diff --git a/editor/store/actions.js b/editor/store/actions.js
index 6453c6c700292..fb9aa2a6357b8 100644
--- a/editor/store/actions.js
+++ b/editor/store/actions.js
@@ -539,5 +539,8 @@ export function convertBlockToReusable( uid ) {
 export function insertDefaultBlock( attributes, rootUID, index ) {
 	const block = createBlock( getDefaultBlockName(), attributes );
 
-	return insertBlock( block, index, rootUID );
+	return {
+		...insertBlock( block, index, rootUID ),
+		isProvisional: true,
+	};
 }
diff --git a/editor/store/effects.js b/editor/store/effects.js
index 545c6c9bb5e66..c336868b36eaa 100644
--- a/editor/store/effects.js
+++ b/editor/store/effects.js
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ import {
 	getBlocks,
 	getReusableBlock,
 	getProvisionalBlockUID,
+	isBlockSelected,
 	POST_UPDATE_TRANSACTION_ID,
 } from './selectors';
 
@@ -72,8 +73,9 @@ const REUSABLE_BLOCK_NOTICE_ID = 'REUSABLE_BLOCK_NOTICE_ID';
  * @return {?Object} Remove action, if provisional block is set.
  */
 export function removeProvisionalBlock( action, store ) {
-	const provisionalBlockUID = getProvisionalBlockUID( store.getState() );
-	if ( provisionalBlockUID ) {
+	const state = store.getState();
+	const provisionalBlockUID = getProvisionalBlockUID( state );
+	if ( provisionalBlockUID && ! isBlockSelected( state, provisionalBlockUID ) ) {
 		return removeBlock( provisionalBlockUID );
 	}
 }
diff --git a/editor/store/reducer.js b/editor/store/reducer.js
index 5b03ccddd6382..92923cd16b310 100644
--- a/editor/store/reducer.js
+++ b/editor/store/reducer.js
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import {
 	omitBy,
 	keys,
 	isEqual,
+	includes,
 } from 'lodash';
 
 /**
@@ -600,6 +601,48 @@ export function blockSelection( state = {
 	return state;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Reducer returning the UID of the provisional block. A provisional block is
+ * one which is to be removed if it does not receive updates in the time until
+ * the next selection or block reset.
+ *
+ * @param {string} state  Current state.
+ * @param {Object} action Dispatched action.
+ *
+ * @return {string} Updated state.
+ */
+export function provisionalBlockUID( state = null, action ) {
+	switch ( action.type ) {
+		case 'INSERT_BLOCKS':
+			if ( action.isProvisional ) {
+				return first( action.blocks ).uid;
+			}
+			break;
+
+		case 'RESET_BLOCKS':
+			return null;
+
+		case 'UPDATE_BLOCK_ATTRIBUTES':
+		case 'UPDATE_BLOCK':
+		case 'CONVERT_BLOCK_TO_REUSABLE':
+			const { uid } = action;
+			if ( uid === state ) {
+				return null;
+			}
+			break;
+
+		case 'REPLACE_BLOCKS':
+		case 'REMOVE_BLOCKS':
+			const { uids } = action;
+			if ( includes( uids, state ) ) {
+				return null;
+			}
+			break;
+	}
+
+	return state;
+}
+
 export function blocksMode( state = {}, action ) {
 	if ( action.type === 'TOGGLE_BLOCK_MODE' ) {
 		const { uid } = action;
@@ -845,6 +888,7 @@ export default optimist( combineReducers( {
 	currentPost,
 	isTyping,
 	blockSelection,
+	provisionalBlockUID,
 	blocksMode,
 	isInsertionPointVisible,
 	preferences,
diff --git a/editor/store/selectors.js b/editor/store/selectors.js
index 14ce95bed18fb..e864360e04309 100644
--- a/editor/store/selectors.js
+++ b/editor/store/selectors.js
@@ -1296,3 +1296,14 @@ export function isPublishingPost( state ) {
 	// considered published
 	return !! stateBeforeRequest && ! isCurrentPostPublished( stateBeforeRequest );
 }
+
+/**
+ * Returns the provisional block UID, or null if there is no provisional block.
+ *
+ * @param {Object} state Editor state.
+ *
+ * @return {?string} Provisional block UID, if set.
+ */
+export function getProvisionalBlockUID( state ) {
+	return state.provisionalBlockUID;
+}
diff --git a/editor/store/test/effects.js b/editor/store/test/effects.js
index afa245777567d..3c010e3c13ed8 100644
--- a/editor/store/test/effects.js
+++ b/editor/store/test/effects.js
@@ -30,9 +30,12 @@ import {
 	convertBlockToStatic,
 	convertBlockToReusable,
 	selectBlock,
+	removeBlock,
 } from '../../store/actions';
 import reducer from '../reducer';
-import effects from '../effects';
+import effects, {
+	removeProvisionalBlock,
+} from '../effects';
 import * as selectors from '../../store/selectors';
 
