diff --git a/src/input_handler.cc b/src/input_handler.cc
index 0cf1de9a..9a582467 100644
--- a/src/input_handler.cc
+++ b/src/input_handler.cc
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ public:
             reset_normal_mode();
             // call callback after reset_normal_mode so that callback
             // may change the mode
-            m_callback(line, context);
+            m_callback(line, PromptEvent::Validate, context);
             return;
         }
         else if (key == Key::Escape or key == Key { Key::Modifiers::Control, 'c' })
@@ -288,6 +288,7 @@ public:
             context.ui().print_status("");
             context.ui().menu_hide();
             reset_normal_mode();
+            m_callback(line, PromptEvent::Abort, context);
             return;
         }
         else if (key == Key{Key::Modifiers::Control, 'r'})
@@ -385,6 +386,7 @@ public:
         }
         context.ui().print_status(m_prompt + line,
                                   m_prompt.char_length() + m_line_editor.cursor_pos());
+        m_callback(line, PromptEvent::Change, context);
     }
 
 private:
diff --git a/src/input_handler.hh b/src/input_handler.hh
index e5509c22..3d520d27 100644
--- a/src/input_handler.hh
+++ b/src/input_handler.hh
@@ -13,7 +13,14 @@ class Editor;
 class Context;
 
 using MenuCallback = std::function<void (int, Context&)>;
-using PromptCallback = std::function<void (const String&, Context&)>;
+
+enum class PromptEvent
+{
+    Change,
+    Abort,
+    Validate
+};
+using PromptCallback = std::function<void (const String&, PromptEvent, Context&)>;
 using KeyCallback = std::function<void (const Key&, Context&)>;
 
 class InputMode;
diff --git a/src/main.cc b/src/main.cc
index 6e783ddc..fa8065f1 100644
--- a/src/main.cc
+++ b/src/main.cc
@@ -107,15 +107,20 @@ void do_command(Context& context)
 {
     context.input_handler().prompt(
         ":", std::bind(&CommandManager::complete, &CommandManager::instance(), _1, _2, _3),
-        [](const String& cmdline, Context& context) { CommandManager::instance().execute(cmdline, context); },
-        context);
+        [](const String& cmdline, PromptEvent event, Context& context) {
+             if (event == PromptEvent::Validate)
+                 CommandManager::instance().execute(cmdline, context);
+        }, context);
 }
 
 void do_pipe(Context& context)
 {
     context.input_handler().prompt("|", complete_nothing,
-        [](const String& cmdline, Context& context)
+        [](const String& cmdline, PromptEvent event, Context& context)
         {
+            if (event != PromptEvent::Validate)
+                return;
+
             Editor& editor = context.editor();
             std::vector<String> strings;
             for (auto& sel : const_cast<const Editor&>(context.editor()).selections())
@@ -129,14 +134,22 @@ void do_pipe(Context& context)
 template<SelectMode mode>
 void do_search(Context& context)
 {
+    SelectionList selections = context.editor().selections();
     context.input_handler().prompt("/", complete_nothing,
-        [](const String& str, Context& context) {
-            String ex = str;
-            if (ex.empty())
-                ex = RegisterManager::instance()['/'].values(context)[0];
-            else
-                RegisterManager::instance()['/'] = ex;
+        [selections](const String& str, PromptEvent event, Context& context) {
+            context.editor().select(selections);
 
+            if (str.empty() or event == PromptEvent::Abort)
+                return;
+
+            String ex = str;
+            if (event == PromptEvent::Validate)
+            {
+                if (ex.empty())
+                    ex = RegisterManager::instance()['/'].values(context)[0];
+                else
+                    RegisterManager::instance()['/'] = ex;
+            }
             context.editor().select(std::bind(select_next_match, _1, ex), mode);
         }, context);
 }
@@ -212,17 +225,19 @@ void do_paste(Context& context)
 void do_select_regex(Context& context)
 {
     context.input_handler().prompt("select: ", complete_nothing,
-        [](const String& ex, Context& context)
-        { context.editor().multi_select(std::bind(select_all_matches, _1, ex)); },
-        context);
+        [](const String& ex, PromptEvent event, Context& context) {
+            if (event == PromptEvent::Validate)
+                context.editor().multi_select(std::bind(select_all_matches, _1, ex));
+        }, context);
 }
 
 void do_split_regex(Context& context)
 {
     context.input_handler().prompt("split: ", complete_nothing,
-        [](const String& ex, Context& context)
-        { context.editor().multi_select(std::bind(split_selection, _1, ex)); },
-        context);
+        [](const String& ex, PromptEvent event, Context& context) {
+            if (event == PromptEvent::Validate)
+                context.editor().multi_select(std::bind(split_selection, _1, ex));
+        }, context);
 }
 
 void do_join(Context& context)