diff --git a/reffect/src/action/element.rs b/reffect/src/action/element.rs
index ef77ceb..8bc9add 100644
--- a/reffect/src/action/element.rs
+++ b/reffect/src/action/element.rs
@@ -35,12 +35,12 @@ impl ElementAction {
             Self::Cut => {
                 let child = children.remove(index);
                 log::debug!("Cut child {index} {}", child.kind.as_ref());
-                edit.set_clipboard(child);
+                edit.clipboard.set(child);
             }
             Self::Copy => {
                 let child = children[index].clone();
                 log::debug!("Copy child {index} {}", child.kind.as_ref());
-                edit.set_clipboard(child);
+                edit.clipboard.set(child);
             }
             Self::Duplicate => {
                 let child = children[index].clone();
diff --git a/reffect/src/context/clipboard.rs b/reffect/src/context/clipboard.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1d7fc85
--- /dev/null
+++ b/reffect/src/context/clipboard.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+use crate::elements::{Element, ElementType};
+use nexus::imgui::Ui;
+use std::{cell::UnsafeCell, fmt};
+
+/// Clipboard state.
+#[repr(transparent)]
+pub struct Clipboard<T> {
+    contents: UnsafeCell<Option<T>>, // never give out references to this!
+}
+
+impl<T> Clipboard<T> {
+    unsafe fn get(&self) -> &Option<T> {
+        self.contents.get().as_ref().unwrap_unchecked()
+    }
+
+    #[allow(clippy::mut_from_ref)]
+    unsafe fn get_mut(&self) -> &mut Option<T> {
+        self.contents.get().as_mut().unwrap_unchecked()
+    }
+
+    pub fn has_some(&self) -> bool {
+        unsafe { self.get() }.is_some()
+    }
+
+    pub fn take(&self) -> Option<T> {
+        unsafe { self.get_mut() }.take()
+    }
+
+    pub fn set(&self, element: T) {
+        *unsafe { self.get_mut() } = Some(element);
+    }
+}
+
+impl Clipboard<Element> {
+    pub fn has_icon(&self) -> bool {
+        matches!(
+            unsafe { self.get() },
+            Some(Element {
+                kind: ElementType::Icon(_),
+                ..
+            }),
+        )
+    }
+
+    pub fn debug(&self, ui: &Ui) {
+        match unsafe { self.get() } {
+            Some(element) => ui.text(&element.kind),
+            None => ui.text_disabled("empty"),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T> Default for Clipboard<T> {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            contents: UnsafeCell::new(None),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T> fmt::Debug for Clipboard<T>
+where
+    T: fmt::Debug,
+{
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result {
+        f.debug_struct("Clipboard")
+            .field("element", unsafe { self.get() })
+            .finish()
+    }
+}
diff --git a/reffect/src/context/edit_state.rs b/reffect/src/context/edit_state.rs
index 4ed987e..e9813b6 100644
--- a/reffect/src/context/edit_state.rs
+++ b/reffect/src/context/edit_state.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,8 @@
-use super::UiContext;
-use crate::{
-    elements::{Element, ElementType},
-    id::Id,
-};
+use super::{Clipboard, UiContext};
+use crate::{elements::Element, id::Id};
 use nexus::imgui::Ui;
-use std::{cell::UnsafeCell, fmt};
 
+#[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct EditState {
     /// Whether edit mode is allowed in combat.
     pub during_combat: bool,
@@ -23,8 +20,8 @@ pub struct EditState {
     // TODO: keep parents sorted?
     parents: Vec<Id>,
 
-    /// Current clipboard contents.
-    clipboard: UnsafeCell<Option<Element>>, // we never give out references to this!
+    /// Clipboard state.
+    pub clipboard: Clipboard<Element>,
 }
 
 impl EditState {
@@ -93,39 +90,6 @@ impl EditState {
         self.allowed = false;
     }
 
-    // do not expose these references!
-    unsafe fn get_clipboard(&self) -> &Option<Element> {
-        self.clipboard.get().as_ref().unwrap_unchecked()
-    }
-
-    // do not expose these references!
-    #[allow(clippy::mut_from_ref)]
-    unsafe fn get_clipboard_mut(&self) -> &mut Option<Element> {
-        self.clipboard.get().as_mut().unwrap_unchecked()
-    }
-
-    pub fn has_clipboard(&self) -> bool {
-        unsafe { self.get_clipboard() }.is_some()
-    }
-
-    pub fn has_icon_clipboard(&self) -> bool {
-        matches!(
-            unsafe { self.get_clipboard() },
-            Some(Element {
-                kind: ElementType::Icon(_),
-                ..
-            }),
-        )
-    }
-
-    pub fn take_clipboard(&self) -> Option<Element> {
-        unsafe { self.get_clipboard_mut() }.take()
-    }
-
-    pub fn set_clipboard(&self, element: Element) {
-        *unsafe { self.get_clipboard_mut() } = Some(element);
-    }
-
     pub fn debug(&self, ui: &Ui) {
         ui.text("Edit allowed:");
         ui.same_line();
@@ -133,10 +97,7 @@ impl EditState {
 