 // Make all generated UUIDs the same for testing
@@ -43,6 +46,47 @@ jest.mock( 'uuid/v4', () => {
 describe( 'effects', () => {
 	const defaultBlockSettings = { save: () => 'Saved', category: 'common', title: 'block title' };
 
+	describe( 'removeProvisionalBlock()', () => {
+		const store = { getState: () => {} };
+
+		beforeAll( () => {
+			selectors.getProvisionalBlockUID = jest.spyOn( selectors, 'getProvisionalBlockUID' );
+			selectors.isBlockSelected = jest.spyOn( selectors, 'isBlockSelected' );
+		} );
+
+		beforeEach( () => {
+			selectors.getProvisionalBlockUID.mockReset();
+			selectors.isBlockSelected.mockReset();
+		} );
+
+		afterAll( () => {
+			selectors.getProvisionalBlockUID.mockRestore();
+			selectors.isBlockSelected.mockRestore();
+		} );
+
+		it( 'should return nothing if there is no provisional block', () => {
+			const action = removeProvisionalBlock( {}, store );
+
+			expect( action ).toBeUndefined();
+		} );
+
+		it( 'should return nothing if there is a provisional block and it is selected', () => {
+			selectors.getProvisionalBlockUID.mockReturnValue( 'chicken' );
+			selectors.isBlockSelected.mockImplementation( ( state, uid ) => uid === 'chicken' );
+			const action = removeProvisionalBlock( {}, store );
+
+			expect( action ).toBeUndefined();
+		} );
+
+		it( 'should return remove action for provisional block', () => {
+			selectors.getProvisionalBlockUID.mockReturnValue( 'chicken' );
+			selectors.isBlockSelected.mockImplementation( ( state, uid ) => uid === 'ribs' );
+			const action = removeProvisionalBlock( {}, store );
+
+			expect( action ).toEqual( removeBlock( 'chicken' ) );
+		} );
+	} );
+
 	describe( '.MERGE_BLOCKS', () => {
 		const handler = effects.MERGE_BLOCKS;
 		const defaultGetBlock = selectors.getBlock;
diff --git a/editor/store/test/reducer.js b/editor/store/test/reducer.js
index 81df4129511e2..f0b229f4dbb9b 100644
--- a/editor/store/test/reducer.js
+++ b/editor/store/test/reducer.js
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import {
 	preferences,
 	saving,
 	notices,
+	provisionalBlockUID,
 	blocksMode,
 	isInsertionPointVisible,
 	reusableBlocks,
@@ -1417,6 +1418,100 @@ describe( 'state', () => {
 		} );
 	} );
 
