diff --git a/book/src/editor.md b/book/src/editor.md
index b5a5608af..fa5aef47e 100644
--- a/book/src/editor.md
+++ b/book/src/editor.md
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 |--|--|---------|
 | `scrolloff` | Number of lines of padding around the edge of the screen when scrolling | `5` |
 | `mouse` | Enable mouse mode | `true` |
+| `default-yank-register` | Default register used for yank/paste | `"` |
 | `middle-click-paste` | Middle click paste support | `true` |
 | `scroll-lines` | Number of lines to scroll per scroll wheel step | `3` |
 | `shell` | Shell to use when running external commands | Unix: `["sh", "-c"]`<br/>Windows: `["cmd", "/C"]` |
diff --git a/helix-term/src/commands.rs b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
index 073413989..61855d356 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/commands.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
@@ -2735,7 +2735,9 @@ fn delete_selection_impl(cx: &mut Context, op: Operation, yank: YankAction) {
         // yank the selection
         let text = doc.text().slice(..);
         let values: Vec<String> = selection.fragments(text).map(Cow::into_owned).collect();
-        let reg_name = cx.register.unwrap_or('"');
+        let reg_name = cx
+            .register
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| cx.editor.config.load().default_yank_register);
         if let Err(err) = cx.editor.registers.write(reg_name, values) {
             cx.editor.set_error(err.to_string());
             return;
@@ -4221,7 +4223,11 @@ fn commit_undo_checkpoint(cx: &mut Context) {
 // Yank / Paste
 
 fn yank(cx: &mut Context) {
-    yank_impl(cx.editor, cx.register.unwrap_or('"'));
+    yank_impl(
+        cx.editor,
+        cx.register
+            .unwrap_or(cx.editor.config().default_yank_register),
+    );
     exit_select_mode(cx);
 }
 
@@ -4282,7 +4288,12 @@ fn yank_joined_impl(editor: &mut Editor, separator: &str, register: char) {
 
 fn yank_joined(cx: &mut Context) {
     let separator = doc!(cx.editor).line_ending.as_str();
-    yank_joined_impl(cx.editor, separator, cx.register.unwrap_or('"'));
+    yank_joined_impl(
+        cx.editor,
+        separator,
+        cx.register
+            .unwrap_or(cx.editor.config().default_yank_register),
+    );
     exit_select_mode(cx);
 }
 
@@ -4442,7 +4453,12 @@ fn paste_primary_clipboard_before(cx: &mut Context) {
 }
 
 fn replace_with_yanked(cx: &mut Context) {
-    replace_with_yanked_impl(cx.editor, cx.register.unwrap_or('"'), cx.count());
+    replace_with_yanked_impl(
+        cx.editor,
+        cx.register
+            .unwrap_or(cx.editor.config().default_yank_register),
+        cx.count(),
+    );
     exit_select_mode(cx);
 }
 
@@ -4505,7 +4521,8 @@ fn paste(editor: &mut Editor, register: char, pos: Paste, count: usize) {
 fn paste_after(cx: &mut Context) {
     paste(
         cx.editor,
-        cx.register.unwrap_or('"'),
+        cx.register
+            .unwrap_or(cx.editor.config().default_yank_register),
         Paste::After,
         cx.count(),
     );
@@ -4515,7 +4532,8 @@ fn paste_after(cx: &mut Context) {
 fn paste_before(cx: &mut Context) {
     paste(
         cx.editor,
-        cx.register.unwrap_or('"'),
+        cx.register
+            .unwrap_or(cx.editor.config().default_yank_register),
         Paste::Before,
         cx.count(),
     );
@@ -5369,7 +5387,8 @@ fn insert_register(cx: &mut Context) {
             cx.register = Some(ch);
             paste(
                 cx.editor,
-                cx.register.unwrap_or('"'),
+                cx.register
+                    .unwrap_or(cx.editor.config().default_yank_register),
                 Paste::Cursor,
                 cx.count(),
             );
diff --git a/helix-view/src/editor.rs b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
index 48d3bc365..9e1bee8e1 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/editor.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
@@ -270,6 +270,8 @@ pub struct Config {
     pub auto_completion: bool,
     /// Automatic formatting on save. Defaults to true.
     pub auto_format: bool,
+    /// Default register used for yank/paste. Defaults to '"'
+    pub default_yank_register: char,
     /// Automatic save on focus lost and/or after delay.
     /// Time delay in milliseconds since last edit after which auto save timer triggers.
     /// Time delay defaults to false with 3000ms delay. Focus lost defaults to false.
@@ -951,6 +953,7 @@ impl Default for Config {
             auto_pairs: AutoPairConfig::default(),
             auto_completion: true,
             auto_format: true,
+            default_yank_register: '"',
             auto_save: AutoSave::default(),
             idle_timeout: Duration::from_millis(250),
             completion_timeout: Duration::from_millis(250),