diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor.h b/gtk2_ardour/editor.h
index 081d6d5c3c..b082a80f21 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor.h
@@ -1257,8 +1257,8 @@ class Editor : public PublicEditor, public PBD::ScopedConnectionList, public ARD
 
 	void bring_in_external_audio (Editing::ImportMode mode,  framepos_t& pos);
 
-	bool  idle_drop_paths  (std::vector<std::string> paths, framepos_t frame, double ypos);
-	void  drop_paths_part_two  (const std::vector<std::string>& paths, framepos_t frame, double ypos);
+	bool  idle_drop_paths  (std::vector<std::string> paths, framepos_t frame, double ypos, bool copy);
+	void  drop_paths_part_two  (const std::vector<std::string>& paths, framepos_t frame, double ypos, bool copy);
 
 	int  import_sndfiles (std::vector<std::string> paths, Editing::ImportMode mode,  ARDOUR::SrcQuality, framepos_t& pos,
 			      int target_regions, int target_tracks, boost::shared_ptr<ARDOUR::Track>&, bool);
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas.cc b/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas.cc
index 383241aec0..8c9970275d 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas.cc
@@ -412,14 +412,14 @@ Editor::track_canvas_drag_data_received (const RefPtr<Gdk::DragContext>& context
 }
 
 bool
-Editor::idle_drop_paths (vector<string> paths, framepos_t frame, double ypos)
+Editor::idle_drop_paths (vector<string> paths, framepos_t frame, double ypos, bool copy)
 {
-	drop_paths_part_two (paths, frame, ypos);
+	drop_paths_part_two (paths, frame, ypos, copy);
 	return false;
 }
 
 void
-Editor::drop_paths_part_two (const vector<string>& paths, framepos_t frame, double ypos)
+Editor::drop_paths_part_two (const vector<string>& paths, framepos_t frame, double ypos, bool copy)
 {
 	RouteTimeAxisView* tv;
 
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ Editor::drop_paths_part_two (const vector<string>& paths, framepos_t frame, doub
 
 		frame = 0;
 
-		if (Profile->get_sae() || Config->get_only_copy_imported_files()) {
+		if (Profile->get_sae() || Config->get_only_copy_imported_files() || copy) {
 			do_import (paths, Editing::ImportDistinctFiles, Editing::ImportAsTrack, SrcBest, frame);
 		} else {
 			do_embed (paths, Editing::ImportDistinctFiles, ImportAsTrack, frame);
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@ Editor::drop_paths_part_two (const vector<string>& paths, framepos_t frame, doub
 			/* select the track, then embed/import */
 			selection->set (tv);
 
-			if (Profile->get_sae() || Config->get_only_copy_imported_files()) {
+			if (Profile->get_sae() || Config->get_only_copy_imported_files() || copy) {
 				do_import (paths, Editing::ImportSerializeFiles, Editing::ImportToTrack, SrcBest, frame);
 			} else {
 				do_embed (paths, Editing::ImportSerializeFiles, ImportToTrack, frame);
@@ -481,14 +481,15 @@ Editor::drop_paths (const RefPtr<Gdk::DragContext>& context,
 
 		snap_to (frame);
 
+		bool copy = ((context->get_actions() & (Gdk::ACTION_COPY | Gdk::ACTION_LINK | Gdk::ACTION_MOVE)) == Gdk::ACTION_COPY);
 #ifdef GTKOSX
 		/* We are not allowed to call recursive main event loops from within
 		   the main event loop with GTK/Quartz. Since import/embed wants
 		   to push up a progress dialog, defer all this till we go idle.
 		*/
-		Glib::signal_idle().connect (sigc::bind (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &Editor::idle_drop_paths), paths, frame, cy));
+		Glib::signal_idle().connect (sigc::bind (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &Editor::idle_drop_paths), paths, frame, cy, copy));
 #else
-		drop_paths_part_two (paths, frame, cy);
+		drop_paths_part_two (paths, frame, cy, copy);
 #endif
 	}
 
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas_events.cc b/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas_events.cc
index 631137fd2f..7cd25ca92c 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas_events.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor_canvas_events.cc
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 
 #include "ardour/midi_region.h"
 #include "ardour/region_factory.h"
+#include "ardour/profile.h"
 
 #include "editor.h"
 #include "keyboard.h"
@@ -1054,6 +1055,21 @@ Editor::track_canvas_drag_motion (Glib::RefPtr<Gdk::DragContext> const& context,
 					context->drag_status (context->get_suggested_action(), time);
 					return true;
 				}
+			} else {
+				/* DND originating from outside ardour
+				 *
+				 * TODO: check if file is audio/midi, allow drops on same track-type only,
+				 * currently: if audio is dropped on a midi-track, it is only added to the region-list
+				 */
+				if (Profile->get_sae() || Config->get_only_copy_imported_files()) {
+					context->drag_status(Gdk::ACTION_COPY, time);
+				} else {
+					if ((context->get_actions() & (Gdk::ACTION_COPY | Gdk::ACTION_LINK | Gdk::ACTION_MOVE)) == Gdk::ACTION_COPY)
+						context->drag_status(Gdk::ACTION_COPY, time);
+					else
+						context->drag_status(Gdk::ACTION_LINK, time);
+				}
+				return true;
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor_regions.cc b/gtk2_ardour/editor_regions.cc
index 16c401b90e..ad5263d1d1 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor_regions.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor_regions.cc
@@ -1233,7 +1233,9 @@ EditorRegions::drag_data_received (const RefPtr<Gdk::DragContext>& context,
 
 	if (_editor->convert_drop_to_paths (paths, context, x, y, data, info, time) == 0) {
 		framepos_t pos = 0;
-		if (Profile->get_sae() || Config->get_only_copy_imported_files()) {
+		bool copy = ((context->get_actions() & (Gdk::ACTION_COPY | Gdk::ACTION_LINK | Gdk::ACTION_MOVE)) == Gdk::ACTION_COPY);
+
+		if (Profile->get_sae() || Config->get_only_copy_imported_files() || copy) {
 			_editor->do_import (paths, Editing::ImportDistinctFiles, Editing::ImportAsRegion, SrcBest, pos);
 		} else {
 			_editor->do_embed (paths, Editing::ImportDistinctFiles, ImportAsRegion, pos);