diff --git a/helix-core/src/movement.rs b/helix-core/src/movement.rs
index e446d8cc4..3732c84eb 100644
--- a/helix-core/src/movement.rs
+++ b/helix-core/src/movement.rs
@@ -2050,7 +2050,7 @@ mod test {
         ];
 
         for (before, expected) in tests {
-            let (s, selection) = crate::test::print(before);
+            let (s, selection) = crate::test::parse_selection_string(before).unwrap();
             let text = Rope::from(s.as_str());
             let selection =
                 selection.transform(|r| move_prev_paragraph(text.slice(..), r, 1, Movement::Move));
@@ -2073,7 +2073,7 @@ mod test {
         ];
 
         for (before, expected) in tests {
-            let (s, selection) = crate::test::print(before);
+            let (s, selection) = crate::test::parse_selection_string(before).unwrap();
             let text = Rope::from(s.as_str());
             let selection =
                 selection.transform(|r| move_prev_paragraph(text.slice(..), r, 2, Movement::Move));
@@ -2096,7 +2096,7 @@ mod test {
         ];
 
         for (before, expected) in tests {
-            let (s, selection) = crate::test::print(before);
+            let (s, selection) = crate::test::parse_selection_string(before).unwrap();
             let text = Rope::from(s.as_str());
             let selection = selection
                 .transform(|r| move_prev_paragraph(text.slice(..), r, 1, Movement::Extend));
@@ -2138,7 +2138,7 @@ mod test {
         ];
 
         for (before, expected) in tests {
-            let (s, selection) = crate::test::print(before);
+            let (s, selection) = crate::test::parse_selection_string(before).unwrap();
             let text = Rope::from(s.as_str());
             let selection =
                 selection.transform(|r| move_next_paragraph(text.slice(..), r, 1, Movement::Move));
@@ -2161,7 +2161,7 @@ mod test {
         ];
 
         for (before, expected) in tests {
-            let (s, selection) = crate::test::print(before);
+            let (s, selection) = crate::test::parse_selection_string(before).unwrap();
             let text = Rope::from(s.as_str());
             let selection =
                 selection.transform(|r| move_next_paragraph(text.slice(..), r, 2, Movement::Move));
@@ -2184,7 +2184,7 @@ mod test {
         ];
 
         for (before, expected) in tests {
-            let (s, selection) = crate::test::print(before);
+            let (s, selection) = crate::test::parse_selection_string(before).unwrap();
             let text = Rope::from(s.as_str());
             let selection = selection
                 .transform(|r| move_next_paragraph(text.slice(..), r, 1, Movement::Extend));
diff --git a/helix-core/src/selection.rs b/helix-core/src/selection.rs
index 1db2d619e..2e08cfbe8 100644
--- a/helix-core/src/selection.rs
+++ b/helix-core/src/selection.rs
@@ -1202,7 +1202,7 @@ mod test {
 
     #[test]
     fn selection_line_ranges() {
-        let (text, selection) = crate::test::print(
+        let (text, selection) = crate::test::parse_selection_string(
             r#"                                           L0
             #[|these]# line #(|ranges)# are #(|merged)#   L1
                                                           L2
@@ -1218,7 +1218,8 @@ mod test {
             adjacent #(|ranges)#                          L12
             are merged #(|the same way)#                  L13
             "#,
-        );
+        )
+        .unwrap();
         let rope = Rope::from_str(&text);
         assert_eq!(
             vec![(1, 1), (3, 3), (5, 6), (8, 10), (12, 13)],
diff --git a/helix-core/src/test.rs b/helix-core/src/test.rs
index 71c71cce2..6c7199f29 100644
--- a/helix-core/src/test.rs
+++ b/helix-core/src/test.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,14 @@ use smallvec::SmallVec;
 use std::cmp::Reverse;
 use unicode_segmentation::UnicodeSegmentation;
 
