diff --git a/demon.go b/demon.go
index 88c3c62..171649a 100644
--- a/demon.go
+++ b/demon.go
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ func listen(history []string, histfile string, persist bool, max int) error {
 		if persist {
 			// make the copy buffer available to all applications,
 			// even when the source has disappeared
-			if err := exec.Command("wl-copy", text).Run(); err != nil {
+			if err := exec.Command("wl-copy", []string{"--", text}...).Run(); err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("error running wl-copy (demon.91): %s", err)
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/selector.go b/selector.go
index eaa6d4f..9c1fc4c 100644
--- a/selector.go
+++ b/selector.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ func selector(history []string, max int) error {
 	}
 
 	// serve selection to the OS
-	if err := exec.Command("wl-copy", selected).Run(); err != nil {
+	if err := exec.Command("wl-copy", []string{"--", selected}...).Run(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}