diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py b/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
index f0ed6d67a..6dde5d40f 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
@@ -818,7 +818,10 @@ class CommandDispatcher:
         force_search = False
         if not utils.supports_selection():
             sel = False
-        text = utils.get_clipboard(selection=sel)
+        try:
+            text = utils.get_clipboard(selection=sel)
+        except utils.ClipboardEmptyError as e:
+            raise cmdexc.CommandError(e)
         text_urls = [u for u in text.split('\n') if u.strip()]
         if (len(text_urls) > 1 and not urlutils.is_url(text_urls[0]) and
             urlutils.get_path_if_valid(
@@ -1462,9 +1465,12 @@ class CommandDispatcher:
             raise cmdexc.CommandError("Focused element is not editable!")
 
         try:
-            sel = utils.get_clipboard(selection=True)
-        except utils.SelectionUnsupportedError:
-            sel = utils.get_clipboard()
+            try:
+                sel = utils.get_clipboard(selection=True)
+            except utils.SelectionUnsupportedError:
+                sel = utils.get_clipboard()
+        except utils.ClipboardEmptyError:
+            return
 
         log.misc.debug("Pasting primary selection into element {}".format(
             elem.debug_text()))
diff --git a/qutebrowser/commands/runners.py b/qutebrowser/commands/runners.py
index 91c8bf3c9..201fc4bbe 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/commands/runners.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/commands/runners.py
@@ -57,10 +57,13 @@ def replace_variables(win_id, arglist):
                                                     QUrl.RemovePassword)
     if '{url:pretty}' in arglist:
         pretty_url = _current_url(tabbed_browser).toString(QUrl.RemovePassword)
-    if '{clipboard}' in arglist:
-        clipboard = utils.get_clipboard()
-    if '{primary}' in arglist:
-        primary = utils.get_clipboard(selection=True)
+    try:
+        if '{clipboard}' in arglist:
+            clipboard = utils.get_clipboard()
+        if '{primary}' in arglist:
+            primary = utils.get_clipboard(selection=True)
+    except utils.ClipboardEmptyError as e:
+        raise cmdexc.CommandError(e)
     for arg in arglist:
         if arg == '{url}':
             args.append(url)
diff --git a/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py b/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py
index 9cc275502..f770f5c05 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py
@@ -1677,4 +1677,9 @@ CHANGED_KEY_COMMANDS = [
     (re.compile(r'^download-remove --all$'), r'download-clear'),
 
     (re.compile(r'^hint links fill "([^"]*)"$'), r'hint links fill \1'),
+
+    (re.compile(r'^paste$'), r'open {clipboard}'),
+    (re.compile(r'^paste -([twb])$'), r'open -\1 {clipboard}'),
+    (re.compile(r'^paste -([twb])s$'), r'open -\1 {primary}'),
+    (re.compile(r'^paste -s([twb])$'), r'open -\1 {primary}'),
 ]
diff --git a/qutebrowser/misc/miscwidgets.py b/qutebrowser/misc/miscwidgets.py
index 63a5718c6..7e84300d2 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/misc/miscwidgets.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/misc/miscwidgets.py
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ class MinimalLineEditMixin:
         if e.key() == Qt.Key_Insert and e.modifiers() == Qt.ShiftModifier:
             try:
                 text = utils.get_clipboard(selection=True)
-            except utils.SelectionUnsupportedError:
+            except (utils.SelectionUnsupportedError,
+                    utils.ClipboardEmptyError):
                 pass
             else:
                 e.accept()
diff --git a/qutebrowser/utils/utils.py b/qutebrowser/utils/utils.py
index 983827d46..32696aacf 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/utils/utils.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/utils/utils.py
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ import pkg_resources
 
 import qutebrowser
 from qutebrowser.utils import qtutils, log
-from qutebrowser.commands import cmdexc
 
 
 fake_clipboard = None
@@ -49,6 +48,11 @@ class SelectionUnsupportedError(Exception):
     """Raised if [gs]et_clipboard is used and selection=True is unsupported."""
 
 
+class ClipboardEmptyError(Exception):
+
+    """Raised if get_clipboard is used and the clipboard is empty."""
+
+
 def elide(text, length):
     """Elide text so it uses a maximum of length chars."""
     if length < 1:
@@ -813,7 +817,7 @@ def get_clipboard(selection=False):
 
     target = "Primary selection" if selection else "Clipboard"
     if not data.strip():
-        raise cmdexc.CommandError("{} is empty.".format(target))
+        raise ClipboardEmptyError("{} is empty.".format(target))
     log.misc.debug("{} contained: {!r}".format(target, data))
 
     return data
diff --git a/tests/unit/config/test_config.py b/tests/unit/config/test_config.py
index a6ad3d119..53664b718 100644
--- a/tests/unit/config/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/unit/config/test_config.py
@@ -286,6 +286,10 @@ class TestKeyConfigParser:
                  'hint links fill :open {hint-url}'),
             ('hint links fill ":open -t {hint-url}"',
                 'hint links fill :open -t {hint-url}'),
+
+            ('paste', 'open {clipboard}'),
+            ('paste -t', 'open -t {clipboard}'),
+            ('paste -ws', 'open -w {primary}'),
         ]
     )
     def test_migrations(self, old, new_expected):