-/// Convert annotated test string to test string and selection.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub enum ParseSelectionError {
+    MoreThanOnePrimary(String),
+    MissingClosingPair(String),
+    MissingPrimary(String),
+}
+
+/// Convert string annotated with selections to string and selection.
 ///
 /// `#[|` for primary selection with head before anchor followed by `]#`.
 /// `#(|` for secondary selection with head before anchor followed by `)#`.
@@ -19,21 +26,15 @@ use unicode_segmentation::UnicodeSegmentation;
 /// # Examples
 ///
 /// ```
-/// use helix_core::{Range, Selection, test::print};
+/// use helix_core::{Range, Selection, test::parse_selection_string};
 /// use smallvec::smallvec;
 ///
 /// assert_eq!(
-///     print("#[a|]#b#(|c)#"),
+///     parse_selection_string("#[a|]#b#(|c)#").unwrap(),
 ///     ("abc".to_owned(), Selection::new(smallvec![Range::new(0, 1), Range::new(3, 2)], 0))
 /// );
 /// ```
-///
-/// # Panics
-///
-/// Panics when missing primary or appeared more than once.
-/// Panics when missing head or anchor.
-/// Panics when head come after head or anchor come after anchor.
-pub fn print(s: &str) -> (String, Selection) {
+pub fn parse_selection_string(s: &str) -> Result<(String, Selection), ParseSelectionError> {
     let mut primary_idx = None;
     let mut ranges = SmallVec::new();
     let mut iter = UnicodeSegmentation::graphemes(s, true).peekable();
@@ -59,7 +60,10 @@ pub fn print(s: &str) -> (String, Selection) {
         };
 
         if is_primary && primary_idx.is_some() {
-            panic!("primary `#[` already appeared {:?} {:?}", left, s);
+            return Err(ParseSelectionError::MoreThanOnePrimary(format!(
+                "Can only have 1 primary selection: {:?} {:?}",
+                left, s
+            )));
         }
 
         let head_at_beg = iter.next_if_eq(&"|").is_some();
@@ -116,19 +120,30 @@ pub fn print(s: &str) -> (String, Selection) {
         }
 
         if head_at_beg {
-            panic!("missing end `{}#` {:?} {:?}", close_pair, left, s);
+            return Err(ParseSelectionError::MissingClosingPair(format!(
+                "Missing end `{}#`: {:?} {:?}",
+                close_pair, left, s
+            )));
         } else {
-            panic!("missing end `|{}#` {:?} {:?}", close_pair, left, s);
+            return Err(ParseSelectionError::MissingClosingPair(format!(
+                "Missing end `|{}#`: {:?} {:?}",
+                close_pair, left, s
+            )));
         }
     }
 
     let primary = match primary_idx {
         Some(i) => i,
-        None => panic!("missing primary `#[|]#` {:?}", s),
+        None => {
+            return Err(ParseSelectionError::MissingPrimary(format!(
+                "Missing primary `#[|]#:` {:?}",
+                s
+            )));
+        }
     };
 
     let selection = Selection::new(ranges, primary);
-    (left, selection)
+    Ok((left, selection))
 }
 
 /// Convert test string and selection to annotated test string.
@@ -187,27 +202,27 @@ mod test {
     fn print_single() {
         assert_eq!(
             (String::from("hello"), Selection::single(1, 0)),
-            print("#[|h]#ello")
+            parse_selection_string("#[|h]#ello").unwrap()
         );
         assert_eq!(
             (String::from("hello"), Selection::single(0, 1)),
-            print("#[h|]#ello")
+            parse_selection_string("#[h|]#ello").unwrap()
         );
         assert_eq!(
             (String::from("hello"), Selection::single(4, 0)),
-            print("#[|hell]#o")
+            parse_selection_string("#[|hell]#o").unwrap()
         );
         assert_eq!(
             (String::from("hello"), Selection::single(0, 4)),
-            print("#[hell|]#o")
+            parse_selection_string("#[hell|]#o").unwrap()
         );
         assert_eq!(
             (String::from("hello"), Selection::single(5, 0)),
-            print("#[|hello]#")
+            parse_selection_string("#[|hello]#").unwrap()
         );
         assert_eq!(
             (String::from("hello"), Selection::single(0, 5)),
-            print("#[hello|]#")
+            parse_selection_string("#[hello|]#").unwrap()
         );
     }
 
