diff --git a/helix-term/src/commands.rs b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
index 121d12f7db181..e8d167a34a937 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/commands.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
@@ -4385,16 +4385,27 @@ fn join_selections_impl(cx: &mut Context, select_space: bool) {
 
     // select inserted spaces
     let transaction = if select_space {
+        let mut offset: usize = 0;
         let ranges: SmallVec<_> = changes
             .iter()
-            .scan(0, |offset, change| {
-                let range = Range::point(change.0 - *offset);
-                *offset += change.1 - change.0 - 1; // -1 because cursor is 0-sized
-                Some(range)
+            .filter_map(|change| {
+                if change.2.is_some() {
+                    let range = Range::point(change.0 - offset);
+                    offset += change.1 - change.0 - 1; // -1 adjusts for the replacement of the range by a space
+                    Some(range)
+                } else {
+                    offset += change.1 - change.0;
+                    None
+                }
             })
             .collect();
-        let selection = Selection::new(ranges, 0);
-        Transaction::change(text, changes.into_iter()).with_selection(selection)
+        let t = Transaction::change(text, changes.into_iter());
+        if ranges.is_empty() {
+            t
+        } else {
+            let selection = Selection::new(ranges, 0);
+            t.with_selection(selection)
+        }
     } else {
         Transaction::change(text, changes.into_iter())
     };
diff --git a/helix-term/tests/test/commands.rs b/helix-term/tests/test/commands.rs
index 10e1788f12cd3..62c4b8e40adad 100644
--- a/helix-term/tests/test/commands.rs
+++ b/helix-term/tests/test/commands.rs
@@ -527,3 +527,86 @@ async fn test_join_selections() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 
     Ok(())
 }
+
+#[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
+async fn test_join_selections_space() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    // join with empty lines panic
+    test((
+        platform_line(indoc! {"\
+            #[a
+
+            b
+
+            c
+
+            d
+
+            e|]#
+        "}),
+        "<A-J>",
+        platform_line(indoc! {"\
+            a#[ |]#b#( |)#c#( |)#d#( |)#e
+        "}),
+    ))
+    .await?;
+
+    // normal join
+    test((
+        platform_line(indoc! {"\
+            #[a|]#bc
+            def
+        "}),
+        "<A-J>",
+        platform_line(indoc! {"\
+            abc#[ |]#def
+        "}),
+    ))
+    .await?;
+
+    // join with empty line
+    test((
+        platform_line(indoc! {"\
+            #[a|]#bc
+
+            def
+        "}),
+        "<A-J>",
+        platform_line(indoc! {"\
+            #[a|]#bc
+            def
+        "}),
+    ))
+    .await?;
+
+    // join with additional space in non-empty line
+    test((
+        platform_line(indoc! {"\
+            #[a|]#bc
+
+                def
+        "}),
+        "<A-J><A-J>",
+        platform_line(indoc! {"\
+            abc#[ |]#def
+        "}),
+    ))
+    .await?;
+
+    // join with retained trailing spaces
+    test((
+        platform_line(indoc! {"\
+            #[aaa   
+
+            bb  
+
+            c |]#
+        "}),
+        "<A-J>",
+        platform_line(indoc! {"\
+            aaa   #[ |]#bb  #( |)#c 
+        "}),
+    ))
+    .await?;
+
+    Ok(())
+}