diff --git a/cmd-bind-key.c b/cmd-bind-key.c
index 28e94e26..2a7b482a 100644
--- a/cmd-bind-key.c
+++ b/cmd-bind-key.c
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ enum cmd_retval
 cmd_bind_key_check(struct args *args)
 {
 	if (args_has(args, 't')) {
-		if (args->argc != 2)
+		if (args->argc != 2 && args->argc != 3)
 			return (CMD_RETURN_ERROR);
 	} else {
 		if (args->argc < 2)
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ cmd_bind_key_table(struct cmd *self, struct cmd_ctx *ctx, int key)
 	const struct mode_key_table	*mtab;
 	struct mode_key_binding		*mbind, mtmp;
 	enum mode_key_cmd		 cmd;
+	const char			*arg;
 
 	tablename = args_get(args, 't');
 	if ((mtab = mode_key_findtable(tablename)) == NULL) {
@@ -106,16 +107,29 @@ cmd_bind_key_table(struct cmd *self, struct cmd_ctx *ctx, int key)
 		return (CMD_RETURN_ERROR);
 	}
 
+	if (cmd != MODEKEYCOPY_COPYPIPE) {
+		if (args->argc != 2) {
+			ctx->error(ctx, "no argument allowed");
+			return (CMD_RETURN_ERROR);
+		}
+		arg = NULL;
+	} else {
+		if (args->argc != 3) {
+			ctx->error(ctx, "no argument given");
+			return (CMD_RETURN_ERROR);
+		}
+		arg = args->argv[2];
+	}
+
 	mtmp.key = key;
 	mtmp.mode = !!args_has(args, 'c');
-	if ((mbind = RB_FIND(mode_key_tree, mtab->tree, &mtmp)) != NULL) {
-		mbind->cmd = cmd;
-		return (CMD_RETURN_NORMAL);
+	if ((mbind = RB_FIND(mode_key_tree, mtab->tree, &mtmp)) == NULL) {
+		mbind = xmalloc(sizeof *mbind);
+		mbind->key = mtmp.key;
+		mbind->mode = mtmp.mode;
+		RB_INSERT(mode_key_tree, mtab->tree, mbind);
 	}
-	mbind = xmalloc(sizeof *mbind);
-	mbind->key = mtmp.key;
-	mbind->mode = mtmp.mode;
 	mbind->cmd = cmd;
-	RB_INSERT(mode_key_tree, mtab->tree, mbind);
+	mbind->arg = arg != NULL ? xstrdup(arg) : NULL;
 	return (CMD_RETURN_NORMAL);
 }
diff --git a/cmd-list-keys.c b/cmd-list-keys.c
index 51eeb674..3cb35f21 100644
--- a/cmd-list-keys.c
+++ b/cmd-list-keys.c
@@ -138,9 +138,12 @@ cmd_list_keys_table(struct cmd *self, struct cmd_ctx *ctx)
 			mode = "c";
 		cmdstr = mode_key_tostring(mtab->cmdstr, mbind->cmd);
 		if (cmdstr != NULL) {
-			ctx->print(ctx, "bind-key -%st %s%s %*s %s",
+			ctx->print(ctx, "bind-key -%st %s%s %*s %s%s%s%s",
 			    mode, any_mode && *mode == '\0' ? " " : "",
-			    mtab->name, (int) width, key, cmdstr);
+			    mtab->name, (int) width, key, cmdstr,
+			    mbind->arg != NULL ? " \"" : "",
+			    mbind->arg != NULL ? mbind->arg : "",
+			    mbind->arg != NULL ? "\"": "");
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/mode-key.c b/mode-key.c
index 86367ada..94115ebb 100644
--- a/mode-key.c
+++ b/mode-key.c
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ const struct mode_key_cmdstr mode_key_cmdstr_copy[] = {
 	{ MODEKEYCOPY_BOTTOMLINE, "bottom-line" },
 	{ MODEKEYCOPY_CANCEL, "cancel" },
 	{ MODEKEYCOPY_CLEARSELECTION, "clear-selection" },
+	{ MODEKEYCOPY_COPYPIPE, "copy-pipe" },
 	{ MODEKEYCOPY_COPYLINE, "copy-line" },
 	{ MODEKEYCOPY_COPYENDOFLINE, "copy-end-of-line" },
 	{ MODEKEYCOPY_COPYSELECTION, "copy-selection" },
@@ -513,6 +514,7 @@ mode_key_init_trees(void)
 			mbind->key = ment->key;
 			mbind->mode = ment->mode;
 			mbind->cmd = ment->cmd;
+			mbind->arg = NULL;
 			RB_INSERT(mode_key_tree, mtab->tree, mbind);
 		}
 	}
@@ -526,7 +528,7 @@ mode_key_init(struct mode_key_data *mdata, struct mode_key_tree *mtree)
 }
 