@@ -221,7 +236,7 @@ mod test {
                     0
                 )
             ),
-            print("#[|h]#ell#(|o)#")
+            parse_selection_string("#[|h]#ell#(|o)#").unwrap()
         );
         assert_eq!(
             (
@@ -231,7 +246,7 @@ mod test {
                     0
                 )
             ),
-            print("#[h|]#ell#(o|)#")
+            parse_selection_string("#[h|]#ell#(o|)#").unwrap()
         );
         assert_eq!(
             (
@@ -241,7 +256,7 @@ mod test {
                     0
                 )
             ),
-            print("#[|he]#l#(|lo)#")
+            parse_selection_string("#[|he]#l#(|lo)#").unwrap()
         );
         assert_eq!(
             (
@@ -255,7 +270,7 @@ mod test {
                     0
                 )
             ),
-            print("hello#[|\r\n]#hello#(|\r\n)#hello#(|\r\n)#")
+            parse_selection_string("hello#[|\r\n]#hello#(|\r\n)#hello#(|\r\n)#").unwrap()
         );
     }
 
@@ -263,23 +278,23 @@ mod test {
     fn print_multi_byte_code_point() {
         assert_eq!(
             (String::from("„“"), Selection::single(1, 0)),
-            print("#[|„]#“")
+            parse_selection_string("#[|„]#“").unwrap()
         );
         assert_eq!(
             (String::from("„“"), Selection::single(2, 1)),
-            print("„#[|“]#")
+            parse_selection_string("„#[|“]#").unwrap()
         );
         assert_eq!(
             (String::from("„“"), Selection::single(0, 1)),
-            print("#[„|]#“")
+            parse_selection_string("#[„|]#“").unwrap()
         );
         assert_eq!(
             (String::from("„“"), Selection::single(1, 2)),
-            print("„#[“|]#")
+            parse_selection_string("„#[“|]#").unwrap()
         );
         assert_eq!(
             (String::from("they said „hello“"), Selection::single(11, 10)),
-            print("they said #[|„]#hello“")
+            parse_selection_string("they said #[|„]#hello“").unwrap()
         );
     }
 
@@ -290,7 +305,7 @@ mod test {
                 String::from("hello 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 goodbye"),
                 Selection::single(13, 6)
             ),
-            print("hello #[|👨‍👩‍👧‍👦]# goodbye")
+            parse_selection_string("hello #[|👨‍👩‍👧‍👦]# goodbye").unwrap()
         );
     }
 
diff --git a/helix-core/src/textobject.rs b/helix-core/src/textobject.rs
index 7576b3a78..c65d0be11 100644
--- a/helix-core/src/textobject.rs
+++ b/helix-core/src/textobject.rs
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ mod test {
         ];
 
         for (before, expected) in tests {
-            let (s, selection) = crate::test::print(before);
+            let (s, selection) = crate::test::parse_selection_string(before).unwrap();
             let text = Rope::from(s.as_str());
             let selection = selection
                 .transform(|r| textobject_paragraph(text.slice(..), r, TextObject::Inside, 1));
@@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ mod test {
         ];
 
         for (before, expected) in tests {
-            let (s, selection) = crate::test::print(before);
+            let (s, selection) = crate::test::parse_selection_string(before).unwrap();
             let text = Rope::from(s.as_str());
             let selection = selection
                 .transform(|r| textobject_paragraph(text.slice(..), r, TextObject::Inside, 2));
@@ -489,7 +489,7 @@ mod test {
         ];
 
         for (before, expected) in tests {
-            let (s, selection) = crate::test::print(before);
+            let (s, selection) = crate::test::parse_selection_string(before).unwrap();
             let text = Rope::from(s.as_str());
             let selection = selection
                 .transform(|r| textobject_paragraph(text.slice(..), r, TextObject::Around, 1));
diff --git a/helix-term/src/ui/markdown.rs b/helix-term/src/ui/markdown.rs
index fe581b5ad..118dafdee 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/ui/markdown.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/ui/markdown.rs
@@ -5,12 +5,13 @@ use tui::{
     text::{Span, Spans, Text},
 };
 
-use std::sync::Arc;
+use std::{collections::HashSet, sync::Arc};
 
 use pulldown_cmark::{CodeBlockKind, Event, HeadingLevel, Options, Parser, Tag, TagEnd};
 
 use helix_core::{
     syntax::{self, HighlightEvent, InjectionLanguageMarker, Syntax},
+    test::parse_selection_string,
     RopeSlice,
 };
 use helix_view::{
@@ -39,74 +40,147 @@ pub fn highlighted_code_block<'a>(
     let mut lines = Vec::new();
 
     let get_theme = |key: &str| -> Style { theme.map(|t| t.get(key)).unwrap_or_default() };
-    let text_style = get_theme(Markdown::TEXT_STYLE);
-    let code_style = get_theme(Markdown::BLOCK_STYLE);
 
