diff --git a/source/blender/windowmanager/WM_api.h b/source/blender/windowmanager/WM_api.h
index df253d619c9..f8b6b5171da 100644
--- a/source/blender/windowmanager/WM_api.h
+++ b/source/blender/windowmanager/WM_api.h
@@ -335,6 +335,12 @@ void WM_event_timer_sleep(struct wmWindowManager *wm,
 
 /* operator api, default callbacks */
 /* invoke callback, uses enum property named "type" */
+int WM_generic_select_modal(struct bContext *C,
+                            struct wmOperator *op,
+                            const struct wmEvent *event);
+int WM_generic_select_invoke(struct bContext *C,
+                             struct wmOperator *op,
+                             const struct wmEvent *event);
 void WM_operator_view3d_unit_defaults(struct bContext *C, struct wmOperator *op);
 int WM_operator_smooth_viewtx_get(const struct wmOperator *op);
 int WM_menu_invoke_ex(struct bContext *C, struct wmOperator *op, int opcontext);
@@ -474,6 +480,7 @@ void WM_operator_properties_select_random(struct wmOperatorType *ot);
 int WM_operator_properties_select_random_seed_increment_get(wmOperator *op);
 void WM_operator_properties_select_operation(struct wmOperatorType *ot);
 void WM_operator_properties_select_operation_simple(struct wmOperatorType *ot);
+void WM_operator_properties_generic_select(struct wmOperatorType *ot);
 struct CheckerIntervalParams {
   int nth; /* bypass when set to zero */
   int skip;
diff --git a/source/blender/windowmanager/intern/wm_operator_props.c b/source/blender/windowmanager/intern/wm_operator_props.c
index a8feb22cbf8..395de89c0da 100644
--- a/source/blender/windowmanager/intern/wm_operator_props.c
+++ b/source/blender/windowmanager/intern/wm_operator_props.c
@@ -396,6 +396,16 @@ void WM_operator_properties_select_operation_simple(wmOperatorType *ot)
   RNA_def_property_flag(prop, PROP_SKIP_SAVE);
 }
 
+void WM_operator_properties_generic_select(wmOperatorType *ot)
+{
+  PropertyRNA *prop = RNA_def_boolean(
+      ot->srna, "wait_to_deselect_others", true, "Wait to Deselect Others", "");
+  RNA_def_property_flag(prop, PROP_HIDDEN | PROP_SKIP_SAVE);
+
+  RNA_def_int(ot->srna, "mouse_x", 0, INT_MIN, INT_MAX, "Mouse X", "", INT_MIN, INT_MAX);
+  RNA_def_int(ot->srna, "mouse_y", 0, INT_MIN, INT_MAX, "Mouse Y", "", INT_MIN, INT_MAX);
+}
+
 void WM_operator_properties_gesture_box_zoom(wmOperatorType *ot)
 {
   WM_operator_properties_border(ot);
diff --git a/source/blender/windowmanager/intern/wm_operators.c b/source/blender/windowmanager/intern/wm_operators.c
index 97771d40b2c..292e27c3cbf 100644
--- a/source/blender/windowmanager/intern/wm_operators.c
+++ b/source/blender/windowmanager/intern/wm_operators.c
@@ -700,6 +700,82 @@ void WM_operator_properties_free(PointerRNA *ptr)
 /** \name Default Operator Callbacks
  * \{ */
 
+int WM_generic_select_modal(bContext *C, wmOperator *op, const wmEvent *event)
+{
+  PropertyRNA *wait_to_deselect_prop = RNA_struct_find_property(op->ptr,
+                                                                "wait_to_deselect_others");
+  const short init_event_type = (short)POINTER_AS_INT(op->customdata);
+  int ret_value = 0;
+
+  /* get settings from RNA properties for operator */
+  int mval[2];
+  mval[0] = RNA_int_get(op->ptr, "mouse_x");
+  mval[1] = RNA_int_get(op->ptr, "mouse_y");
+
+  if (init_event_type == 0) {
+    if (event->val == KM_PRESS) {
+      RNA_property_boolean_set(op->ptr, wait_to_deselect_prop, true);
+
+      ret_value = op->type->exec(C, op);
+      OPERATOR_RETVAL_CHECK(ret_value);
+
+      op->customdata = POINTER_FROM_INT((int)event->type);
+      if (ret_value & OPERATOR_RUNNING_MODAL) {
+        WM_event_add_modal_handler(C, op);
+      }
+      return ret_value | OPERATOR_PASS_THROUGH;
+    }
+    else {
+      /* If we are in init phase, and cannot validate init of modal operations,
+       * just fall back to basic exec.
+       */
+      RNA_property_boolean_set(op->ptr, wait_to_deselect_prop, false);
+
+      ret_value = op->type->exec(C, op);
+      OPERATOR_RETVAL_CHECK(ret_value);
+
+      return ret_value | OPERATOR_PASS_THROUGH;
+    }
+  }
+  else if (event->type == init_event_type && event->val == KM_RELEASE) {
+    RNA_property_boolean_set(op->ptr, wait_to_deselect_prop, false);
+
+    ret_value = op->type->exec(C, op);
+    OPERATOR_RETVAL_CHECK(ret_value);
+
+    return ret_value | OPERATOR_PASS_THROUGH;
+  }
+  else if (ELEM(event->type, MOUSEMOVE, INBETWEEN_MOUSEMOVE)) {
+    const int drag_delta[2] = {
+        mval[0] - event->mval[0],
+        mval[1] - event->mval[1],
+    };
+    /* If user moves mouse more than defined threshold, we consider select operator as
+     * finished. Otherwise, it is still running until we get an 'release' event. In any
+     * case, we pass through event, but select op is not finished yet. */
+    if (WM_event_drag_test_with_delta(event, drag_delta)) {
+      return OPERATOR_FINISHED | OPERATOR_PASS_THROUGH;
+    }
+    else {
+      /* Important not to return anything other than PASS_THROUGH here,
+       * otherwise it prevents underlying tweak detection code to work properly. */
+      return OPERATOR_PASS_THROUGH;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return OPERATOR_FINISHED | OPERATOR_PASS_THROUGH;
+}
+
+int WM_generic_select_invoke(bContext *C, wmOperator *op, const wmEvent *event)
+{
+  RNA_int_set(op->ptr, "mouse_x", event->mval[0]);
+  RNA_int_set(op->ptr, "mouse_y", event->mval[1]);
+
+  op->customdata = POINTER_FROM_INT(0);
+
+  return op->type->modal(C, op, event);
+}
+
 void WM_operator_view3d_unit_defaults(struct bContext *C, struct wmOperator *op)
 {
   if (op->flag & OP_IS_INVOKE) {