diff --git a/format.c b/format.c
index 6d11a39b..ac996f6e 100644
--- a/format.c
+++ b/format.c
@@ -1389,7 +1389,7 @@ format_defaults_pane(struct format_tree *ft, struct window_pane *wp)
 {
 	struct grid	*gd = wp->base.grid;
 	u_int		 idx;
-	int  		 status, scroll_position;
+	int  		 status;
 
 	if (ft->w == NULL)
 		ft->w = wp->window;
@@ -1447,9 +1447,7 @@ format_defaults_pane(struct format_tree *ft, struct window_pane *wp)
 	format_add(ft, "scroll_region_upper", "%u", wp->base.rupper);
 	format_add(ft, "scroll_region_lower", "%u", wp->base.rlower);
 
-	scroll_position = window_copy_scroll_position(wp);
-	if (scroll_position != -1)
-		format_add(ft, "scroll_position", "%d", scroll_position);
+	window_copy_add_formats(wp, ft);
 
 	format_add(ft, "alternate_on", "%d", wp->saved_grid ? 1 : 0);
 	format_add(ft, "alternate_saved_x", "%u", wp->saved_cx);
diff --git a/tmux.1 b/tmux.1
index e882272d..e7e05b97 100644
--- a/tmux.1
+++ b/tmux.1
@@ -3644,6 +3644,7 @@ The following variables are available, where appropriate:
 .It Li "scroll_region_lower" Ta "" Ta "Bottom of scroll region in pane"
 .It Li "scroll_region_upper" Ta "" Ta "Top of scroll region in pane"
 .It Li "scroll_position" Ta "" Ta "Scroll position in copy mode"
+.It Li "selection_present" Ta "" Ta "1 if selection started in copy mode"
 .It Li "session_alerts" Ta "" Ta "List of window indexes with alerts"
 .It Li "session_attached" Ta "" Ta "Number of clients session is attached to"
 .It Li "session_activity" Ta "" Ta "Integer time of session last activity"
diff --git a/tmux.h b/tmux.h
index f69ea33d..2ce80843 100644
--- a/tmux.h
+++ b/tmux.h
@@ -2261,7 +2261,8 @@ void printflike(2, 3) window_copy_add(struct window_pane *, const char *, ...);
 void		 window_copy_vadd(struct window_pane *, const char *, va_list);
 void		 window_copy_pageup(struct window_pane *, int);
 void		 window_copy_start_drag(struct client *, struct mouse_event *);
-int		 window_copy_scroll_position(struct window_pane *);
+void		 window_copy_add_formats(struct window_pane *,
+		     struct format_tree *);
 
 /* names.c */
 void	 check_window_name(struct window *);
diff --git a/window-copy.c b/window-copy.c
index 3ad6084f..6502cccf 100644
--- a/window-copy.c
+++ b/window-copy.c
@@ -2407,14 +2407,17 @@ window_copy_scroll_down(struct window_pane *wp, u_int ny)
 	screen_write_stop(&ctx);
 }
 
-int
-window_copy_scroll_position(struct window_pane *wp)
+void
+window_copy_add_formats(struct window_pane *wp, struct format_tree *ft)
 {
 	struct window_copy_mode_data	*data = wp->modedata;
+	struct screen			*s = &data->screen;
 
 	if (wp->mode != &window_copy_mode)
-		return (-1);
-	return (data->oy);
+		return;
+
+	format_add(ft, "selection_present", "%d", s->sel.flag);
+	format_add(ft, "scroll_position", "%d", data->oy);
 }
 
 static void