-    let theme = match theme {
-        Some(t) => t,
-        None => return styled_multiline_text(text, code_style),
-    };
-
-    let ropeslice = RopeSlice::from(text);
-    let syntax = config_loader
-        .load()
-        .language_configuration_for_injection_string(&InjectionLanguageMarker::Name(
-            language.into(),
-        ))
-        .and_then(|config| config.highlight_config(theme.scopes()))
-        .and_then(|config| Syntax::new(ropeslice, config, Arc::clone(&config_loader)));
-
-    let syntax = match syntax {
-        Some(s) => s,
-        None => return styled_multiline_text(text, code_style),
-    };
-
-    let highlight_iter = syntax
-        .highlight_iter(ropeslice, None, None)
-        .map(|e| e.unwrap());
-    let highlight_iter: Box<dyn Iterator<Item = HighlightEvent>> =
-        if let Some(spans) = additional_highlight_spans {
-            Box::new(helix_core::syntax::merge(highlight_iter, spans))
-        } else {
-            Box::new(highlight_iter)
+    // Apply custom rendering rules to multicursor code blocks.
+    // These render selections as if in the real editor.
+    if language == "multicursor" {
+        let (text, selections) = match parse_selection_string(text) {
+            Ok(value) => value,
+            Err(err) => {
+                return styled_multiline_text(
+                    &format!("Could not parse selection: {err:#?}"),
+                    get_theme("error"),
+                )
+            }
         };
 
-    let mut highlights = Vec::new();
-    for event in highlight_iter {
-        match event {
-            HighlightEvent::HighlightStart(span) => {
-                highlights.push(span);
+        let style_cursor = get_theme("ui.cursor");
+        let style_cursor_primary = get_theme("ui.cursor.primary");
+        let style_selection = get_theme("ui.selection");
+        let style_selection_primary = get_theme("ui.selection.primary");
+        let style_text = get_theme("ui.text");
+
+        let mut selection_positions = HashSet::new();
+        let mut cursors_positions = HashSet::new();
+        let primary = selections.primary();
+
+        for range in selections.iter() {
+            selection_positions.extend(range.from()..range.to());
+            cursors_positions.insert(if range.head > range.anchor {
+                range.head.saturating_sub(1)
+            } else {
+                range.head
+            });
+        }
+
+        let mut chars = text.chars().enumerate().peekable();
+
+        while let Some((idx, ch)) = chars.next() {
+            // handle \r\n line break.
+            if ch == '\r' && chars.peek().is_some_and(|(_, ch)| *ch == '\n') {
+                // We're on a line break. We already have the
+                // code to handle newlines in place, so we can just
+                // handle the newline on the next iteration
+                continue;
             }
-            HighlightEvent::HighlightEnd => {
-                highlights.pop();
-            }
-            HighlightEvent::Source { start, end } => {
-                let style = highlights
-                    .iter()
-                    .fold(text_style, |acc, span| acc.patch(theme.highlight(span.0)));
 
-                let mut slice = &text[start..end];
-                // TODO: do we need to handle all unicode line endings
-                // here, or is just '\n' okay?
-                while let Some(end) = slice.find('\n') {
-                    // emit span up to newline
-                    let text = &slice[..end];
-                    let text = text.replace('\t', "    "); // replace tabs
-                    let span = Span::styled(text, style);
-                    spans.push(span);
+            let is_cursor = cursors_positions.contains(&idx);
+            let is_selection = selection_positions.contains(&idx);
+            let is_primary = idx <= primary.to() && idx >= primary.from();
 
-                    // truncate slice to after newline
-                    slice = &slice[end + 1..];
-
-                    // make a new line
-                    let spans = std::mem::take(&mut spans);
-                    lines.push(Spans::from(spans));
+            let style = if is_cursor {
+                if is_primary {
+                    style_cursor_primary
+                } else {
+                    style_cursor
                 }
+            } else if is_selection {
+                if is_primary {
+                    style_selection_primary
+                } else {
+                    style_selection
+                }
+            } else {
+                style_text
+            };
 
