diff --git a/cmd-paste-buffer.c b/cmd-paste-buffer.c
index 28d4a8cc..bef39593 100644
--- a/cmd-paste-buffer.c
+++ b/cmd-paste-buffer.c
@@ -55,6 +55,11 @@ cmd_paste_buffer_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item)
 	size_t			 seplen, bufsize;
 	int			 bracket = args_has(args, 'p');
 
+	if (window_pane_exited(wp)) {
+		cmdq_error(item, "target pane has exited");
+		return (CMD_RETURN_ERROR);
+	}
+
 	bufname = NULL;
 	if (args_has(args, 'b'))
 		bufname = args_get(args, 'b');
diff --git a/cmd-pipe-pane.c b/cmd-pipe-pane.c
index bedc8f24..ec6091ed 100644
--- a/cmd-pipe-pane.c
+++ b/cmd-pipe-pane.c
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ cmd_pipe_pane_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item)
 	sigset_t			 set, oldset;
 
 	/* Do nothing if pane is dead. */
-	if (wp->fd == -1 || (wp->flags & PANE_EXITED)) {
+	if (window_pane_exited(wp)) {
 		cmdq_error(item, "target pane has exited");
 		return (CMD_RETURN_ERROR);
 	}
diff --git a/tmux.h b/tmux.h
index 9dd97adc..e6516a72 100644
--- a/tmux.h
+++ b/tmux.h
@@ -3047,6 +3047,7 @@ int		 window_pane_key(struct window_pane *, struct client *,
 		     struct session *, struct winlink *, key_code,
 		     struct mouse_event *);
 int		 window_pane_visible(struct window_pane *);
+int		 window_pane_exited(struct window_pane *);
 u_int		 window_pane_search(struct window_pane *, const char *, int,
 		     int);
 const char	*window_printable_flags(struct winlink *, int);
diff --git a/window.c b/window.c
index c16dc128..c5d00e29 100644
--- a/window.c
+++ b/window.c
@@ -1204,6 +1204,12 @@ window_pane_visible(struct window_pane *wp)
 	return (wp == wp->window->active);
 }
 
+int
+window_pane_exited(struct window_pane *wp)
+{
+	return (wp->fd == -1 || (wp->flags & PANE_EXITED));
+}
+
 u_int
 window_pane_search(struct window_pane *wp, const char *term, int regex,
     int ignore)