diff --git a/tools/imglab/src/metadata_editor.cpp b/tools/imglab/src/metadata_editor.cpp
index af551d6ac..d81232f85 100644
--- a/tools/imglab/src/metadata_editor.cpp
+++ b/tools/imglab/src/metadata_editor.cpp
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ metadata_editor(
     overlay_label.set_width(200);
 
     display.set_overlay_rects_changed_handler(*this, &metadata_editor::on_overlay_rects_changed);
+    display.set_overlay_rect_selected_handler(*this, &metadata_editor::on_overlay_rect_selected);
     overlay_label.set_text_modified_handler(*this, &metadata_editor::on_overlay_label_changed);
 
     mbar.set_number_of_menus(1);
@@ -386,3 +387,14 @@ on_overlay_label_changed(
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+void metadata_editor::
+on_overlay_rect_selected(
+    const image_display::overlay_rect& orect
+)
+{
+    overlay_label.set_text(orect.label);
+    display.set_default_overlay_rect_label(orect.label);
+}
+
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
diff --git a/tools/imglab/src/metadata_editor.h b/tools/imglab/src/metadata_editor.h
index 659960e3a..d7eb1666a 100644
--- a/tools/imglab/src/metadata_editor.h
+++ b/tools/imglab/src/metadata_editor.h
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ private:
     void load_image_and_set_size(unsigned long idx);
     void on_overlay_rects_changed();
     void on_overlay_label_changed();
+    void on_overlay_rect_selected(const dlib::image_display::overlay_rect& orect);
 
     std::string filename;
     dlib::image_dataset_metadata::dataset metadata;