diff --git a/helix-core/src/lib.rs b/helix-core/src/lib.rs
index e1b5a1a1..9a512eae 100644
--- a/helix-core/src/lib.rs
+++ b/helix-core/src/lib.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ pub mod movement;
 pub mod object;
 pub mod path;
 mod position;
-pub mod register;
 pub mod search;
 pub mod selection;
 pub mod shellwords;
diff --git a/helix-core/src/register.rs b/helix-core/src/register.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index df68a759..00000000
--- a/helix-core/src/register.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,89 +0,0 @@
-use std::collections::HashMap;
-
-#[derive(Debug)]
-pub struct Register {
-    name: char,
-    values: Vec<String>,
-}
-
-impl Register {
-    pub const fn new(name: char) -> Self {
-        Self {
-            name,
-            values: Vec::new(),
-        }
-    }
-
-    pub fn new_with_values(name: char, values: Vec<String>) -> Self {
-        Self { name, values }
-    }
-
-    pub const fn name(&self) -> char {
-        self.name
-    }
-
-    pub fn read(&self) -> &[String] {
-        &self.values
-    }
-
-    pub fn write(&mut self, values: Vec<String>) {
-        self.values = values;
-    }
-
-    pub fn push(&mut self, value: String) {
-        self.values.push(value);
-    }
-}
-
-/// Currently just wraps a `HashMap` of `Register`s
-#[derive(Debug, Default)]
-pub struct Registers {
-    inner: HashMap<char, Register>,
-}
-
-impl Registers {
-    pub fn get(&self, name: char) -> Option<&Register> {
-        self.inner.get(&name)
-    }
-
-    pub fn read(&self, name: char) -> Option<&[String]> {
-        self.get(name).map(|reg| reg.read())
-    }
-
-    pub fn write(&mut self, name: char, values: Vec<String>) {
-        if name != '_' {
-            self.inner
-                .insert(name, Register::new_with_values(name, values));
-        }
-    }
-
-    pub fn push(&mut self, name: char, value: String) {
-        if name != '_' {
-            if let Some(r) = self.inner.get_mut(&name) {
-                r.push(value);
-            } else {
-                self.write(name, vec![value]);
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    pub fn first(&self, name: char) -> Option<&String> {
-        self.read(name).and_then(|entries| entries.first())
-    }
-
-    pub fn last(&self, name: char) -> Option<&String> {
-        self.read(name).and_then(|entries| entries.last())
-    }
-
-    pub fn inner(&self) -> &HashMap<char, Register> {
-        &self.inner
-    }
-
-    pub fn clear(&mut self) {
-        self.inner.clear();
-    }
-
-    pub fn remove(&mut self, name: char) -> Option<Register> {
-        self.inner.remove(&name)
-    }
-}
diff --git a/helix-term/src/commands.rs b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
index 58c17296..d9ea580d 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/commands.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
@@ -1847,11 +1847,11 @@ fn search_impl(
 
 fn search_completions(cx: &mut Context, reg: Option<char>) -> Vec<String> {
     let mut items = reg
-        .and_then(|reg| cx.editor.registers.get(reg))
-        .map_or(Vec::new(), |reg| reg.read().iter().take(200).collect());
+        .and_then(|reg| cx.editor.registers.read(reg, cx.editor))
+        .map_or(Vec::new(), |reg| reg.take(200).collect());
     items.sort_unstable();
     items.dedup();
-    items.into_iter().cloned().collect()
+    items.into_iter().map(|value| value.to_string()).collect()
 }
 
 fn search(cx: &mut Context) {
@@ -1910,9 +1910,8 @@ fn search_next_or_prev_impl(cx: &mut Context, movement: Movement, direction: Dir
     let count = cx.count();
     let config = cx.editor.config();
     let scrolloff = config.scrolloff;
-    let (_, doc) = current!(cx.editor);
-    let registers = &cx.editor.registers;
-    if let Some(query) = registers.read('/').and_then(|query| query.last()) {
+    if let Some(query) = cx.editor.registers.last('/', cx.editor) {
+        let doc = doc!(cx.editor);
         let contents = doc.text().slice(..).to_string();
         let search_config = &config.search;
         let case_insensitive = if search_config.smart_case {
@@ -1921,7 +1920,7 @@ fn search_next_or_prev_impl(cx: &mut Context, movement: Movement, direction: Dir
             false
         };
         let wrap_around = search_config.wrap_around;
-        if let Ok(regex) = RegexBuilder::new(query)
+        if let Ok(regex) = RegexBuilder::new(&query)
             .case_insensitive(case_insensitive)
             .multi_line(true)
             .build()
@@ -1974,12 +1973,14 @@ fn search_selection(cx: &mut Context) {
         .join("|");
 
