diff --git a/src/Terminal.ts b/src/Terminal.ts
index 6da60458e..56205d1e6 100644
--- a/src/Terminal.ts
+++ b/src/Terminal.ts
@@ -1535,6 +1535,16 @@ export class Terminal extends EventEmitter implements ITerminal, IDisposable, II
     return this.selectionManager ? this.selectionManager.hasSelection : false;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Selects text within the terminal.
+   * @param column The column the selection starts at..
+   * @param row The row the selection starts at.
+   * @param length The length of the selection.
+   */
+  public setSelection(column: number, row: number, length: number): void {
+    this.selectionManager.setSelection(column, row, length);
+  }
+
   /**
    * Gets the terminal's current selection, this is useful for implementing copy
    * behavior outside of xterm.js.
diff --git a/src/TestUtils.test.ts b/src/TestUtils.test.ts
index 1d5008c8b..f5008a435 100644
--- a/src/TestUtils.test.ts
+++ b/src/TestUtils.test.ts
@@ -80,6 +80,9 @@ export class MockTerminal implements ITerminal {
   hasSelection(): boolean {
     throw new Error('Method not implemented.');
   }
+  setSelection(column: number, row: number, length: number): void {
+    throw new Error('Method not implemented.');
+  }
   getSelection(): string {
     throw new Error('Method not implemented.');
   }
diff --git a/src/Types.ts b/src/Types.ts
index 5841626ba..238dbd416 100644
--- a/src/Types.ts
+++ b/src/Types.ts
@@ -249,6 +249,7 @@ export interface IPublicTerminal extends IDisposable, IEventEmitter {
     deregisterCharacterJoiner(joinerId: number): void;
     addMarker(cursorYOffset: number): IMarker;
     hasSelection(): boolean;
+    setSelection(column: number, row: number, length: number): void;
     getSelection(): string;
     clearSelection(): void;
     selectAll(): void;
diff --git a/src/public/Terminal.ts b/src/public/Terminal.ts
index 0c6a77457..3f1cfd0cc 100644
--- a/src/public/Terminal.ts
+++ b/src/public/Terminal.ts
@@ -96,6 +96,9 @@ export class Terminal implements ITerminalApi {
   public hasSelection(): boolean {
     return this._core.hasSelection();
   }
+  public setSelection(column: number, row: number, length: number): void {
+    this._core.setSelection(column, row, length);
+  }
   public getSelection(): string {
     return this._core.getSelection();
   }
diff --git a/typings/xterm.d.ts b/typings/xterm.d.ts
index 0714f55f0..59eebc14f 100644
--- a/typings/xterm.d.ts
+++ b/typings/xterm.d.ts
@@ -670,6 +670,14 @@ declare module 'xterm' {
      */
     hasSelection(): boolean;
 
+    /**
+     * Selects text within the terminal.
+     * @param column The column the selection starts at..
+     * @param row The row the selection starts at.
+     * @param length The length of the selection.
+     */
+    setSelection(column: number, row: number, length: number): void;
+
     /**
      * Gets the terminal's current selection, this is useful for implementing
      * copy behavior outside of xterm.js.