diff --git a/.config/kak/autoload/byline.kak b/.config/kak/autoload/byline.kak
index 495ae12b..7797c116 100644
--- a/.config/kak/autoload/byline.kak
+++ b/.config/kak/autoload/byline.kak
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 provide-module byline %{
 
+    # helpers for shell-less boolean checks
     try %{ define-command -hidden true nop }
     try %{ define-command -hidden false fail }
+    # used to store origina readonly status
     declare-option -hidden bool base_readonly false
 
 	# Mappings
@@ -11,7 +13,7 @@ provide-module byline %{
 
 	# High-level selection expanding and contracting, based on selection direction
 
-	define-command -hidden byline-drag-down %{
+	define-command byline-drag-down %{
 		evaluate-commands -itersel -no-hooks %{
 			try %{
 				byline-assert-selection-forwards
@@ -22,7 +24,7 @@ provide-module byline %{
 		}
 	}
 
-	define-command -hidden byline-drag-up %{
+	define-command byline-drag-up %{
 		evaluate-commands -itersel -no-hooks %{
 			try %{
 				byline-assert-selection-forwards
@@ -50,21 +52,40 @@ provide-module byline %{
 			byline-assert-selection-reduced
 		} catch %{
 			evaluate-commands -no-hooks -draft -save-regs 'ab' %{
+    			# this "check" requires readonly to be false,
+    			# so we store its original value before changing it
+    			set-option buffer base_readonly %opt{readonly}
 				# store current cursor pos
 				set-register a %val{cursor_byte_offset}
 				# force cursor forward
 				execute-keys <a-:>
 				# store second cursor pos
 				set-register b %val{cursor_byte_offset}
+				# check whether readonly is enabled
+				try %{
+    				%opt{base_readonly}
+    				# disable temporarily
+    				set-option buffer readonly false
+				}
 				# if the sel faces forward, the cursor hasn't moved
 				# So we paste reg a. the pasted content is now selected.
 				# We can use <a-k> to check whether it matches register b.
 				try %{
 					execute-keys %exp{"aP<a-k>%reg{b}<ret>u}
+					# only re-enable readme if it was originally on
+					try %{
+    					%opt{base_readonly}
+    					set-option buffer readonly true
+					}
 				} catch %{
 					# clean up the pasted content if the above
 					# assertion failed
 					execute-keys 'u'
+					# only re-enable readme if it was originally on
+					try %{
+    					%opt{base_readonly}
+    					set-option buffer readonly true
+					}
 					# propogate failure to caller
 					fail
 				}