diff --git a/src/ops.c b/src/ops.c
index e0fa344..6e327a2 100644
--- a/src/ops.c
+++ b/src/ops.c
@@ -624,6 +624,10 @@
 	return FAIL;
     }
 
+    if (VIsual_select && oap->is_VIsual)
+	// use register given with CTRL_R, defaults to zero
+        oap->regname = VIsual_select_reg;
+
 #ifdef FEAT_CLIPBOARD
     adjust_clip_reg(&oap->regname);
 #endif