diff --git a/docs/clipboard.rst b/docs/clipboard.rst
index 260da3c31..2162e442c 100644
--- a/docs/clipboard.rst
+++ b/docs/clipboard.rst
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ The terminal emulator will reply with a sequence of escape codes of the form::
 
 Here, the ``status=DATA`` packets deliver the data (as base64 encoded bytes)
 associated with each MIME type. The terminal emulator should chunk up the data
-for an individual type, into chunks of size **no more** than 4096 bytes. All
+for an individual type, into chunks of size **no more** than 4096 bytes (4096
+is the size of a chunk *before* base64 encoding). All
 the chunks for a given type must be transmitted sequentially and only once they
 are done the chunks for the next type, if any, should be sent. The end of data
 is indicated by a ``status=DONE`` packet.
@@ -90,7 +91,8 @@ following sequence of packets::
 
 The final packet with no mime and no data indicates end of transmission. The
 data for every MIME type should be split into chunks of no more than 4096
-bytes. All the chunks for a given MIME type must be sent sequentially, before
+bytes (4096 is the size of the data before base64 encoding).
+All the chunks for a given MIME type must be sent sequentially, before
 sending chunks for the next MIME type. After the transmission is complete, the
 terminal replies with a single packet indicating success::
 
diff --git a/kitty/clipboard.py b/kitty/clipboard.py
index 74f638a81..4ccc33ab0 100644
--- a/kitty/clipboard.py
+++ b/kitty/clipboard.py
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ from .fast_data_types import (
 )
 from .utils import log_error
 
+READ_RESPONSE_CHUNK_SIZE = 4096
+
 
 class Tempfile:
 
@@ -462,8 +464,8 @@ class ClipboardRequestManager:
             assert w is not None
             mv = memoryview(data)
             while mv:
-                w.screen.send_escape_code_to_child(ESC_OSC, rr.encode_response(payload=mv[:4096], mime=current_mime))
-                mv = mv[4096:]
+                w.screen.send_escape_code_to_child(ESC_OSC, rr.encode_response(payload=mv[:READ_RESPONSE_CHUNK_SIZE], mime=current_mime))
+                mv = mv[READ_RESPONSE_CHUNK_SIZE:]
 
         for mime in rr.mime_types:
             current_mime = mime