diff --git a/mode-tree.c b/mode-tree.c
index 98f29e82..32ae4a33 100644
--- a/mode-tree.c
+++ b/mode-tree.c
@@ -595,7 +595,7 @@ mode_tree_draw(struct mode_tree_data *mtd)
 		box = mtd->drawcb(mtd->modedata, mti->itemdata, box_x, box_y);
 	if (box != NULL) {
 		screen_write_cursormove(&ctx, 2, h + 1);
-		screen_write_copy(&ctx, box, 0, 0, box_x, box_y, NULL, NULL);
+		screen_write_fast_copy(&ctx, box, 0, 0, box_x, box_y);
 
 		screen_free(box);
 	}
diff --git a/screen-write.c b/screen-write.c
index f090d6fa..37a51fcb 100644
--- a/screen-write.c
+++ b/screen-write.c
@@ -351,11 +351,10 @@ screen_write_cnputs(struct screen_write_ctx *ctx, ssize_t maxlen,
 	free(msg);
 }
 
-/* Copy from another screen. */
+/* Copy from another screen. Assumes target region is big enough. */
 void
 screen_write_copy(struct screen_write_ctx *ctx, struct screen *src, u_int px,
-    u_int py, u_int nx, u_int ny, bitstr_t *markbs,
-    const struct grid_cell *markgc)
+    u_int py, u_int nx, u_int ny, bitstr_t *mbs, const struct grid_cell *mgc)
 {
 	struct screen		*s = ctx->s;
 	struct grid		*gd = src->grid;
@@ -371,22 +370,52 @@ screen_write_copy(struct screen_write_ctx *ctx, struct screen *src, u_int px,
 	for (yy = py; yy < py + ny; yy++) {
 		for (xx = px; xx < px + nx; xx++) {
 			grid_get_cell(gd, xx, yy, &gc);
-			if (markbs != NULL) {
+			if (mbs != NULL) {
 				b = (yy * screen_size_x(src)) + xx;
-				if (bit_test(markbs, b)) {
-					gc.attr = markgc->attr;
-					gc.fg = markgc->fg;
-					gc.bg = markgc->bg;
+				if (bit_test(mbs, b)) {
+					gc.attr = mgc->attr;
+					gc.fg = mgc->fg;
+					gc.bg = mgc->bg;
 				}
 			}
 			screen_write_cell(ctx, &gc);
 		}
-
 		cy++;
 		screen_write_cursormove(ctx, cx, cy);
 	}
 }
 
+/*
+ * Copy from another screen but without the selection stuff. Also assumes the
+ * target region is already big enough and already cleared.
+ */
+void
+screen_write_fast_copy(struct screen_write_ctx *ctx, struct screen *src,
+    u_int px, u_int py, u_int nx, u_int ny)
+{
+	struct screen		*s = ctx->s;
+	struct grid		*gd = src->grid;
+	struct grid_cell	 gc;
+	u_int		 	 xx, yy, cx, cy;
+
+	if (nx == 0 || ny == 0)
+		return;
+
+	cy = s->cy;
+	for (yy = py; yy < py + ny; yy++) {
+		cx = s->cx;
+		for (xx = px; xx < px + nx; xx++) {
+			if (xx >= gd->linedata[yy].cellsize)
+				break;
+			grid_get_cell(gd, xx, yy, &gc);
+			if (!grid_cells_equal(&gc, &grid_default_cell))
+				grid_view_set_cell(ctx->s->grid, cx, cy, &gc);
+			cx++;
+		}
+		cy++;
+	}
+}
+
 /* Draw a horizontal line on screen. */
 void
 screen_write_hline(struct screen_write_ctx *ctx, u_int nx, int left, int right)
@@ -471,7 +500,10 @@ screen_write_box(struct screen_write_ctx *ctx, u_int nx, u_int ny)
 	screen_write_cursormove(ctx, cx, cy);
 }
 
-/* Write a preview version of a window. */
+/*
+ * Write a preview version of a window. Assumes target area is big enough and
+ * already cleared.
+ */
 void
 screen_write_preview(struct screen_write_ctx *ctx, struct screen *src, u_int nx,
     u_int ny)
@@ -515,8 +547,7 @@ screen_write_preview(struct screen_write_ctx *ctx, struct screen *src, u_int nx,
 		py = 0;
 	}
 
-	screen_write_copy(ctx, src, px, src->grid->hsize + py, nx, ny, NULL,
-	    NULL);
+	screen_write_fast_copy(ctx, src, px, src->grid->hsize + py, nx, ny);
 
 	if (src->mode & MODE_CURSOR) {
 		grid_view_get_cell(src->grid, src->cx, src->cy, &gc);
diff --git a/status.c b/status.c
index b24fc2eb..60faa42d 100644
--- a/status.c
+++ b/status.c
@@ -508,8 +508,7 @@ draw:
 	/* Copy the window list. */
 	c->wlmouse = -wloffset + wlstart;
 	screen_write_cursormove(&ctx, wloffset, 0);
-	screen_write_copy(&ctx, &window_list, wlstart, 0, wlwidth, 1, NULL,
-	    NULL);
+	screen_write_fast_copy(&ctx, &window_list, wlstart, 0, wlwidth, 1);
 	screen_free(&window_list);
 
 	screen_write_stop(&ctx);
diff --git a/tmux.h b/tmux.h
index 974a0678..62e88248 100644
--- a/tmux.h
+++ b/tmux.h
@@ -2037,6 +2037,8 @@ void	 screen_write_putc(struct screen_write_ctx *, const struct grid_cell *,
 	     u_char);
 void	 screen_write_copy(struct screen_write_ctx *, struct screen *, u_int,
 	     u_int, u_int, u_int, bitstr_t *, const struct grid_cell *);
+void	 screen_write_fast_copy(struct screen_write_ctx *, struct screen *,
+	     u_int, u_int, u_int, u_int);
 void	 screen_write_hline(struct screen_write_ctx *, u_int, int, int);
 void	 screen_write_vline(struct screen_write_ctx *, u_int, int, int);
 void	 screen_write_box(struct screen_write_ctx *, u_int, u_int);
diff --git a/window-client.c b/window-client.c
index 4b57aa23..fc5b55e7 100644
--- a/window-client.c
+++ b/window-client.c
@@ -235,9 +235,9 @@ window_client_draw(__unused void *modedata, void *itemdata, u_int sx, u_int sy)
 
 	screen_write_cursormove(&ctx, 0, sy - 1);
 	if (c->old_status != NULL)
-		screen_write_copy(&ctx, c->old_status, 0, 0, sx, 1, NULL, NULL);
+		screen_write_fast_copy(&ctx, c->old_status, 0, 0, sx, 1);
 	else
-		screen_write_copy(&ctx, &c->status, 0, 0, sx, 1, NULL, NULL);
+		screen_write_fast_copy(&ctx, &c->status, 0, 0, sx, 1);
 
 	screen_write_stop(&ctx);
 	return (&s);