diff --git a/window-buffer.c b/window-buffer.c
index 544a1155..aac0bc40 100644
--- a/window-buffer.c
+++ b/window-buffer.c
@@ -508,6 +508,11 @@ window_buffer_key(struct window_mode_entry *wme, struct client *c,
 	struct window_buffer_itemdata	*item;
 	int				 finished;
 
+	if (paste_get_top(NULL) == NULL) {
+		finished = 1;
+		goto out;
+	}
+
 	finished = mode_tree_key(mtd, c, &key, m, NULL, NULL);
 	switch (key) {
 	case 'e':
@@ -534,6 +539,8 @@ window_buffer_key(struct window_mode_entry *wme, struct client *c,
 		finished = 1;
 		break;
 	}
+
+out:
 	if (finished || paste_get_top(NULL) == NULL)
 		window_pane_reset_mode(wp);
 	else {