diff --git a/anvil/src/main.rs b/anvil/src/main.rs
index ce4523e..ee1c95f 100644
--- a/anvil/src/main.rs
+++ b/anvil/src/main.rs
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ use smithay::wayland_server::{calloop::EventLoop, Display};
 mod shaders;
 mod glium_drawer;
 mod input_handler;
+mod misc;
 #[cfg(feature = "tty_launch")]
 mod raw_drm;
 mod shell;
diff --git a/anvil/src/misc.rs b/anvil/src/misc.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5d26ee6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/anvil/src/misc.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+use smithay::wayland_server::protocol::wl_data_device_manager::DndAction;
+
+pub fn dnd_action_chooser(available: DndAction, preferred: DndAction) -> DndAction {
+    // if the preferred action is valid (a single action) and in the available actions, use it
+    // otherwise, follow a fallback stategy
+    if [DndAction::Move, DndAction::Copy, DndAction::Ask].contains(&preferred)
+        && available.contains(preferred)
+    {
+        preferred
+    } else if available.contains(DndAction::Ask) {
+        DndAction::Ask
+    } else if available.contains(DndAction::Copy) {
+        DndAction::Copy
+    } else if available.contains(DndAction::Move) {
+        DndAction::Move
+    } else {
+        DndAction::empty()
+    }
+}
diff --git a/anvil/src/udev.rs b/anvil/src/udev.rs
index 8328c40..39d69f5 100644
--- a/anvil/src/udev.rs
+++ b/anvil/src/udev.rs
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ pub fn run_udev(mut display: Display, mut event_loop: EventLoop<()>, log: Logger
 
     let udev_session_id = notifier.register(&mut udev_backend);
 
-    init_data_device(&mut display.borrow_mut(), log.clone());
+    init_data_device(&mut display.borrow_mut(), ::misc::dnd_action_chooser, log.clone());
 
     let (mut w_seat, _) = Seat::new(&mut display.borrow_mut(), session.seat(), log.clone());
 
diff --git a/anvil/src/winit.rs b/anvil/src/winit.rs
index 8890e88..ecb3ff4 100644
--- a/anvil/src/winit.rs
+++ b/anvil/src/winit.rs
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ pub fn run_winit(display: &mut Display, event_loop: &mut EventLoop<()>, log: Log
 
     let (compositor_token, _, _, window_map) = init_shell(display, log.clone());
 
-    init_data_device(display, log.clone());
+    init_data_device(display, ::misc::dnd_action_chooser, log.clone());
 
     let (mut seat, _) = Seat::new(display, "winit".into(), log.clone());
 
diff --git a/src/wayland/data_device/dnd_grab.rs b/src/wayland/data_device/dnd_grab.rs
index 3a6bb0f..9cdc683 100644
--- a/src/wayland/data_device/dnd_grab.rs
+++ b/src/wayland/data_device/dnd_grab.rs
@@ -12,21 +12,23 @@ use wayland::seat::{AxisFrame, PointerGrab, PointerInnerHandle, Seat};
 
 use super::{with_source_metadata, SeatData};
 
-pub(crate) struct DnDGrab {
+pub(crate) struct DnDGrab<F: 'static> {
     data_source: Option<Resource<wl_data_source::WlDataSource>>,
     current_focus: Option<Resource<wl_surface::WlSurface>>,
     pending_offers: Vec<Resource<wl_data_offer::WlDataOffer>>,
     offer_data: Option<Arc<Mutex<OfferData>>>,
     origin: Resource<wl_surface::WlSurface>,
     seat: Seat,
+    action_choice: Arc<Mutex<F>>,
 }
 
