diff --git a/src/editor.rs b/src/editor.rs
index af4433a..192a14c 100644
--- a/src/editor.rs
+++ b/src/editor.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,10 @@ use std::hash::{DefaultHasher, Hash, Hasher};
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 
 use anyhow::{Context, Result};
-use crossterm::event::KeyEvent;
+use crossterm::event::{KeyCode, KeyEvent};
+use edtui::actions::{
+    Composed, Execute, SwitchMode, cpaste::Paste, insert::InsertChar, motion::MoveBackward,
+};
 use edtui::{EditorEventHandler, EditorMode, EditorState, Index2, Lines};
 
 /// A file-backed edtui buffer: vim editing plus load/save and a modified flag.
@@ -59,12 +62,23 @@ impl EditorBuffer {
     }
 
     pub fn handle_key(&mut self, key: KeyEvent) {
-        self.handler.on_key_event(key, &mut self.state);
+        if self.state.mode == EditorMode::Normal
+            && key.code == KeyCode::Char('p')
+            && key.modifiers.is_empty()
+        {
+            self.paste_yanked_at_cursor();
+        } else {
+            self.handler.on_key_event(key, &mut self.state);
+        }
         self.refresh_modified();
     }
 
     pub fn handle_paste(&mut self, text: String) {
-        self.handler.on_paste_event(text, &mut self.state);
+        if self.state.mode == EditorMode::Normal {
+            self.paste_text_at_cursor(text);
+        } else {
+            self.handler.on_paste_event(text, &mut self.state);
+        }
         self.refresh_modified();
     }
 
@@ -102,6 +116,45 @@ impl EditorBuffer {
         self.handle_paste(text.to_string());
     }
 
+    /// Paste the yank register at the cursor, not after it (edtui's default `p`).
+    fn paste_yanked_at_cursor(&mut self) {
+        // edtui's `Paste` inserts after the cursor; in insert mode, stepping back
+        // one column first lands the insertion at the normal-mode cursor.
+        if self.state.cursor.col == 0 && self.cursor_line_has_text() {
+            self.paste_text_at_cursor(self.clipboard_text());
+            return;
+        }
+        let mut action = Composed::new(SwitchMode(EditorMode::Insert));
+        if self.state.cursor.col > 0 {
+            action = action.chain(MoveBackward(1));
+        }
+        action = action.chain(Paste).chain(SwitchMode(EditorMode::Normal));
+        action.execute(&mut self.state);
+    }
+
+    fn cursor_line_has_text(&self) -> bool {
+        self.state
+            .lines
+            .len_col(self.state.cursor.row)
+            .is_some_and(|len| len > 0)
+    }
+
+    fn clipboard_text(&self) -> String {
+        arboard::Clipboard::new()
+            .and_then(|mut clip| clip.get_text())
+            .unwrap_or_default()
+    }
+
+    /// Paste arbitrary text at the cursor in normal mode (bracketed paste).
+    fn paste_text_at_cursor(&mut self, text: String) {
+        let restore = self.state.mode;
+        self.state.execute(SwitchMode(EditorMode::Insert));
+        for ch in text.chars() {
+            self.state.execute(InsertChar(ch));
+        }
+        self.state.execute(SwitchMode(restore));
+    }
+
     fn refresh_modified(&mut self) {
         // .http files are small; hashing the buffer per keystroke is cheap
         // and beats trying to track dirtiness through edtui's undo stack.
@@ -117,3 +170,43 @@ fn hash_str(s: &str) -> u64 {
     s.hash(&mut h);
     h.finish()
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use crossterm::event::{KeyCode, KeyEvent, KeyModifiers};
+
+    fn test_buffer(text: &str) -> EditorBuffer {
+        let path =
+            std::env::temp_dir().join(format!("req-editor-test-{}.http", std::process::id()));
+        std::fs::write(&path, text).unwrap();
+        EditorBuffer::open(path).unwrap()
+    }
+
+    fn set_system_clipboard(text: &str) {
+        arboard::Clipboard::new()
+            .and_then(|mut clip| clip.set_text(text.to_string()))
+            .unwrap();
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn normal_p_pastes_at_cursor_not_after() {
+        let mut buf = test_buffer("Hello World");
+        buf.state.cursor = Index2::new(0, 5);
+        set_system_clipboard("X");
+
+        buf.handle_key(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Char('p'), KeyModifiers::NONE));
+
+        assert_eq!(buf.text(), "HelloX World");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn normal_bracketed_paste_inserts_at_cursor() {
+        let mut buf = test_buffer("Hello World");
+        buf.state.cursor = Index2::new(0, 5);
+
+        buf.handle_paste("X".to_string());
+
+        assert_eq!(buf.text(), "HelloX World");
+    }
+}