diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3e036dc..5547deb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -73,26 +73,28 @@ require("nvim-paredit").setup({
       paredit.api.move_to_next_element,
       "Jump to next element tail",
       -- by default all keybindings are dot repeatable
-      repeatable = false 
+      repeatable = false,
+      mode = { "n", "x", "o", "v" },
     },
     ["B"] = {
       paredit.api.move_to_prev_element, 
       "Jump to previous element head",
-      repeatable = false
+      repeatable = false,
+      mode = { "n", "x", "o", "v" },
     },
 
-    -- These are text object selection keybindings which can used with standard `d, y, c`
+    -- These are text object selection keybindings which can used with standard `d, y, c`, `v`
     ["af"] = {
       api.select_around_form,
       "Around form",
       repeatable = false,
-      mode = { "o" }
+      mode = { "o", "v" }
     },
     ["if"] = {
       api.select_in_form,
       "In form",
       repeatable = false,
-      mode = { "o" }
+      mode = { "o", "v" }
     },
   }
 })
diff --git a/lua/nvim-paredit/api/motions.lua b/lua/nvim-paredit/api/motions.lua
index 0b72eab..fe1c121 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-paredit/api/motions.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-paredit/api/motions.lua
@@ -124,12 +124,25 @@ function M._move_to_element(count, reversed)
   vim.api.nvim_win_set_cursor(0, cursor_pos)
 end
 
+-- When in operator-pending mode (`o` or `no`) then we need to switch to
+-- visual mode in order for the operator to apply over a range of text.
+local function ensure_visual_if_operator_pending()
+  local mode = vim.api.nvim_get_mode().mode
+  if mode == "o" or mode == "no" then
+    common.ensure_visual_mode()
+  end
+end
+
 function M.move_to_prev_element()
-  M._move_to_element(vim.v.count1, true)
+  local count = vim.v.count1
+  ensure_visual_if_operator_pending()
+  M._move_to_element(count, true)
 end
 
 function M.move_to_next_element()
-  M._move_to_element(vim.v.count1, false)
+  local count = vim.v.count1
+  ensure_visual_if_operator_pending()
+  M._move_to_element(count, false)
 end
 
 return M
diff --git a/lua/nvim-paredit/defaults.lua b/lua/nvim-paredit/defaults.lua
index cc216e4..ee3944b 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-paredit/defaults.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-paredit/defaults.lua
@@ -22,26 +22,26 @@ M.default_keys = {
     api.move_to_next_element,
     "Next element tail",
     repeatable = false,
-    operator = true,
+    mode = { "n", "x", "o", "v" },
   },
   ["B"] = {
     api.move_to_prev_element,
     "Previous element head",
     repeatable = false,
-    operator = true,
+    mode = { "n", "x", "o", "v" },
   },
 
   ["af"] = {
     api.select_around_form,
     "Around form",
     repeatable = false,
-    mode = { "o", "v" }
+    mode = { "o", "v" },
   },
   ["if"] = {
     api.select_in_form,
     "In form",
     repeatable = false,
-    mode = { "o", "v" }
+    mode = { "o", "v" },
   },
 }
 
diff --git a/lua/nvim-paredit/utils/common.lua b/lua/nvim-paredit/utils/common.lua
index 2196796..8e49b13 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-paredit/utils/common.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-paredit/utils/common.lua
@@ -59,5 +59,11 @@ function M.intersection(tbl, original)
   return result
 end
 
+function M.ensure_visual_mode()
+  if vim.api.nvim_get_mode().mode ~= "v" then
+    vim.api.nvim_command("normal! v")
+  end
+end
+
 return M
 
diff --git a/lua/nvim-paredit/utils/keybindings.lua b/lua/nvim-paredit/utils/keybindings.lua
index 8adfacf..11e85b3 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-paredit/utils/keybindings.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-paredit/utils/keybindings.lua
@@ -17,25 +17,12 @@ function M.with_repeat(fn)
   end
 end
 
