diff --git a/helix-term/src/application.rs b/helix-term/src/application.rs
index bd6b5a870..8b9348bf5 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/application.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/application.rs
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ use crate::{
     handlers,
     job::Jobs,
     keymap::Keymaps,
+    session,
     ui::{self, overlay::overlaid},
 };
 
@@ -148,6 +149,14 @@ impl Application {
             handlers,
         );
 
+        // TODO: do most of this in the background?
+        #[cfg(not(feature = "integration"))]
+        editor
+            .registers
+            .write_unreversed(':', session::read_command_history())
+            // TODO: do something about this unwrap
+            .unwrap();
+
         let keys = Box::new(Map::new(Arc::clone(&config), |config: &Config| {
             &config.keys
         }));
diff --git a/helix-term/src/session.rs b/helix-term/src/session.rs
index 0b06c6266..1019b6a9f 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/session.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/session.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 use helix_loader::command_histfile;
-use std::{fs::OpenOptions, io::Write};
+use std::{
+    fs::{File, OpenOptions},
+    io::{self, BufRead, BufReader, Lines, Write},
+    path::PathBuf,
+};
 
 pub fn push_history(register: char, line: &str) {
     let filepath = match register {
@@ -17,3 +21,15 @@ pub fn push_history(register: char, line: &str) {
     // TODO: do something about this unwrap
     writeln!(file, "{}", line).unwrap();
 }
+
+fn read_histfile(filepath: PathBuf) -> Lines<BufReader<File>> {
+    // TODO: do something about this unwrap
+    BufReader::new(File::open(filepath).unwrap()).lines()
+}
+
+pub fn read_command_history() -> Vec<String> {
+    read_histfile(command_histfile())
+        .collect::<io::Result<Vec<String>>>()
+        // TODO: do something about this unwrap
+        .unwrap()
+}
diff --git a/helix-view/src/register.rs b/helix-view/src/register.rs
index 3a2e1b7cc..0c2b5d4d6 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/register.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/register.rs
@@ -104,6 +104,29 @@ impl Registers {
         }
     }
 
+    pub fn write_unreversed(&mut self, name: char, values: Vec<String>) -> Result<()> {
+        match name {
+            '_' => Ok(()),
+            '#' | '.' | '%' => Err(anyhow::anyhow!("Register {name} does not support writing")),
+            '*' | '+' => {
+                self.clipboard_provider.set_contents(
+                    values.join(NATIVE_LINE_ENDING.as_str()),
+                    match name {
+                        '+' => ClipboardType::Clipboard,
+                        '*' => ClipboardType::Selection,
+                        _ => unreachable!(),
+                    },
+                )?;
+                self.inner.insert(name, values);
+                Ok(())
+            }
+            _ => {
+                self.inner.insert(name, values);
+                Ok(())
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn push(&mut self, name: char, mut value: String) -> Result<()> {
         match name {
             '_' => Ok(()),