-impl DnDGrab {
+impl<F: 'static> DnDGrab<F> {
     pub(crate) fn new(
         source: Option<Resource<wl_data_source::WlDataSource>>,
         origin: Resource<wl_surface::WlSurface>,
         seat: Seat,
-    ) -> DnDGrab {
+        action_choice: Arc<Mutex<F>>,
+    ) -> DnDGrab<F> {
         DnDGrab {
             data_source: source,
             current_focus: None,
@@ -34,11 +36,15 @@ impl DnDGrab {
             offer_data: None,
             origin,
             seat,
+            action_choice,
         }
     }
 }
 
-impl PointerGrab for DnDGrab {
+impl<F> PointerGrab for DnDGrab<F>
+where
+    F: FnMut(DndAction, DndAction) -> DndAction + Send + 'static,
+{
     fn motion(
         &mut self,
         _handle: &mut PointerInnerHandle,
@@ -96,8 +102,14 @@ impl PointerGrab for DnDGrab {
                         // create a data offer
                         let offer = client
                             .create_resource::<wl_data_offer::WlDataOffer>(device.version())
-                            .map(|offer| implement_dnd_data_offer(offer, source.clone(), offer_data.clone()))
-                            .unwrap();
+                            .map(|offer| {
+                                implement_dnd_data_offer(
+                                    offer,
+                                    source.clone(),
+                                    offer_data.clone(),
+                                    self.action_choice.clone(),
+                                )
+                            }).unwrap();
                         // advertize the offer to the client
                         device.send(wl_data_device::Event::DataOffer { id: offer.clone() });
                         with_source_metadata(source, |meta| {
@@ -221,11 +233,15 @@ struct OfferData {
     chosen_action: DndAction,
 }
 
-fn implement_dnd_data_offer(
+fn implement_dnd_data_offer<F>(
     offer: NewResource<wl_data_offer::WlDataOffer>,
     source: Resource<wl_data_source::WlDataSource>,
     offer_data: Arc<Mutex<OfferData>>,
-) -> Resource<wl_data_offer::WlDataOffer> {
+    action_choice: Arc<Mutex<F>>,
+) -> Resource<wl_data_offer::WlDataOffer>
+where
+    F: FnMut(DndAction, DndAction) -> DndAction + Send + 'static,
+{
     use self::wl_data_offer::Request;
     offer.implement(
         move |req, offer| {
@@ -296,20 +312,12 @@ fn implement_dnd_data_offer(
                     let source_actions =
                         with_source_metadata(&source, |meta| meta.dnd_action).unwrap_or(DndAction::empty());
                     let possible_actions = source_actions & DndAction::from_bits_truncate(dnd_actions);
-                    if possible_actions.contains(preferred_action) {
-                        // chose this one
-                        data.chosen_action = preferred_action;
-                    } else {
-                        if possible_actions.contains(DndAction::Ask) {
-                            data.chosen_action = DndAction::Ask;
-                        } else if possible_actions.contains(DndAction::Copy) {
-                            data.chosen_action = DndAction::Copy;
-                        } else if possible_actions.contains(DndAction::Move) {
-                            data.chosen_action = DndAction::Move;
-                        } else {
-                            data.chosen_action = DndAction::None;
-                        }
-                    }
+                    data.chosen_action =
+                        (&mut *action_choice.lock().unwrap())(possible_actions, preferred_action);
+                    // check that the user provided callback respects that one precise action should be chosen
+                    debug_assert!(
+                        [DndAction::Move, DndAction::Copy, DndAction::Ask].contains(&data.chosen_action)
+                    );
                     offer.send(wl_data_offer::Event::Action {
                         dnd_action: data.chosen_action.to_raw(),
                     });
diff --git a/src/wayland/data_device/mod.rs b/src/wayland/data_device/mod.rs
index afa03ed..7a15564 100644
--- a/src/wayland/data_device/mod.rs
+++ b/src/wayland/data_device/mod.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
-use std::sync::Mutex;
+use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
 
 use wayland_server::{
-    protocol::{wl_data_device, wl_data_device_manager, wl_data_offer, wl_data_source},
+    protocol::{
+        wl_data_device,
+        wl_data_device_manager::{self, DndAction},
+        wl_data_offer, wl_data_source,
+    },
     Client, Display, Global, NewResource, Resource,
 };
 
