diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor_ops.cc b/gtk2_ardour/editor_ops.cc
index de78a0c8ff..11db3b4006 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor_ops.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor_ops.cc
@@ -2715,7 +2715,26 @@ Editor::cut_copy_section (bool copy)
 	if (!get_selection_extents (start, end) || !_session) {
 		return;
 	}
-	_session->cut_copy_section (start, end, get_preferred_edit_position(), copy);
+	timepos_t to (get_preferred_edit_position ());
+	_session->cut_copy_section (start, end, to, copy);
+
+	timepos_t to_end (to + start.distance (end));
+
+	switch (UIConfiguration::instance().get_after_section_op ()) {
+		case SectionSelectNoop:
+			return;
+		case SectionSelectClear:
+			selection->clear ();
+			break;
+		case SectionSelectRetainAndMovePlayhead:
+			_session->request_locate (copy ? to_end.samples (): to.samples ());
+			/* fallthough */
+		case SectionSelectRetain:
+			if (!copy || to < end) {
+				selection->set (to, to_end);
+			}
+			break;
+	}
 }
 
 /* BUILT-IN EFFECTS */
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ui_config_vars.h b/gtk2_ardour/ui_config_vars.h
index 8013bdccc5..768033d9bc 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ui_config_vars.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ui_config_vars.h
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ UI_CONFIG_VARIABLE (ARDOUR::ClockDeltaMode, secondary_clock_delta_mode, "seconda
 UI_CONFIG_VARIABLE (ARDOUR::samplecnt_t, clock_display_limit, "clock-display-limit", 359999) /* seconds; default 99h, 0 = unlimited */
 UI_CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, show_track_meters, "show-track-meters", true)
 UI_CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, follow_edits, "follow-edits", false)
+UI_CONFIG_VARIABLE (ARDOUR::TimeSelectionAfterSectionPaste, after_section_op, "after-section-op", ARDOUR::SectionSelectRetainAndMovePlayhead)
 UI_CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, super_rapid_clock_update, "super-rapid-clock-update", false)
 UI_CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, autoscroll_editor, "autoscroll-editor", true)
 UI_CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, link_region_and_track_selection, "link-region-and-track-selection", false)  // DEPRECATED