diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 30d337b0..56a8fe03 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+* #1888 Choose the correct mime type when adding text from Write to the
+  clipboard. (tomeu)
 * #2149, #2150: fixes for the clipboard palette. (tomeu)
 * #2163 Arrow icons in the intro screen buttons. (marco)
 
diff --git a/services/clipboard/clipboardobject.py b/services/clipboard/clipboardobject.py
index 7b93f378..19ad747d 100644
--- a/services/clipboard/clipboardobject.py
+++ b/services/clipboard/clipboardobject.py
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import urlparse
 
 from sugar.objects import mime
 from sugar import activity
-from sugar import util
 
 import objecttypeservice
 
@@ -111,7 +110,7 @@ class ClipboardObject:
         if not self._formats:
             return ''
 
-        format = util.choose_most_significant_mime_type(self._formats.keys())
+        format = mime.choose_most_significant(self._formats.keys())
 
         if format == 'text/uri-list':
             data = self._formats['text/uri-list'].get_data()
diff --git a/shell/view/clipboardmenu.py b/shell/view/clipboardmenu.py
index fa0ebcd2..3de4d46a 100644
--- a/shell/view/clipboardmenu.py
+++ b/shell/view/clipboardmenu.py
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ from sugar.clipboard import clipboardservice
 from sugar.datastore import datastore
 from sugar.objects import mime
 from sugar import profile
-from sugar import util
 
 class ClipboardMenu(Palette):
     
@@ -160,7 +159,7 @@ class ClipboardMenu(Palette):
         cb_service = clipboardservice.get_instance()
         obj = cb_service.get_object(self._object_id)
 
-        format = util.choose_most_significant_mime_type(obj['FORMATS'])
+        format = mime.choose_most_significant(obj['FORMATS'])
         data = cb_service.get_object_data(self._object_id, format)
 
         if format == 'text/uri-list':
diff --git a/sugar/objects/mime.py b/sugar/objects/mime.py
index 8725700e..0cba0010 100644
--- a/sugar/objects/mime.py
+++ b/sugar/objects/mime.py
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
 # Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330,
 # Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA.
 
+import logging
+
 from sugar import _sugarext
 
 def get_for_file(file_name):
@@ -40,3 +42,37 @@ def get_primary_extension(mime_type):
 
     _extensions_cache[mime_type] = None
     return None
+
+def choose_most_significant(mime_types):
+    logging.debug('Choosing between %r.' % mime_types)
+    if not mime_types:
+        return ''
+
+    if 'text/uri-list' in mime_types:
+        return 'text/uri-list'
+
+    for mime_category in ['image/', 'text/', 'application/']:
+        for mime_type in mime_types:
+
+            # skip text/plain and text/html, these have lower priority.
+            if mime_type in ['text/plain', 'text/html']:
+                continue
+
+            if mime_type.startswith(mime_category):
+                # skip mozilla private types (second component starts with '_') 
+                if mime_type.split('/')[1].startswith('_'):
+                    continue
+
+                # take out the specifier after ';' that mozilla likes to add
+                mime_type = mime_type.split(';')[0]
+                logging.debug('Choosed %r!' % mime_type)
+                return mime_type
+
+    if 'text/html' in mime_types:
+        return 'text/html'
+
+    if 'text/plain' in mime_types or 'STRING' in mime_types:
+        return 'text/plain'
+
+    logging.debug('Returning first: %r.' % mime_types[0])
+    return mime_types[0]
diff --git a/sugar/util.py b/sugar/util.py
index 497eb538..814a7283 100644
--- a/sugar/util.py
+++ b/sugar/util.py
@@ -128,25 +128,3 @@ def set_proc_title(title):
     except:
         return False
 
-def choose_most_significant_mime_type(mime_types):
-    logging.debug('Choosing between %r.' % mime_types)
-    if not mime_types:
-        return ''
-
-    if 'text/uri-list' in mime_types:
-        return 'text/uri-list'
-
-    for mime_category in ['image/', 'text/', 'application/']:
-        for mime_type in mime_types:
-            if mime_type.startswith(mime_category) and \
-                    not mime_type.split('/')[1].startswith('_'):
-                mime_type = mime_type.split(';')[0]
-                logging.debug('Choosed %r!' % mime_type)
-                return mime_type
-
-    if 'STRING' in mime_types:
-        return 'text/plain'
-
-    logging.debug('Returning first: %r.' % mime_types[0])
-    return mime_types[0]
-