diff --git a/src/core/pastehelper.cpp b/src/core/pastehelper.cpp
--- a/src/core/pastehelper.cpp
+++ b/src/core/pastehelper.cpp
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@
     }
 }
 
-bool PasteHelper::canPaste(const QMimeData *mimeData, const Collection &collection)
+bool PasteHelper::canPaste(const QMimeData *mimeData, const Collection &collection, Qt::DropAction action)
 {
     if (!mimeData || !collection.isValid()) {
         return false;
@@ -230,7 +230,11 @@
         for (const QUrl &url : urls) {
             const QUrlQuery query(url);
             if (query.hasQueryItem(QStringLiteral("item"))) {
-                neededRights |= Collection::CanCreateItem;
+                if (action == Qt::LinkAction) {
+                    neededRights |= Collection::CanLinkItem;
+                } else {
+                    neededRights |= Collection::CanCreateItem;
+                }
             } else if (query.hasQueryItem(QStringLiteral("collection"))) {
                 neededRights |= Collection::CanCreateCollection;
             }
@@ -267,9 +271,9 @@
     return false;
 }
 
-KJob *PasteHelper::paste(const QMimeData *mimeData, const Collection &collection, bool copy, Session *session)
+KJob *PasteHelper::paste(const QMimeData *mimeData, const Collection &collection, Qt::DropAction action, Session *session)
 {
-    if (!canPaste(mimeData, collection)) {
+    if (!canPaste(mimeData, collection, action)) {
         return nullptr;
     }
 
@@ -300,16 +304,16 @@
     }
 
     // data contains an url list
-    return pasteUriList(mimeData, collection, copy ? Qt::CopyAction : Qt::MoveAction, session);
+    return pasteUriList(mimeData, collection, action, session);
 }
 
 KJob *PasteHelper::pasteUriList(const QMimeData *mimeData, const Collection &destination, Qt::DropAction action, Session *session)
 {
     if (!mimeData->hasUrls()) {
         return nullptr;
     }
 
-    if (!canPaste(mimeData, destination)) {
+    if (!canPaste(mimeData, destination, action)) {
         return nullptr;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/core/pastehelper_p.h b/src/core/pastehelper_p.h
--- a/src/core/pastehelper_p.h
+++ b/src/core/pastehelper_p.h
@@ -45,17 +45,18 @@
   Check whether the given mime data can be pasted into the given collection.
   @param mimeData The pasted/dropped data.
   @param collection The collection to paste/drop into.
+  @param action Indicate whether this is a copy, a move or link.
 */
-AKONADICORE_EXPORT bool canPaste(const QMimeData *mimeData, const Collection &collection);
+AKONADICORE_EXPORT bool canPaste(const QMimeData *mimeData, const Collection &collection, Qt::DropAction action);
 
 /**
   Paste/drop the given mime data into the given collection.
   @param mimeData The pasted/dropped data.
   @param collection The target collection.
-  @param copy Indicate whether this is a copy or a move.
+  @param action Indicate whether this is a copy, a move or link.
   @returns The job performing the paste, 0 if there is nothing to paste.
 */
-AKONADICORE_EXPORT KJob *paste(const QMimeData *mimeData, const Collection &collection, bool copy = true, Session *session = nullptr);
+AKONADICORE_EXPORT KJob *paste(const QMimeData *mimeData, const Collection &collection, Qt::DropAction action, Session *session = nullptr);
 
 /**
   URI list paste/drop.
diff --git a/src/widgets/actionstatemanager.cpp b/src/widgets/actionstatemanager.cpp
--- a/src/widgets/actionstatemanager.cpp
+++ b/src/widgets/actionstatemanager.cpp
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@
                  collectionsAreFolders);  // it must be a valid folder collection
 #ifndef QT_NO_CLIPBOARD
     enableAction(StandardActionManager::Paste, singleCollectionSelected &&  // we can paste only into a single collection
-                 PasteHelper::canPaste(QApplication::clipboard()->mimeData(), collection));    // there must be data on the clipboard
+                 PasteHelper::canPaste(QApplication::clipboard()->mimeData(), collection, Qt::CopyAction));    // there must be data on the clipboard
 #else
     enableAction(StandardActionManager::Paste, false);   // no support for clipboard -> no paste
 #endif