Index: src/Main.cpp
===================================================================
--- src/Main.cpp
+++ src/Main.cpp
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@
         {{QStringLiteral("n"), QStringLiteral("nonotify")},          i18n("In background mode, do not pop up a notification when the screenshot is taken")},
         {{QStringLiteral("o"), QStringLiteral("output")},            i18n("In background mode, save image to specified file"), QStringLiteral("fileName")},
         {{QStringLiteral("d"), QStringLiteral("delay")},             i18n("In background mode, delay before taking the shot (in milliseconds)"), QStringLiteral("delayMsec")},
+        {{QStringLiteral("c"), QStringLiteral("clipboard")},         i18n("In background mode, copy screenshot to clipboard")},
         {{QStringLiteral("w"), QStringLiteral("onclick")},           i18n("Wait for a click before taking screenshot. Invalidates delay")}
     });
 
@@ -93,6 +94,7 @@
 
     SpectacleCore::StartMode startMode = SpectacleCore::GuiMode;
     bool notify = true;
+    bool copyToClipboard = false;
     qint64 delayMsec = 0;
     QString fileName = QString();
 
@@ -124,6 +126,10 @@
             delayMsec = -1;
         }
 
+        if (parser.isSet(QStringLiteral("clipboard"))) {
+                copyToClipboard = true;
+        }
+
         app.setQuitOnLastWindowClosed(false);
         break;
 
@@ -137,7 +143,7 @@
 
     // release the kraken
 
-    SpectacleCore core(startMode, grabMode, fileName, delayMsec, notify);
+    SpectacleCore core(startMode, grabMode, fileName, delayMsec, notify, copyToClipboard);
     QObject::connect(&core, &SpectacleCore::allDone, qApp, &QApplication::quit);
 
     // create the dbus connections
Index: src/SpectacleCore.h
===================================================================
--- src/SpectacleCore.h
+++ src/SpectacleCore.h
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
     };
 
     explicit SpectacleCore(StartMode startMode, ImageGrabber::GrabMode grabMode, QString &saveFileName,
-                    qint64 delayMsec, bool notifyOnGrab, QObject *parent = nullptr);
+                    qint64 delayMsec, bool notifyOnGrab, bool copyToClipboard, QObject *parent = nullptr);
     ~SpectacleCore();
 
     QString filename() const;
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@
     ImageGrabber *mImageGrabber;
     KSMainWindow *mMainWindow;
     bool          isGuiInited;
+    bool          mClipboard;
 };
 
 #endif // KSCORE_H
Index: src/SpectacleCore.cpp
===================================================================
--- src/SpectacleCore.cpp
+++ src/SpectacleCore.cpp
@@ -42,14 +42,15 @@
 #include <QTimer>
 
 SpectacleCore::SpectacleCore(StartMode startMode, ImageGrabber::GrabMode grabMode, QString &saveFileName,
-               qint64 delayMsec, bool notifyOnGrab, QObject *parent) :
+               qint64 delayMsec, bool notifyOnGrab, bool copyToClipboard, QObject *parent) :
     QObject(parent),
     mExportManager(ExportManager::instance()),
     mStartMode(startMode),
     mNotify(notifyOnGrab),
     mImageGrabber(nullptr),
     mMainWindow(nullptr),
-    isGuiInited(false)
+    isGuiInited(false),
+    mClipboard(copyToClipboard)
 {
     KSharedConfigPtr config = KSharedConfig::openConfig(QStringLiteral("spectaclerc"));
     KConfigGroup guiConfig(config, "GuiConfig");
@@ -217,9 +218,13 @@
                 connect(mExportManager, &ExportManager::imageSaved, this, &SpectacleCore::doNotify);
             }
 
-            QUrl savePath = (mStartMode == BackgroundMode && mFileNameUrl.isValid() && mFileNameUrl.isLocalFile()) ?
+            if (mClipboard) {
+                mExportManager->doCopyToClipboard();
+            } else {
+                QUrl savePath = (mStartMode == BackgroundMode && mFileNameUrl.isValid() && mFileNameUrl.isLocalFile()) ?
                     mFileNameUrl : QUrl();
-            mExportManager->doSave(savePath);
+                mExportManager->doSave(savePath);
+	    }
 
             // if we notify, we emit allDone only if the user either dismissed the notification or pressed
             // the "Open" button, otherwise the app closes before it can react to it.