--- a/Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py	Thu Nov 01 21:47:54 2012 +0200
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py	Thu Nov 01 22:41:19 2012 +0200
@@ -117,8 +117,14 @@
             old_hook()
         self.io.set_filename_change_hook(filename_changed_hook)
 
-    rmenu_specs = [("Set Breakpoint", "<<set-breakpoint-here>>"),
-                   ("Clear Breakpoint", "<<clear-breakpoint-here>>")]
+    rmenu_specs = [
+        ("Cut", "<<cut>>", "rmenu_check_cut"),
+        ("Copy", "<<copy>>", "rmenu_check_copy"),
+        ("Paste", "<<paste>>", "rmenu_check_paste"),
+        (None, None, None),
+        ("Set Breakpoint", "<<set-breakpoint-here>>", None),
+        ("Clear Breakpoint", "<<clear-breakpoint-here>>", None)
+    ]
 
     def set_breakpoint(self, lineno):
         text = self.text
@@ -1240,6 +1246,19 @@
                 raise KeyboardInterrupt
         return count
 
+    def rmenu_check_cut(self):
+        try:
+            if self.text.compare('sel.first', '<', 'iomark'):
+                return 'disabled'
+        except TclError: # no selection, so the index 'sel.first' doesn't exist
+            return 'disabled'
+        return super().rmenu_check_cut()
+
+    def rmenu_check_paste(self):
+        if self.text.compare('insert','<','iomark'):
+            return 'disabled'
+        return super().rmenu_check_paste()
+
 class PseudoFile(object):
 
     def __init__(self, shell, tags, encoding=None):