-                // if there's anything left, emit it too
-                if !slice.is_empty() {
-                    let span = Span::styled(slice.replace('\t', "    "), style);
-                    spans.push(span);
+            if ch == '\n' {
+                lines.push(Spans::from(spans));
+                spans = vec![];
+            } else {
+                spans.push(Span::styled(ch.to_string(), style));
+            }
+        }
+    } else {
+        let text_style = get_theme(Markdown::TEXT_STYLE);
+        let code_style = get_theme(Markdown::BLOCK_STYLE);
+
+        let theme = match theme {
+            Some(t) => t,
+            None => return styled_multiline_text(text, code_style),
+        };
+
+        let ropeslice = RopeSlice::from(text);
+        let syntax = config_loader
+            .load()
+            .language_configuration_for_injection_string(&InjectionLanguageMarker::Name(
+                language.into(),
+            ))
+            .and_then(|config| config.highlight_config(theme.scopes()))
+            .and_then(|config| Syntax::new(ropeslice, config, Arc::clone(&config_loader)));
+
+        let syntax = match syntax {
+            Some(s) => s,
+            None => return styled_multiline_text(text, code_style),
+        };
+
+        let highlight_iter = syntax
+            .highlight_iter(ropeslice, None, None)
+            .map(|e| e.unwrap());
+        let highlight_iter: Box<dyn Iterator<Item = HighlightEvent>> =
+            if let Some(spans) = additional_highlight_spans {
+                Box::new(helix_core::syntax::merge(highlight_iter, spans))
+            } else {
+                Box::new(highlight_iter)
+            };
+
+        let mut highlights = Vec::new();
+        for event in highlight_iter {
+            match event {
+                HighlightEvent::HighlightStart(span) => {
+                    highlights.push(span);
+                }
+                HighlightEvent::HighlightEnd => {
+                    highlights.pop();
+                }
+                HighlightEvent::Source { start, end } => {
+                    let style = highlights
+                        .iter()
+                        .fold(text_style, |acc, span| acc.patch(theme.highlight(span.0)));
+
+                    let mut slice = &text[start..end];
+                    // TODO: do we need to handle all unicode line endings
+                    // here, or is just '\n' okay?
+                    while let Some(end) = slice.find('\n') {
+                        // emit span up to newline
+                        let text = &slice[..end];
+                        let text = text.replace('\t', "    "); // replace tabs
+                        let span = Span::styled(text, style);
+                        spans.push(span);
+
+                        // truncate slice to after newline
+                        slice = &slice[end + 1..];
+
+                        // make a new line
+                        let spans = std::mem::take(&mut spans);
+                        lines.push(Spans::from(spans));
+                    }
+
+                    // if there's anything left, emit it too
+                    if !slice.is_empty() {
+                        let span = Span::styled(slice.replace('\t', "    "), style);
+                        spans.push(span);
+                    }
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/helix-term/tests/test/helpers.rs b/helix-term/tests/test/helpers.rs
index ef910852c..ee438ac96 100644
--- a/helix-term/tests/test/helpers.rs
+++ b/helix-term/tests/test/helpers.rs
@@ -82,8 +82,10 @@ where
     V: Into<String>,
 {
     fn from((input, keys, output, line_feed_handling): (S, R, V, LineFeedHandling)) -> Self {
-        let (in_text, in_selection) = test::print(&line_feed_handling.apply(&input.into()));
-        let (out_text, out_selection) = test::print(&line_feed_handling.apply(&output.into()));
+        let (in_text, in_selection) =
+            test::parse_selection_string(&line_feed_handling.apply(&input.into())).unwrap();
+        let (out_text, out_selection) =
+            test::parse_selection_string(&line_feed_handling.apply(&output.into())).unwrap();
 
         TestCase {
             in_text,
@@ -362,7 +364,7 @@ impl AppBuilder {
     }
 
     pub fn with_input_text<S: Into<String>>(mut self, input_text: S) -> Self {
-        self.input = Some(test::print(&input_text.into()));
+        self.input = Some(test::parse_selection_string(&input_text.into()).unwrap());
         self
     }