--- we wrap motion keys with visual mode for operator mode
--- such that dE/cE becomes dvE/cvE
-function M.visualize(fn)
-  return function()
-    vim.api.nvim_command("normal! v")
-    fn()
-  end
-end
-
 function M.setup_keybindings(opts)
   for keymap, action in pairs(opts.keys) do
     local repeatable = true
-    local operator = false
     if type(action.repeatable) == "boolean" then
       repeatable = action.repeatable
     end
-    if type(action.operator) == "boolean" then
-      operator = action.operator
-    end
 
     local fn = action[1]
     if repeatable then
@@ -49,16 +36,6 @@ function M.setup_keybindings(opts)
       remap = false,
       silent = true,
     })
-
-    if operator then
-      vim.keymap.set("o", keymap, M.visualize(fn), {
-        desc = action[2],
-        buffer = opts.buf or 0,
-        expr = repeatable,
-        remap = false,
-        silent = true,
-      })
-    end
   end
 end
 
diff --git a/tests/nvim-paredit/operator_motion_spec.lua b/tests/nvim-paredit/operator_motion_spec.lua
index 3e6821a..202e801 100644
--- a/tests/nvim-paredit/operator_motion_spec.lua
+++ b/tests/nvim-paredit/operator_motion_spec.lua
@@ -2,15 +2,14 @@ local prepare_buffer = require("tests.nvim-paredit.utils").prepare_buffer
 local feedkeys = require("tests.nvim-paredit.utils").feedkeys
 local expect = require("tests.nvim-paredit.utils").expect
 local keybindings = require("nvim-paredit.utils.keybindings")
-local motions = require("nvim-paredit.api.motions")
 
-local next_element = keybindings.visualize(motions.move_to_next_element)
-local prev_element = keybindings.visualize(motions.move_to_prev_element)
+local defaults = require("nvim-paredit.defaults")
 
 describe("motions with operator pending", function()
   before_each(function()
-    vim.keymap.set("o", "E", next_element, { buffer = true })
-    vim.keymap.set("o", "B", prev_element, { buffer = true })
+    keybindings.setup_keybindings({
+      keys = defaults.default_keys
+    })
   end)
 
   it("should delete next form", function()
@@ -87,8 +86,36 @@ describe("motions with operator pending", function()
       cursor = { 1, 4 },
     })
   end)
-  after_each(function()
-    vim.keymap.del("o", "E")
-    vim.keymap.del("o", "B")
+end)
+
+describe("motions with operator pending and v:count", function()
+  before_each(function()
+    keybindings.setup_keybindings({
+      keys = defaults.default_keys
+    })
+  end)
+
+  it("should delete the next 2 elements", function()
+    prepare_buffer({
+      content = "(aa bb cc)",
+      cursor = { 1, 4 },
+    })
+    feedkeys("d2<S-e>")
+    expect({
+      content = "(aa )",
+      cursor = { 1, 4 },
+    })
+  end)
+
+  it("should delete the previous 2 elements", function()
+    prepare_buffer({
+      content = "(aa bb cc)",
+      cursor = { 1, 8 },
+    })
+    feedkeys("d2<S-b>")
+    expect({
+      content = "(aa )",
+      cursor = { 1, 4 },
+    })
   end)
 end)
diff --git a/tests/nvim-paredit/text_object_selections_spec.lua b/tests/nvim-paredit/text_object_selections_spec.lua
index 9abdf51..6e1b8b5 100644
--- a/tests/nvim-paredit/text_object_selections_spec.lua
+++ b/tests/nvim-paredit/text_object_selections_spec.lua
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-local paredit = require("nvim-paredit.api")
+local keybindings = require("nvim-paredit.utils.keybindings")
+local defaults = require("nvim-paredit.defaults")
 
 local prepare_buffer = require("tests.nvim-paredit.utils").prepare_buffer
 local feedkeys = require("tests.nvim-paredit.utils").feedkeys
@@ -9,8 +10,9 @@ describe("form deletions", function()
   vim.api.nvim_buf_set_option(0, "filetype", "clojure")
 
   before_each(function()
-    vim.keymap.set("o", "af", paredit.select_around_form, { buffer = true, remap = false })
-    vim.keymap.set("o", "if", paredit.select_in_form, { buffer = true, remap = false })
+    keybindings.setup_keybindings({
+      keys = defaults.default_keys,
+    })
   end)
 
   it("should delete the form", function()
@@ -78,8 +80,9 @@ describe("form selections", function()
   vim.api.nvim_buf_set_option(0, "filetype", "clojure")
 
   before_each(function()
-    vim.keymap.set("v", "af", paredit.select_around_form, { buffer = true, remap = false })
-    vim.keymap.set("v", "if", paredit.select_in_form, { buffer = true, remap = false })
+    keybindings.setup_keybindings({
+      keys = defaults.default_keys,
+    })
   end)
 
   it("should select the form", function()