diff --git a/src/view/kateview.cpp b/src/view/kateview.cpp
--- a/src/view/kateview.cpp
+++ b/src/view/kateview.cpp
@@ -2318,14 +2318,16 @@
 
 void KTextEditor::ViewPrivate::copy() const
 {
-    QString text = selectionText();
+    QString text;
 
     if (!selection()) {
         if (!m_config->smartCopyCut()) {
             return;
         }
         text = m_doc->line(m_viewInternal->m_cursor.line()) + QLatin1Char('\n');
         m_viewInternal->moveEdge(KateViewInternal::left, false);
+    } else {
+        text = selectionText();
     }
 
     // copy to clipboard and our history!