;
 pub mod shared;
 
+pub use anyhow;
 pub use async_std;
 pub use clap;
 pub use interprocess;