diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor.cc b/gtk2_ardour/editor.cc
index 724f2dc5d7..43c418d4e4 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor.cc
@@ -303,6 +303,7 @@ Editor::Editor ()
 	, meters_running(false)
 	, _pending_locate_request (false)
 	, _pending_initial_locate (false)
+	, _last_cut_copy_source_track (0)
 {
 	constructed = false;
 
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor.h b/gtk2_ardour/editor.h
index 65395920f1..dd4679012a 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor.h
@@ -2044,6 +2044,11 @@ class Editor : public PublicEditor, public PBD::ScopedConnectionList, public ARD
         RegionLayeringOrderEditor* layering_order_editor;
         void update_region_layering_order_editor (ARDOUR::framepos_t);
 
+	/** Track that was the source for the last cut/copy operation.  Used as a place
+	    to paste things iff there is no selected track.
+	*/
+	TimeAxisView* _last_cut_copy_source_track;
+
 	friend class Drag;
 	friend class RegionDrag;
 	friend class RegionMoveDrag;
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor_ops.cc b/gtk2_ardour/editor_ops.cc
index 9f2f29b6d5..12ebeacdd8 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor_ops.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor_ops.cc
@@ -4213,10 +4213,15 @@ Editor::cut_copy_regions (CutCopyOp op, RegionSelection& rs)
 		foo.push_back ((*i).pl);
 	}
 
-
 	if (!foo.empty()) {
 		cut_buffer->set (foo);
 	}
+
+	if (pmap.empty()) {
+		_last_cut_copy_source_track = 0;
+	} else {
+		_last_cut_copy_source_track = pmap.front().tv;
+	}
         
 	for (FreezeList::iterator pl = freezelist.begin(); pl != freezelist.end(); ++pl) {
 		(*pl)->thaw ();
@@ -4293,10 +4298,14 @@ Editor::paste_internal (nframes64_t position, float times)
 	/* get everything in the correct order */
 
 	if (!selection->tracks.empty()) {
+		/* there are some selected tracks, so paste to them */
 		sort_track_selection ();
 		ts = selection->tracks;
-	} else if (entered_track) {
-		ts.push_back (entered_track);
+	} else if (_last_cut_copy_source_track) {
+		/* otherwise paste to the track that the cut/copy came from;
+		   see discussion in mants #3333.
+		*/
+		ts.push_back (_last_cut_copy_source_track);
 	}
 
 	for (nth = 0, i = ts.begin(); i != ts.end(); ++i, ++nth) {