     let msg = format!("register '{}' set to '{}'", '/', &regex);
-    cx.editor.registers.push('/', regex);
-    cx.editor.set_status(msg);
+    match cx.editor.registers.push('/', regex) {
+        Ok(_) => cx.editor.set_status(msg),
+        Err(err) => cx.editor.set_error(err.to_string()),
+    }
 }
 
 fn make_search_word_bounded(cx: &mut Context) {
-    let regex = match cx.editor.registers.last('/') {
+    let regex = match cx.editor.registers.last('/', cx.editor) {
         Some(regex) => regex,
         None => return,
     };
@@ -1997,14 +1998,16 @@ fn make_search_word_bounded(cx: &mut Context) {
     if !start_anchored {
         new_regex.push_str("\\b");
     }
-    new_regex.push_str(regex);
+    new_regex.push_str(&regex);
     if !end_anchored {
         new_regex.push_str("\\b");
     }
 
     let msg = format!("register '{}' set to '{}'", '/', &new_regex);
-    cx.editor.registers.push('/', new_regex);
-    cx.editor.set_status(msg);
+    match cx.editor.registers.push('/', new_regex) {
+        Ok(_) => cx.editor.set_status(msg),
+        Err(err) => cx.editor.set_error(err.to_string()),
+    }
 }
 
 fn global_search(cx: &mut Context) {
@@ -2367,7 +2370,10 @@ fn delete_selection_impl(cx: &mut Context, op: Operation) {
         let text = doc.text().slice(..);
         let values: Vec<String> = selection.fragments(text).map(Cow::into_owned).collect();
         let reg_name = cx.register.unwrap_or('"');
-        cx.editor.registers.write(reg_name, values);
+        if let Err(err) = cx.editor.registers.write(reg_name, values) {
+            cx.editor.set_error(err.to_string());
+            return;
+        }
     };
 
     // then delete
@@ -3758,18 +3764,16 @@ fn yank(cx: &mut Context) {
         .fragments(text)
         .map(Cow::into_owned)
         .collect();
+    let selections = values.len();
+    let register = cx.register.unwrap_or('"');
 
-    let msg = format!(
-        "yanked {} selection(s) to register {}",
-        values.len(),
-        cx.register.unwrap_or('"')
-    );
-
-    cx.editor
-        .registers
-        .write(cx.register.unwrap_or('"'), values);
+    match cx.editor.registers.write(register, values) {
+        Ok(_) => cx.editor.set_status(format!(
+            "yanked {selections} selection(s) to register {register}",
+        )),
+        Err(err) => cx.editor.set_error(err.to_string()),
+    }
 
-    cx.editor.set_status(msg);
     exit_select_mode(cx);
 }
 
@@ -3778,6 +3782,7 @@ fn yank_joined_impl(editor: &mut Editor, separator: &str, register: char) {
     let text = doc.text().slice(..);
 
     let selection = doc.selection(view.id);
+    let selections = selection.len();
     let joined = selection
         .fragments(text)
         .fold(String::new(), |mut acc, fragment| {
@@ -3788,14 +3793,12 @@ fn yank_joined_impl(editor: &mut Editor, separator: &str, register: char) {
             acc
         });
 
-    let msg = format!(
-        "joined and yanked {} selection(s) to register {}",
-        selection.len(),
-        register,
-    );
-
-    editor.registers.write(register, vec![joined]);
-    editor.set_status(msg);
+    match editor.registers.write(register, vec![joined]) {
+        Ok(_) => editor.set_status(format!(
+            "joined and yanked {selections} selection(s) to register {register}",
+        )),
+        Err(err) => editor.set_error(err.to_string()),
+    }
 }
 
 fn yank_joined(cx: &mut Context) {
@@ -4040,34 +4043,34 @@ fn paste_primary_clipboard_before(cx: &mut Context) {
 fn replace_with_yanked(cx: &mut Context) {
     let count = cx.count();
     let reg_name = cx.register.unwrap_or('"');
-    let (view, doc) = current!(cx.editor);
-    let registers = &mut cx.editor.registers;
-
-    if let Some(values) = registers.read(reg_name) {
-        if !values.is_empty() {
-            let repeat = std::iter::repeat(
-                values
-                    .last()
-                    .map(|value| Tendril::from(&value.repeat(count)))
-                    .unwrap(),
-            );
-            let mut values = values
-                .iter()
-                .map(|value| Tendril::from(&value.repeat(count)))
-                .chain(repeat);
-            let selection = doc.selection(view.id);
-            let transaction = Transaction::change_by_selection(doc.text(), selection, |range| {
-                if !range.is_empty() {
-                    (range.from(), range.to(), Some(values.next().unwrap()))
-                } else {
-                    (range.from(), range.to(), None)
-                }
-            });
 
