diff --git a/window-copy.c b/window-copy.c
index 1aa1734f..76cea4e6 100644
--- a/window-copy.c
+++ b/window-copy.c
@@ -305,6 +305,7 @@ window_copy_common_init(struct window_mode_entry *wme)
 
 	data->cursordrag = CURSORDRAG_NONE;
 	data->lineflag = LINE_SEL_NONE;
+	data->selflag = SEL_CHAR;
 
 	if (wp->searchstr != NULL) {
 		data->searchtype = WINDOW_COPY_SEARCHUP;
@@ -739,6 +740,7 @@ window_copy_cmd_stop_selection(struct window_copy_cmd_state *cs)
 
 	data->cursordrag = CURSORDRAG_NONE;
 	data->lineflag = LINE_SEL_NONE;
+	data->selflag = SEL_CHAR;
 	return (WINDOW_COPY_CMD_NOTHING);
 }
 
@@ -3360,6 +3362,7 @@ window_copy_clear_selection(struct window_mode_entry *wme)
 
 	data->cursordrag = CURSORDRAG_NONE;
 	data->lineflag = LINE_SEL_NONE;
+	data->selflag = SEL_CHAR;
 
 	py = screen_hsize(data->backing) + data->cy - data->oy;
 	px = window_copy_find_length(wme, py);