diff --git a/src/SelectionManager.ts b/src/SelectionManager.ts
index 4f86c6de..c11f49c6 100644
--- a/src/SelectionManager.ts
+++ b/src/SelectionManager.ts
@@ -376,7 +376,11 @@ export class SelectionManager extends EventEmitter implements ISelectionManager
    * @param event The mouse event.
    */
   public shouldForceSelection(event: MouseEvent): boolean {
-    return Browser.isMac ? event.altKey : event.shiftKey;
+    if (Browser.isMac) {
+      return event.altKey && this._terminal.options.macOptionClickForcesSelection;
+    }
+
+    return event.shiftKey;
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/src/Terminal.ts b/src/Terminal.ts
index b754b6f6..e2fa8bef 100644
--- a/src/Terminal.ts
+++ b/src/Terminal.ts
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ const DEFAULT_OPTIONS: ITerminalOptions = {
   screenReaderMode: false,
   debug: false,
   macOptionIsMeta: false,
+  macOptionClickForcesSelection: false,
   cancelEvents: false,
   disableStdin: false,
   useFlowControl: false,
diff --git a/typings/xterm.d.ts b/typings/xterm.d.ts
index bda984b7..94fa0432 100644
--- a/typings/xterm.d.ts
+++ b/typings/xterm.d.ts
@@ -124,6 +124,15 @@ declare module 'xterm' {
      */
     macOptionIsMeta?: boolean;
 
+    /**
+     * Whether holding a modifier key will force normal selection behavior,
+     * regardless of whether the terminal is in mouse events mode. This will
+     * also prevent mouse events from being emitted by the terminal. For example,
+     * this allows you to use xterm.js' regular selection inside tmux with
+     * mouse mode enabled.
+     */
+    macOptionClickForcesSelection?: boolean;
+
     /**
      * (EXPERIMENTAL) The type of renderer to use, this allows using the
      * fallback DOM renderer when canvas is too slow for the environment. The
@@ -562,7 +571,7 @@ declare module 'xterm' {
      * Retrieves an option's value from the terminal.
      * @param key The option key.
      */
-    getOption(key: 'colors'): string[];
+    getOption(key: 'columnSelectModifiers' | 'colors'): string[];
     /**
      * Retrieves an option's value from the terminal.
      * @param key The option key.