-            doc.apply(&transaction, view.id);
-            exit_select_mode(cx);
+    let Some(values) = cx.editor.registers
+        .read(reg_name, cx.editor)
+        .filter(|values| values.len() > 0) else { return };
+    let values: Vec<_> = values.map(|value| value.to_string()).collect();
+
+    let (view, doc) = current!(cx.editor);
+    let repeat = std::iter::repeat(
+        values
+            .last()
+            .map(|value| Tendril::from(&value.repeat(count)))
+            .unwrap(),
+    );
+    let mut values = values
+        .iter()
+        .map(|value| Tendril::from(&value.repeat(count)))
+        .chain(repeat);
+    let selection = doc.selection(view.id);
+    let transaction = Transaction::change_by_selection(doc.text(), selection, |range| {
+        if !range.is_empty() {
+            (range.from(), range.to(), Some(values.next().unwrap()))
+        } else {
+            (range.from(), range.to(), None)
         }
-    }
+    });
+
+    doc.apply(&transaction, view.id);
+    exit_select_mode(cx);
 }
 
 fn replace_selections_with_clipboard_impl(
@@ -4109,12 +4112,12 @@ fn replace_selections_with_primary_clipboard(cx: &mut Context) {
 fn paste(cx: &mut Context, pos: Paste) {
     let count = cx.count();
     let reg_name = cx.register.unwrap_or('"');
-    let (view, doc) = current!(cx.editor);
-    let registers = &mut cx.editor.registers;
 
-    if let Some(values) = registers.read(reg_name) {
-        paste_impl(values, doc, view, pos, count, cx.editor.mode);
-    }
+    let Some(values) = cx.editor.registers.read(reg_name, cx.editor) else { return };
+    let values: Vec<_> = values.map(|value| value.to_string()).collect();
+
+    let (view, doc) = current!(cx.editor);
+    paste_impl(&values, doc, view, pos, count, cx.editor.mode);
 }
 
 fn paste_after(cx: &mut Context) {
@@ -5593,9 +5596,12 @@ fn record_macro(cx: &mut Context) {
                 }
             })
             .collect::<String>();
-        cx.editor.registers.write(reg, vec![s]);
-        cx.editor
-            .set_status(format!("Recorded to register [{}]", reg));
+        match cx.editor.registers.write(reg, vec![s]) {
+            Ok(_) => cx
+                .editor
+                .set_status(format!("Recorded to register [{}]", reg)),
+            Err(err) => cx.editor.set_error(err.to_string()),
+        }
     } else {
         let reg = cx.register.take().unwrap_or('@');
         cx.editor.macro_recording = Some((reg, Vec::new()));
@@ -5615,8 +5621,14 @@ fn replay_macro(cx: &mut Context) {
         return;
     }
 
-    let keys: Vec<KeyEvent> = if let Some([keys_str]) = cx.editor.registers.read(reg) {
-        match helix_view::input::parse_macro(keys_str) {
+    let keys: Vec<KeyEvent> = if let Some(keys) = cx
+        .editor
+        .registers
+        .read(reg, cx.editor)
+        .filter(|values| values.len() == 1)
+        .map(|mut values| values.next().unwrap())
+    {
+        match helix_view::input::parse_macro(&keys) {
             Ok(keys) => keys,
             Err(err) => {
                 cx.editor.set_error(format!("Invalid macro: {}", err));
diff --git a/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs b/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs
index 175f8bc6..28759b3f 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs
@@ -2285,13 +2285,12 @@ fn clear_register(
         format!("Invalid register {}", args[0])
     );
     let register = args[0].chars().next().unwrap_or_default();
-    match cx.editor.registers.remove(register) {
-        Some(_) => cx
-            .editor
-            .set_status(format!("Register {} cleared", register)),
-        None => cx
-            .editor
-            .set_error(format!("Register {} not found", register)),
+    if cx.editor.registers.remove(register) {
+        cx.editor
+            .set_status(format!("Register {} cleared", register));
+    } else {
+        cx.editor
+            .set_error(format!("Register {} not found", register));
     }
     Ok(())
 }
diff --git a/helix-term/src/ui/prompt.rs b/helix-term/src/ui/prompt.rs
index 1352f493..8dc2906a 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/ui/prompt.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/ui/prompt.rs
@@ -306,8 +306,8 @@ impl Prompt {
         direction: CompletionDirection,
     ) {
         (self.callback_fn)(cx, &self.line, PromptEvent::Abort);
-        let values = match cx.editor.registers.read(register) {
-            Some(values) if !values.is_empty() => values,
+        let mut values = match cx.editor.registers.read(register, cx.editor) {
+            Some(values) if values.len() > 0 => values,
             _ => return,
         };
 
