diff --git a/src/Emulation.cpp b/src/Emulation.cpp
index 5473f9d0a..37e9d4ca7 100644
--- a/src/Emulation.cpp
+++ b/src/Emulation.cpp
@@ -92,6 +92,8 @@ ScreenWindow* Emulation::createWindow()
 
     connect(window , SIGNAL(selectionChanged()),
             this , SLOT(bufferedUpdate()));
+    connect(window, SIGNAL(selectionChanged()),
+            this, SLOT(checkSelectedText()));
 
     connect(this , SIGNAL(outputChanged()),
             window , SLOT(notifyOutputChanged()) );
@@ -104,6 +106,12 @@ void Emulation::checkScreenInUse()
     emit primaryScreenInUse( _currentScreen == _screen[0] );
 }
 
+void Emulation::checkSelectedText()
+{
+    QString text = _currentScreen->selectedText(true);
+    emit selectedText(text);
+}
+
 Emulation::~Emulation()
 {
     QListIterator<ScreenWindow*> windowIter(_windows);
@@ -129,6 +137,7 @@ void Emulation::setScreen(int n)
             window->setScreen(_currentScreen);
 
         checkScreenInUse();
+        checkSelectedText();
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/Emulation.h b/src/Emulation.h
index 7c22e843c..590ebf6cb 100644
--- a/src/Emulation.h
+++ b/src/Emulation.h
@@ -409,7 +409,13 @@ signals:
    * screen is in use.
    */
   void primaryScreenInUse(bool use);
+  
+  /**
+   * Emitted when the text selection is changed
+   */
+  void selectedText(const QString & text);
 
+  
 protected:
   virtual void setMode(int mode) = 0;
   virtual void resetMode(int mode) = 0;
@@ -464,6 +470,9 @@ protected slots:
 
   // used to emit the primaryScreenInUse(bool) signal
   void checkScreenInUse();
+  
+  // used to emit the selectedText(QString) signal
+  void checkSelectedText();
 
 private slots: 
 
diff --git a/src/Session.cpp b/src/Session.cpp
index 09f0e4a1a..dbc727482 100644
--- a/src/Session.cpp
+++ b/src/Session.cpp
@@ -142,6 +142,8 @@ Session::Session(QObject* parent) :
              SLOT(updateFlowControlState(bool)) );
     connect( _emulation, SIGNAL(primaryScreenInUse(bool)) , this,
              SLOT(onPrimaryScreenInUse(bool)) );
+    connect( _emulation, SIGNAL(selectedText(const QString &)) , this,
+             SLOT(onSelectedText(const QString &)) );
 
     //create new teletype for I/O with shell process
     openTeletype(-1);
@@ -621,6 +623,11 @@ void Session::onPrimaryScreenInUse(bool use)
     emit primaryScreenInUse(use);
 }
 
+void Session::onSelectedText(const QString & text)
+{
+    emit selectedText(text);
+}
+
 void Session::activityStateSet(int state)
 {
     if (state == NOTIFYBELL)
diff --git a/src/Session.h b/src/Session.h
index ea2702ecf..8c2fb8565 100644
--- a/src/Session.h
+++ b/src/Session.h
@@ -585,6 +585,15 @@ signals:
   */
   void primaryScreenInUse( bool use);
 
+ /**
+  * Emitted when the text selection is changed.
+  *
+  * This signal serves as a relayer of Emulation::selectedText(QString),
+  * making it usable for higher level component.
+  */
+  void selectedText(const QString & text);
+
+
 private slots:
   void done(int, QProcess::ExitStatus);
 
@@ -611,6 +620,9 @@ private slots:
   // signal relayer
   void onPrimaryScreenInUse(bool use);
 
+  // signal relayer
+  void onSelectedText(const QString & text);
+
 private:
 
   void updateTerminalSize();
diff --git a/src/SessionController.cpp b/src/SessionController.cpp
index f54892556..2f2b24fb8 100644
--- a/src/SessionController.cpp
+++ b/src/SessionController.cpp
@@ -303,6 +303,15 @@ void SessionController::setupPrimaryScreenSpecificActions( bool use)
     resetAction->setEnabled(use);
 }
 
+void SessionController::updateCopyAction( const QString & text )
+{
+    KActionCollection * collection = actionCollection() ;
+    QAction * copyAction = collection->action("edit_copy");
+
+    // copy action is meaningful only when some text is selcted.
+    copyAction->setEnabled(!text.isEmpty());
+}
+
 bool SessionController::eventFilter(QObject* watched , QEvent* event)
 {
     if ( watched == _view )
@@ -424,6 +433,8 @@ void SessionController::setupActions()
     // Copy and Paste
     action = KStandardAction::copy(this, SLOT(copy()), collection);
     action->setShortcut(QKeySequence(Qt::CTRL + Qt::SHIFT + Qt::Key_C));
+    // disabled at first, since nothing has been selected now
+    action->setEnabled(false);
 
     action = KStandardAction::paste(this, SLOT(paste()), collection);
     KShortcut pasteShortcut = action->shortcut();
diff --git a/src/SessionController.h b/src/SessionController.h
index 6cc492f72..aa4303e60 100644
--- a/src/SessionController.h
+++ b/src/SessionController.h
@@ -162,6 +162,13 @@ public slots:
      * update actions which are meaningful only when rimary screen is in use.
      */
     void setupPrimaryScreenSpecificActions( bool use);
+    
+    /**
+     * enable or disable the copy action
+     */
+    void updateCopyAction( const QString & text );
+
+
 
 private slots:
     // menu item handlers
diff --git a/src/ViewManager.cpp b/src/ViewManager.cpp
index 9e61f193b..0395d8882 100644
--- a/src/ViewManager.cpp
+++ b/src/ViewManager.cpp
@@ -522,6 +522,8 @@ SessionController* ViewManager::createController(Session* session , TerminalDisp
     connect( session , SIGNAL(destroyed()) , controller , SLOT(deleteLater()) );
     connect( session , SIGNAL(primaryScreenInUse(bool)) ,
              controller , SLOT(setupPrimaryScreenSpecificActions(bool)) );
+    connect( session , SIGNAL(selectedText(QString)) ,
+             controller , SLOT(updateCopyAction(QString)) );
     connect( view , SIGNAL(destroyed()) , controller , SLOT(deleteLater()) );
 
     // if this is the first controller created then set it as the active controller