 enum mode_key_cmd
-mode_key_lookup(struct mode_key_data *mdata, int key)
+mode_key_lookup(struct mode_key_data *mdata, int key, const char **arg)
 {
 	struct mode_key_binding	*mbind, mtmp;
 
@@ -546,6 +548,8 @@ mode_key_lookup(struct mode_key_data *mdata, int key)
 		mdata->mode = 1 - mdata->mode;
 		/* FALLTHROUGH */
 	default:
+		if (arg != NULL)
+			*arg = mbind->arg;
 		return (mbind->cmd);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/status.c b/status.c
index 4083f2a5..3a315f49 100644
--- a/status.c
+++ b/status.c
@@ -1042,7 +1042,7 @@ status_prompt_key(struct client *c, int key)
 	size_t			 size, n, off, idx;
 
 	size = strlen(c->prompt_buffer);
-	switch (mode_key_lookup(&c->prompt_mdata, key)) {
+	switch (mode_key_lookup(&c->prompt_mdata, key, NULL)) {
 	case MODEKEYEDIT_CURSORLEFT:
 		if (c->prompt_index > 0) {
 			c->prompt_index--;
diff --git a/tmux.1 b/tmux.1
index c1380ffd..fcca0924 100644
--- a/tmux.1
+++ b/tmux.1
@@ -854,7 +854,7 @@ The following keys are supported as appropriate for the mode:
 .It Li "Start of line" Ta "0" Ta "C-a"
 .It Li "Start selection" Ta "Space" Ta "C-Space"
 .It Li "Top of history" Ta "g" Ta "M->"
-.It Li "Transpose chars" Ta "" Ta "C-t"
+.It Li "Transpose characters" Ta "" Ta "C-t"
 .El
 .Pp
 The next and previous word keys use space and the
@@ -916,6 +916,17 @@ command and keys modified or removed with
 .Ic bind-key
 and
 .Ic unbind-key .
+One command in accepts an argument,
+.Ic copy-pipe ,
+which copies the selection and pipes it to a command.
+For example the following will bind
+.Ql C-q
+to copy the selection into
+.Pa /tmp
+as well as the paste buffer:
+.Bd -literal -offset indent
+bind-key -temacs-copy C-q copy-pipe "cat >/tmp/out"
+.Ed
 .Pp
 The paste buffer key pastes the first line from the top paste buffer on the
 stack.
diff --git a/tmux.h b/tmux.h
index 8b3d4e14..f5691e91 100644
--- a/tmux.h
+++ b/tmux.h
@@ -562,6 +562,7 @@ enum mode_key_cmd {
 	MODEKEYCOPY_BOTTOMLINE,
 	MODEKEYCOPY_CANCEL,
 	MODEKEYCOPY_CLEARSELECTION,
+	MODEKEYCOPY_COPYPIPE,
 	MODEKEYCOPY_COPYLINE,
 	MODEKEYCOPY_COPYENDOFLINE,
 	MODEKEYCOPY_COPYSELECTION,
@@ -628,12 +629,13 @@ struct mode_key_data {
 
 /* Binding between a key and a command. */
 struct mode_key_binding {
-	int			key;
+	int				 key;
 
-	int			mode;
-	enum mode_key_cmd	cmd;
+	int				 mode;
+	enum mode_key_cmd		 cmd;
+	const char			*arg;
 
