diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index f53d9884..1eb2c7ba 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+* #5097: Fix pasting text between activities through the clipboard. (tomeu)
 * #4660: Use improved PS API which streamlines ShareActivity process (smcv)
 
 0.70.1
diff --git a/shell/view/clipboardicon.py b/shell/view/clipboardicon.py
index 56ae669a..4b36395b 100644
--- a/shell/view/clipboardicon.py
+++ b/shell/view/clipboardicon.py
@@ -44,12 +44,14 @@ class ClipboardIcon(RadioToolButton):
         self._preview = None
         self._activity = None
         self.owns_clipboard = False
+        self.props.sensitive = False
+        self.props.active = False
 
         self._icon = Icon()
         self._icon.props.xo_color = profile.get_color()
         self.set_icon_widget(self._icon)
         self._icon.show()
-        
+
         cb_service = clipboardservice.get_instance()
         cb_service.connect('object-state-changed', self._object_state_changed_cb)
         obj = cb_service.get_object(self._object_id)
@@ -80,6 +82,10 @@ class ClipboardIcon(RadioToolButton):
 
     def _put_in_clipboard(self):
         logging.debug('ClipboardIcon._put_in_clipboard')
+
+        if self._percent < 100:
+            raise ValueError('Object is not complete, cannot be put into the clipboard.')
+        
         targets = self._get_targets()
         if targets:
             clipboard = gtk.Clipboard()
@@ -125,14 +131,19 @@ class ClipboardIcon(RadioToolButton):
         self.child.drag_source_set_icon_name(self._icon.props.icon_name)
         
         self._name = name
-        self._percent = percent
         self._preview = preview
         self._activity = activity
         self.palette.set_state(name, percent, preview, activity,
                                self._is_bundle(obj['FORMATS']))
 
-        if self.props.active:
-            self._put_in_clipboard()
+        old_percent = self._percent
+        self._percent = percent
+        if self._percent == 100:
+            self.props.sensitive = True
+
+        # Clipboard object became complete. Make it the active one.
+        if old_percent < 100 and self._percent == 100:
+            self.props.active = True
 
     def _notify_active_cb(self, widget, pspec):
         if self.props.active:
diff --git a/shell/view/frame/clipboardbox.py b/shell/view/frame/clipboardbox.py
index 1195c022..cf2f9f55 100644
--- a/shell/view/frame/clipboardbox.py
+++ b/shell/view/frame/clipboardbox.py
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@ class ClipboardBox(hippo.CanvasBox):
         hippo.CanvasBox.__init__(self)
         self._icons = {}
         self._context_map = _ContextMap()
-        self._selected_icon = None
 
         self._tray = VTray()
         self.append(hippo.CanvasWidget(widget=self._tray), hippo.PACK_EXPAND)
@@ -109,17 +108,10 @@ class ClipboardBox(hippo.CanvasBox):
         icon = ClipboardIcon(object_id, name, group)
         self._tray.add_item(icon, 0)
         icon.show()
-
-        self._set_icon_selected(icon)
         self._icons[object_id] = icon
         
         logging.debug('ClipboardBox: ' + object_id + ' was added.')
 
-    def _set_icon_selected(self, icon):
-        logging.debug('_set_icon_selected')
-        icon.props.active = True
-        self._selected_icon = icon
-
     def _object_deleted_cb(self, cb_service, object_id):
         icon = self._icons[object_id]
         self._tray.remove_item(icon)
diff --git a/shell/view/frame/clipboardpanelwindow.py b/shell/view/frame/clipboardpanelwindow.py
index 6a018448..b492e78b 100644
--- a/shell/view/frame/clipboardpanelwindow.py
+++ b/shell/view/frame/clipboardpanelwindow.py
@@ -59,29 +59,35 @@ class ClipboardPanelWindow(FrameWindow):
         targets = clipboard.wait_for_targets()
         for target in targets:
             if target not in ('TIMESTAMP', 'TARGETS', 'MULTIPLE', 'SAVE_TARGETS'):
+                logging.debug('Asking for target %s.' % target)
                 selection = clipboard.wait_for_contents(target)
-                if selection:
-                    self._add_selection(key, selection)
+                if not selection:
+                    logging.warning('no data for selection target %s.' % target)
+                    continue
+                self._add_selection(key, selection)
 
         cb_service.set_object_percent(key, percent=100)
 
     def _add_selection(self, key, selection):
-        if selection.data:
-            logging.debug('adding type ' + selection.type + '.')
-                        
-            cb_service = clipboardservice.get_instance()
-            if selection.type == 'text/uri-list':
-                uris = selection.data.split('\n')
-                if len(uris) > 1:
-                    raise NotImplementedError('Multiple uris in text/uri-list still not supported.')
+        if not selection.data:
+            logging.warning('no data for selection target %s.' % selection.type)
+            return
+            
+        logging.debug('adding type ' + selection.type + '.')
+                    
+        cb_service = clipboardservice.get_instance()
+        if selection.type == 'text/uri-list':
+            uris = selection.data.split('\n')
+            if len(uris) > 1:
+                raise NotImplementedError('Multiple uris in text/uri-list still not supported.')
 
-                cb_service.add_object_format(key,
-                                             selection.type,
-                                             uris[0],
-                                             on_disk=True)
-            else:
-                cb_service.add_object_format(key, 
-                                             selection.type,
-                                             selection.data,
-                                             on_disk=False)
+            cb_service.add_object_format(key,
+                                            selection.type,
+                                            uris[0],
+                                            on_disk=True)
+        else:
+            cb_service.add_object_format(key, 
+                                            selection.type,
+                                            selection.data,
+                                            on_disk=False)