         ui.text("Clipboard:");
         ui.same_line();
-        match unsafe { self.get_clipboard() } {
-            Some(element) => ui.text(&element.kind),
-            None => ui.text_disabled("empty"),
-        }
+        self.clipboard.debug(ui);
 
         ui.text("Selected element:");
         ui.same_line();
@@ -158,20 +119,7 @@ impl Default for EditState {
             allowed: true,
             selected: Id::default(),
             parents: Vec::new(),
-            clipboard: UnsafeCell::new(None),
+            clipboard: Clipboard::default(),
         }
     }
 }
-
-impl fmt::Debug for EditState {
-    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result {
-        f.debug_struct("EditState")
-            .field("during_combat", &self.during_combat)
-            .field("show_all", &self.show_all)
-            .field("allowed", &self.allowed)
-            .field("selected", &self.selected)
-            .field("parents", &self.parents)
-            .field("clipboard", unsafe { self.get_clipboard() })
-            .finish()
-    }
-}
diff --git a/reffect/src/context/mod.rs b/reffect/src/context/mod.rs
index e37186c..e14394e 100644
--- a/reffect/src/context/mod.rs
+++ b/reffect/src/context/mod.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
+mod clipboard;
 mod edit_state;
 mod links;
 mod map;
 mod player;
 mod ui;
 
-pub use self::{edit_state::*, links::*, map::*, player::*, ui::*};
+pub use self::{clipboard::*, edit_state::*, links::*, map::*, player::*, ui::*};
 
 use crate::{
     internal::{BuffMap, Interface, Internal, Resources, State},
diff --git a/reffect/src/elements/common.rs b/reffect/src/elements/common.rs
index 7319a4f..12993e5 100644
--- a/reffect/src/elements/common.rs
+++ b/reffect/src/elements/common.rs
@@ -198,10 +198,10 @@ impl Common {
                 })
             });
             if MenuItem::new("Paste")
-                .enabled(state.has_clipboard())
+                .enabled(state.clipboard.has_some())
                 .build(ui)
             {
-                children.push(state.take_clipboard().expect("paste without clipboard"))
+                children.push(state.clipboard.take().expect("paste without clipboard"))
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/reffect/src/elements/list/action.rs b/reffect/src/elements/list/action.rs
index 8cc97cd..acf1e43 100644
--- a/reffect/src/elements/list/action.rs
+++ b/reffect/src/elements/list/action.rs
@@ -44,7 +44,8 @@ impl IconAction {
                 children.remove(index);
             }
             Self::Cut(index) => {
-                edit.set_clipboard(children.remove(index).into_element(size));
+                edit.clipboard
+                    .set(children.remove(index).into_element(size));
             }
             Self::Paste(index) => {
                 if let Some(Element {
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ impl IconAction {
                     filter,
                     kind: ElementType::Icon(element),
                     ..
-                }) = edit.take_clipboard()
+                }) = edit.clipboard.take()
                 {
                     children.insert(index, ListIcon::from_element(common, element, filter));
                 } else {
diff --git a/reffect/src/elements/list/mod.rs b/reffect/src/elements/list/mod.rs
index 4c7fff8..0607412 100644
--- a/reffect/src/elements/list/mod.rs
+++ b/reffect/src/elements/list/mod.rs
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ impl RenderOptions for IconList {
 
             item_context_menu("##listiconctx", || {
                 if MenuItem::new("Paste")
-                    .enabled(ctx.edit.has_icon_clipboard())
+                    .enabled(ctx.edit.clipboard.has_icon())
                     .build(ui)
                 {
                     action = IconAction::Paste(i)
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ impl RenderOptions for IconList {
                     action = IconAction::Cut(i);
                 }
                 if MenuItem::new("Copy").build(ui) {
-                    ctx.edit.set_clipboard(icon.clone().into_element(self.size))
+                    ctx.edit.clipboard.set(icon.clone().into_element(self.size))
                 }
                 if MenuItem::new("Duplicate").build(ui) {
                     action = IconAction::Duplicate(i);
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ impl RenderOptions for IconList {
         }
         item_context_menu("##addiconctx", || {
             if MenuItem::new("Paste")
-                .enabled(ctx.edit.has_icon_clipboard())
+                .enabled(ctx.edit.clipboard.has_icon())
                 .build(ui)
             {
                 action = IconAction::Paste(self.icons.len());