-	RB_ENTRY(mode_key_binding) entry;
+	RB_ENTRY(mode_key_binding)	 entry;
 };
 RB_HEAD(mode_key_tree, mode_key_binding);
 
@@ -1544,7 +1546,7 @@ enum mode_key_cmd mode_key_fromstring(const struct mode_key_cmdstr *,
 const struct mode_key_table *mode_key_findtable(const char *);
 void	mode_key_init_trees(void);
 void	mode_key_init(struct mode_key_data *, struct mode_key_tree *);
-enum mode_key_cmd mode_key_lookup(struct mode_key_data *, int);
+enum mode_key_cmd mode_key_lookup(struct mode_key_data *, int, const char **);
 
 /* notify.c */
 void	notify_enable(void);
diff --git a/window-choose.c b/window-choose.c
index eb526ec4..366c65d3 100644
--- a/window-choose.c
+++ b/window-choose.c
@@ -492,7 +492,7 @@ window_choose_key(struct window_pane *wp, unused struct session *sess, int key)
 	items = ARRAY_LENGTH(&data->list);
 
 	if (data->input_type == WINDOW_CHOOSE_GOTO_ITEM) {
-		switch (mode_key_lookup(&data->mdata, key)) {
+		switch (mode_key_lookup(&data->mdata, key, NULL)) {
 		case MODEKEYCHOICE_CANCEL:
 			data->input_type = WINDOW_CHOOSE_NORMAL;
 			window_choose_redraw_screen(wp);
@@ -523,7 +523,7 @@ window_choose_key(struct window_pane *wp, unused struct session *sess, int key)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	switch (mode_key_lookup(&data->mdata, key)) {
+	switch (mode_key_lookup(&data->mdata, key, NULL)) {
 	case MODEKEYCHOICE_CANCEL:
 		window_choose_fire_callback(wp, NULL);
 		break;
@@ -777,7 +777,7 @@ window_choose_key_index(struct window_choose_mode_data *data, u_int idx)
 	int			mkey;
 
 	for (ptr = keys; *ptr != '\0'; ptr++) {
-		mkey = mode_key_lookup(&data->mdata, *ptr);
+		mkey = mode_key_lookup(&data->mdata, *ptr, NULL);
 		if (mkey != MODEKEY_NONE && mkey != MODEKEY_OTHER)
 			continue;
 		if (idx-- == 0)
@@ -797,7 +797,7 @@ window_choose_index_key(struct window_choose_mode_data *data, int key)
 	u_int			idx = 0;
 
 	for (ptr = keys; *ptr != '\0'; ptr++) {
-		mkey = mode_key_lookup(&data->mdata, *ptr);
+		mkey = mode_key_lookup(&data->mdata, *ptr, NULL);
 		if (mkey != MODEKEY_NONE && mkey != MODEKEY_OTHER)
 			continue;
 		if (key == *ptr)
diff --git a/window-copy.c b/window-copy.c
index be759d8b..2228b38a 100644
--- a/window-copy.c
+++ b/window-copy.c
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ void	window_copy_goto_line(struct window_pane *, const char *);
 void	window_copy_update_cursor(struct window_pane *, u_int, u_int);
 void	window_copy_start_selection(struct window_pane *);
 int	window_copy_update_selection(struct window_pane *);
+void   *window_copy_get_selection(struct window_pane *, size_t *);
+void	window_copy_copy_buffer(struct window_pane *, int, void *, size_t);
+void	window_copy_copy_pipe(struct window_pane *, int, const char *);
 void	window_copy_copy_selection(struct window_pane *, int);
 void	window_copy_clear_selection(struct window_pane *);
 void	window_copy_copy_line(
@@ -364,6 +367,7 @@ window_copy_key(struct window_pane *wp, struct session *sess, int key)
 	u_int				 n;
 	int				 np, keys;
 	enum mode_key_cmd		 cmd;
+	const char			*arg;
 
