diff --git a/config.def.h b/config.def.h
index fd09d72..a43d7de 100644
--- a/config.def.h
+++ b/config.def.h
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ static int borderpx = 2;
 static char shell[] = "/bin/sh";
 static char *utmp = NULL;
 static char stty_args[] = "stty raw pass8 nl -echo -iexten -cstopb 38400";
+static int persistentclip = 1;
+static char clip[] = "xclip -selection clipboard";
 
 /* identification sequence returned in DA and DECID */
 static char vtiden[] = "\033[?6c";
diff --git a/st.c b/st.c
index 98622ec..805a04c 100644
--- a/st.c
+++ b/st.c
@@ -1164,14 +1164,30 @@ selpaste(const Arg *dummy)
 void
 clipcopy(const Arg *dummy)
 {
-	Atom clipboard;
 
 	if (sel.clipboard != NULL)
 		free(sel.clipboard);
 
-	if (sel.primary != NULL) {
+	if (sel.primary != NULL)
 		sel.clipboard = xstrdup(sel.primary);
-		clipboard = XInternAtom(xw.dpy, "CLIPBOARD", 0);
+	else
+		/* never clear the clipboard just because you <C-S-c> while
+		 * nothing was selected */
+		return;
+
+	if (persistentclip) {
+		/* TODO: Something cleaner. */
+		/* FIXME: Causes "Couldn't read from shell"s? */
+		FILE* clippipe = popen(clip, "w");
+		if (clippipe == NULL) {
+			perror("Couldn't start persistent clipboard");
+			return;
+		}
+		if (fputs(sel.clipboard, clippipe) < 0)
+			perror("Couldn't copy to persistent clipboard");
+		pclose(clippipe);
+	} else {
+		Atom clipboard = XInternAtom(xw.dpy, "CLIPBOARD", 0);
 		XSetSelectionOwner(xw.dpy, clipboard, xw.win, CurrentTime);
 	}
 }