@@ -121,17 +125,25 @@ impl SeatData {
 }
 
 /// Initialize the data device global
-pub fn init_data_device<L>(
+///
+/// You need to provide a `(DndAction, DndAction) -> DndAction` closure that will arbitrate
+/// the choice of action resulting from a drag'n'drop session. Its first argument is the set of
+/// available actions (which is the intersection of the actions supported by the source and targets)
+/// and the second argument is the preferred action reported by the target. If no action should be
+/// chosen (and thus the drag'n'drop should abort on drop), return `DndAction::empty()`.
+pub fn init_data_device<F, L>(
     display: &mut Display,
+    action_choice: F,
     logger: L,
 ) -> Global<wl_data_device_manager::WlDataDeviceManager>
 where
+    F: FnMut(DndAction, DndAction) -> DndAction + Send + 'static,
     L: Into<Option<::slog::Logger>>,
 {
     let log = ::slog_or_stdlog(logger).new(o!("smithay_module" => "data_device_mgr"));
-
+    let action_choice = Arc::new(Mutex::new(action_choice));
     let global = display.create_global(3, move |new_ddm, _version| {
-        implement_ddm(new_ddm, log.clone());
+        implement_ddm(new_ddm, action_choice.clone(), log.clone());
     });
 
     global
@@ -153,10 +165,14 @@ pub fn set_data_device_focus(seat: &Seat, client: Option<Client>) {
     seat_data.lock().unwrap().set_focus(client);
 }
 
-fn implement_ddm(
+fn implement_ddm<F>(
     new_ddm: NewResource<wl_data_device_manager::WlDataDeviceManager>,
+    action_choice: Arc<Mutex<F>>,
     log: ::slog::Logger,
-) -> Resource<wl_data_device_manager::WlDataDeviceManager> {
+) -> Resource<wl_data_device_manager::WlDataDeviceManager>
+where
+    F: FnMut(DndAction, DndAction) -> DndAction + Send + 'static,
+{
     use self::wl_data_device_manager::Request;
     new_ddm.implement(
         move |req, _ddm| match req {
@@ -169,7 +185,8 @@ fn implement_ddm(
                     seat.user_data()
                         .insert_if_missing(|| Mutex::new(SeatData::new(log.clone())));
                     let seat_data = seat.user_data().get::<Mutex<SeatData>>().unwrap();
-                    let data_device = implement_data_device(id, seat.clone(), log.clone());
+                    let data_device =
+                        implement_data_device(id, seat.clone(), action_choice.clone(), log.clone());
                     seat_data.lock().unwrap().known_devices.push(data_device);
                 }
                 None => {
@@ -182,11 +199,15 @@ fn implement_ddm(
     )
 }
 
-fn implement_data_device(
+fn implement_data_device<F>(
     new_dd: NewResource<wl_data_device::WlDataDevice>,
     seat: Seat,
+    action_choice: Arc<Mutex<F>>,
     log: ::slog::Logger,
-) -> Resource<wl_data_device::WlDataDevice> {
+) -> Resource<wl_data_device::WlDataDevice>
+where
+    F: FnMut(DndAction, DndAction) -> DndAction + Send + 'static,
+{
     use self::wl_data_device::Request;
     new_dd.implement(
         move |req, dd| match req {
@@ -200,7 +221,10 @@ fn implement_data_device(
                 if let Some(pointer) = seat.get_pointer() {
                     if pointer.has_grab(serial) {
                         // The StartDrag is in response to a pointer implicit grab, all is good
-                        pointer.set_grab(dnd_grab::DnDGrab::new(source, origin, seat.clone()), serial);
+                        pointer.set_grab(
+                            dnd_grab::DnDGrab::new(source, origin, seat.clone(), action_choice.clone()),
+                            serial,
+                        );
                         return;
                     }
                 }