 	np = data->numprefix;
 	if (np <= 0)
@@ -405,7 +409,7 @@ window_copy_key(struct window_pane *wp, struct session *sess, int key)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	cmd = mode_key_lookup(&data->mdata, key);
+	cmd = mode_key_lookup(&data->mdata, key, &arg);
 	switch (cmd) {
 	case MODEKEYCOPY_CANCEL:
 		window_pane_reset_mode(wp);
@@ -533,6 +537,13 @@ window_copy_key(struct window_pane *wp, struct session *sess, int key)
 		window_copy_clear_selection(wp);
 		window_copy_redraw_screen(wp);
 		break;
+	case MODEKEYCOPY_COPYPIPE:
+		if (sess != NULL) {
+			window_copy_copy_pipe(wp, data->numprefix, arg);
+			window_pane_reset_mode(wp);
+			return;
+		}
+		break;
 	case MODEKEYCOPY_COPYSELECTION:
 		if (sess != NULL) {
 			window_copy_copy_selection(wp, data->numprefix);
@@ -735,7 +746,7 @@ window_copy_key_input(struct window_pane *wp, int key)
 	size_t				 inputlen;
 	int				 np;
 
-	switch (mode_key_lookup(&data->mdata, key)) {
+	switch (mode_key_lookup(&data->mdata, key, NULL)) {
 	case MODEKEYEDIT_CANCEL:
 		data->numprefix = -1;
 		return (-1);
@@ -1259,19 +1270,19 @@ window_copy_update_selection(struct window_pane *wp)
 	return (1);
 }
 
-void
-window_copy_copy_selection(struct window_pane *wp, int idx)
+void *
+window_copy_get_selection(struct window_pane *wp, size_t *len)
 {
 	struct window_copy_mode_data	*data = wp->modedata;
 	struct screen			*s = &data->screen;
 	char				*buf;
 	size_t				 off;
-	u_int				 i, xx, yy, sx, sy, ex, ey, limit;
+	u_int				 i, xx, yy, sx, sy, ex, ey;
 	u_int				 firstsx, lastex, restex, restsx;
 	int				 keys;
 
 	if (!s->sel.flag)
-		return;
+		return (NULL);
 
 	buf = xmalloc(1);
 	off = 0;
@@ -1364,19 +1375,58 @@ window_copy_copy_selection(struct window_pane *wp, int idx)
 	/* Don't bother if no data. */
 	if (off == 0) {
 		free(buf);
-		return;
+		return (NULL);
 	}
-	off--;	/* remove final \n */
+	*len = off - 1;	/* remove final \n */
+	return (buf);
+}
+
+void
+window_copy_copy_buffer(struct window_pane *wp, int idx, void *buf, size_t len)
+{
+	u_int	limit;
 
 	if (options_get_number(&global_options, "set-clipboard"))
-		screen_write_setselection(&wp->ictx.ctx, buf, off);
+		screen_write_setselection(&wp->ictx.ctx, buf, len);
 
-	/* Add the buffer to the stack. */
 	if (idx == -1) {
 		limit = options_get_number(&global_options, "buffer-limit");
-		paste_add(&global_buffers, buf, off, limit);
+		paste_add(&global_buffers, buf, len, limit);
 	} else
-		paste_replace(&global_buffers, idx, buf, off);
+		paste_replace(&global_buffers, idx, buf, len);
+}
+
+void
+window_copy_copy_pipe(struct window_pane *wp, int idx, const char *arg)
+{
+	void*	buf;
+	size_t	len;
+	FILE*	f;
+
+	buf = window_copy_get_selection(wp, &len);
+	if (buf == NULL)
+		return;
+
+	f = popen(arg, "w");
+	if (f != NULL) {
+		fwrite(buf, 1, len, f);
+		pclose(f);
+	}
+
+	window_copy_copy_buffer(wp, idx, buf, len);
+}
+
+void
+window_copy_copy_selection(struct window_pane *wp, int idx)
+{
+	void*	buf;
+	size_t	len;
+
+	buf = window_copy_get_selection(wp, &len);
+	if (buf == NULL)
+		return;
+
+	window_copy_copy_buffer(wp, idx, buf, len);
 }
 
 void