diff --git a/docs/changes.txt b/docs/changes.txt
index cf3b6c9ba2..4aefb01833 100644
--- a/docs/changes.txt
+++ b/docs/changes.txt
@@ -268,6 +268,7 @@ wxGTK:
 - Fix compilation with GTK 3.22.z and z < 25 (#22816).
 - Fix compilation with GTK < 2.21.8 (mkirkham, #22830).
 - Fix display artefacts when using AUI without compositor under X11 (#23135).
+- Allow selecting and copying text in wxMessageDialog (Ian McInerney, #23039).
 
 wxMSW:
 
diff --git a/src/gtk/msgdlg.cpp b/src/gtk/msgdlg.cpp
index b617297f11..b3b4f1add3 100644
--- a/src/gtk/msgdlg.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk/msgdlg.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "wx/modalhook.h"
 
 #include "wx/gtk/private.h"
+#include "wx/gtk/private/list.h"
 #include "wx/gtk/private/messagetype.h"
 #include "wx/gtk/private/mnemonics.h"
 #include "wx/gtk/private/dialogcount.h"
@@ -187,6 +188,26 @@ void wxMessageDialog::GTKCreateMsgDialog()
         gtk_window_set_keep_above(GTK_WINDOW(m_widget), TRUE);
     }
 
+    // A GTKMessageDialog usually displays its labels without selection enabled,
+    // so we enable selection to allow the user to select+copy the text out of
+    // the dialog.
+    {
+        GtkMessageDialog * const msgdlg = GTK_MESSAGE_DIALOG(m_widget);
+
+        GtkWidget* const area = gtk_message_dialog_get_message_area(msgdlg);
+        wxGtkList labels(gtk_container_get_children(GTK_CONTAINER(area)));
+
+        for ( GList* elem = labels; elem; elem = elem->next )
+        {
+            GtkWidget* const widget = GTK_WIDGET( elem->data );
+
+            if ( GTK_IS_LABEL(widget) )
+            {
+                gtk_label_set_selectable(GTK_LABEL(widget), TRUE);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     // we need to add buttons manually if we use custom labels or always for
     // Yes/No/Cancel dialog as GTK+ doesn't support it natively
     const bool addButtons = buttons == GTK_BUTTONS_NONE;