diff --git a/.config/helix/scripts/paste-util.fish b/.config/helix/scripts/paste-util.fish
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..281466fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.config/helix/scripts/paste-util.fish
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env fish
+
+# script takes the clipboard contents and
+# trims/adds newlines appropriately to force
+# inline or above/below line paste
+
+# In helix, if there's a trailing newline, it's pasted linewise
+# Otherwise it's pasted inline
+
+set -l cmd $argv[1]
+# get clip contents, and preserve newlines
+set -l contents (wl-paste -n | string collect -N)
+count "$contents"
+if test "$cmd" = inline
+    # if there's more than 1 newline, it
+    # has to be linewise
+    set -l newlines (string split \n "$contents" | count)
+    echo $newlines
+    echo \'"$(string replace \n → "$contents")"\'
+
+else if test "$cmd" = linewise
+
+end
+
+echo paste-util