@@ -315,13 +315,16 @@ impl Prompt {
 
         let index = match direction {
             CompletionDirection::Forward => self.history_pos.map_or(0, |i| i + 1),
-            CompletionDirection::Backward => {
-                self.history_pos.unwrap_or(values.len()).saturating_sub(1)
-            }
+            CompletionDirection::Backward => self
+                .history_pos
+                .unwrap_or_else(|| values.len())
+                .saturating_sub(1),
         }
         .min(end);
 
-        self.line = values[index].clone();
+        self.line = values.nth(index).unwrap().to_string();
+        // Appease the borrow checker.
+        drop(values);
 
         self.history_pos = Some(index);
 
@@ -470,7 +473,7 @@ impl Prompt {
             // Show the most recently entered value as a suggestion.
             if let Some(suggestion) = self
                 .history_register
-                .and_then(|reg| cx.editor.registers.last(reg))
+                .and_then(|reg| cx.editor.registers.last(reg, cx.editor))
             {
                 surface.set_string(line_area.x, line_area.y, suggestion, suggestion_color);
             }
@@ -567,25 +570,29 @@ impl Component for Prompt {
                 } else {
                     let last_item = self
                         .history_register
-                        .and_then(|reg| cx.editor.registers.last(reg).cloned())
-                        .map(|entry| entry.into())
-                        .unwrap_or_else(|| Cow::from(""));
+                        .and_then(|reg| cx.editor.registers.last(reg, cx.editor))
+                        .map(|entry| entry.to_string())
+                        .unwrap_or_else(|| String::from(""));
 
                     // handle executing with last command in history if nothing entered
-                    let input: Cow<str> = if self.line.is_empty() {
-                        last_item
+                    let input = if self.line.is_empty() {
+                        &last_item
                     } else {
                         if last_item != self.line {
                             // store in history
                             if let Some(register) = self.history_register {
-                                cx.editor.registers.push(register, self.line.clone());
+                                if let Err(err) =
+                                    cx.editor.registers.push(register, self.line.clone())
+                                {
+                                    cx.editor.set_error(err.to_string());
+                                }
                             };
                         }
 
-                        self.line.as_str().into()
+                        &self.line
                     };
 
-                    (self.callback_fn)(cx, &input, PromptEvent::Validate);
+                    (self.callback_fn)(cx, input, PromptEvent::Validate);
 
                     return close_fn;
                 }
@@ -617,25 +624,16 @@ impl Component for Prompt {
                 self.completion = cx
                     .editor
                     .registers
-                    .inner()
-                    .iter()
-                    .map(|(ch, reg)| {
-                        let content = reg
-                            .read()
-                            .get(0)
-                            .and_then(|s| s.lines().next().to_owned())
-                            .unwrap_or_default();
-                        (0.., format!("{} {}", ch, &content).into())
-                    })
+                    .iter_preview()
+                    .map(|(ch, preview)| (0.., format!("{} {}", ch, &preview).into()))
                     .collect();
                 self.next_char_handler = Some(Box::new(|prompt, c, context| {
                     prompt.insert_str(
-                        context
+                        &context
                             .editor
                             .registers
-                            .read(c)
-                            .and_then(|r| r.first())
-                            .map_or("", |r| r.as_str()),
+                            .first(c, context.editor)
+                            .unwrap_or_default(),
                         context.editor,
                     );
                 }));
diff --git a/helix-view/src/editor.rs b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
index 20469ae9..1824ebf7 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/editor.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ use crate::{
     graphics::{CursorKind, Rect},
     info::Info,
     input::KeyEvent,
+    register::Registers,
     theme::{self, Theme},
     tree::{self, Tree},
     view::ViewPosition,
@@ -40,7 +41,6 @@ use tokio::{
 use anyhow::{anyhow, bail, Error};
 
 pub use helix_core::diagnostic::Severity;
-pub use helix_core::register::Registers;
 use helix_core::{
     auto_pairs::AutoPairs,
     syntax::{self, AutoPairConfig, SoftWrap},
diff --git a/helix-view/src/info.rs b/helix-view/src/info.rs
index 1503e855..ca783fef 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/info.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/info.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-use helix_core::{register::Registers, unicode::width::UnicodeWidthStr};
+use crate::register::Registers;
+use helix_core::unicode::width::UnicodeWidthStr;
 use std::fmt::Write;
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
@@ -56,16 +57,8 @@ impl Info {
 
     pub fn from_registers(registers: &Registers) -> Self {
         let body: Vec<_> = registers
-            .inner()
-            .iter()
-            .map(|(ch, reg)| {
-                let content = reg
-                    .read()
-                    .get(0)
-                    .and_then(|s| s.lines().next())
-                    .unwrap_or_default();
-                (ch.to_string(), content)
-            })
+            .iter_preview()
+            .map(|(ch, preview)| (ch.to_string(), preview))
             .collect();
 
         let mut infobox = Self::new("Registers", &body);