+	describe( 'provisionalBlockUID()', () => {
+		const PROVISIONAL_UPDATE_ACTION_TYPES = [
+			'UPDATE_BLOCK_ATTRIBUTES',
+			'UPDATE_BLOCK',
+			'CONVERT_BLOCK_TO_REUSABLE',
+		];
+
+		const PROVISIONAL_REPLACE_ACTION_TYPES = [
+			'REPLACE_BLOCKS',
+			'REMOVE_BLOCKS',
+		];
+
+		it( 'returns null by default', () => {
+			const state = provisionalBlockUID( undefined, {} );
+
+			expect( state ).toBe( null );
+		} );
+
+		it( 'returns the uid of the first inserted provisional block', () => {
+			const state = provisionalBlockUID( null, {
+				type: 'INSERT_BLOCKS',
+				isProvisional: true,
+				blocks: [
+					{ uid: 'chicken' },
+				],
+			} );
+
+			expect( state ).toBe( 'chicken' );
+		} );
+
+		it( 'does not return uid of block if not provisional', () => {
+			const state = provisionalBlockUID( null, {
+				type: 'INSERT_BLOCKS',
+				blocks: [
+					{ uid: 'chicken' },
+				],
+			} );
+
+			expect( state ).toBe( null );
+		} );
+
+		it( 'returns null on block reset', () => {
+			const state = provisionalBlockUID( 'chicken', {
+				type: 'RESET_BLOCKS',
+			} );
+
+			expect( state ).toBe( null );
+		} );
+
+		it( 'returns null on block update', () => {
+			PROVISIONAL_UPDATE_ACTION_TYPES.forEach( ( type ) => {
+				const state = provisionalBlockUID( 'chicken', {
+					type,
+					uid: 'chicken',
+				} );
+
+				expect( state ).toBe( null );
+			} );
+		} );
+
+		it( 'does not return null if update occurs to non-provisional block', () => {
+			PROVISIONAL_UPDATE_ACTION_TYPES.forEach( ( type ) => {
+				const state = provisionalBlockUID( 'chicken', {
+					type,
+					uid: 'ribs',
+				} );
+
+				expect( state ).toBe( 'chicken' );
+			} );
+		} );
+
+		it( 'returns null if replacement of provisional block', () => {
+			PROVISIONAL_REPLACE_ACTION_TYPES.forEach( ( type ) => {
+				const state = provisionalBlockUID( 'chicken', {
+					type,
+					uids: [ 'chicken' ],
+				} );
+
+				expect( state ).toBe( null );
+			} );
+		} );
+
+		it( 'does not return null if replacement of non-provisional block', () => {
+			PROVISIONAL_REPLACE_ACTION_TYPES.forEach( ( type ) => {
+				const state = provisionalBlockUID( 'chicken', {
+					type,
+					uids: [ 'ribs' ],
+				} );
+
+				expect( state ).toBe( 'chicken' );
+			} );
+		} );
+	} );
+
 	describe( 'blocksMode', () => {
 		it( 'should set mode to html if not set', () => {
 			const action = {
diff --git a/editor/store/test/selectors.js b/editor/store/test/selectors.js
index 9cb79e54dc334..05eb53e6b84d1 100644
--- a/editor/store/test/selectors.js
+++ b/editor/store/test/selectors.js
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ const {
 	getInserterItems,
 	getRecentInserterItems,
 	getFrequentInserterItems,
+	getProvisionalBlockUID,
 	POST_UPDATE_TRANSACTION_ID,
 } = selectors;
 
@@ -2779,4 +2780,22 @@ describe( 'selectors', () => {
 			expect( isPublishing ).toBe( true );
 		} );
 	} );
+
+	describe( 'getProvisionalBlockUID()', () => {
+		it( 'should return null if not set', () => {
+			const provisionalBlockUID = getProvisionalBlockUID( {
+				provisionalBlockUID: null,
+			} );
+
+			expect( provisionalBlockUID ).toBe( null );
+		} );
+
+		it( 'should return UID of provisional block', () => {
+			const provisionalBlockUID = getProvisionalBlockUID( {
+				provisionalBlockUID: 'chicken',
+			} );
+
+			expect( provisionalBlockUID ).toBe( 'chicken' );
+		} );
+	} );
 } );
diff --git a/test/e2e/integration/002-adding-blocks.js b/test/e2e/integration/002-adding-blocks.js
index 1f899413a941b..1b948d7faf02a 100644
--- a/test/e2e/integration/002-adding-blocks.js
+++ b/test/e2e/integration/002-adding-blocks.js
@@ -4,20 +4,22 @@ describe( 'Adding blocks', () => {
 	} );
 
 	it( 'Should insert content using the placeholder and the regular inserter', () => {
-		const lastBlockSelector = '.editor-block-list__block-edit:last [contenteditable="true"]:first';
+		const lastBlockSelector = '.editor-block-list__block-edit:last';
 
 		// Using the placeholder
 		cy.get( '.editor-default-block-appender' ).click();
-		cy.get( lastBlockSelector ).type( 'Paragraph block' );
+		cy.focused().type( 'Paragraph block' );
+
+		// Default block appender is provisional
+		cy.get( lastBlockSelector ).then( ( firstBlock ) => {
+			cy.get( '.editor-default-block-appender' ).click();
+			cy.get( '.edit-post-visual-editor' ).click();
+			cy.get( lastBlockSelector ).should( 'have.text', firstBlock.text() );
+		} );
 
 		// Using the slash command
-		// Test commented because Cypress is not update the selection object properly,
-		// so the slash inserter is not showing up.
-		/* cy.get( '.edit-post-header [aria-label="Add block"]' ).click();
-		cy.get( '[placeholder="Search for a block"]' ).type( 'Paragraph' );
-		cy.get( '.editor-inserter__block' ).contains( 'Paragraph' ).click();
-		cy.get( lastBlockSelector ).type( '/quote{enter}' );
-		cy.get( lastBlockSelector ).type( 'Quote block' ); */
+		// TODO: Test omitted because Cypress doesn't update the selection
+		// object properly, so the slash inserter is not showing up.
 
 		// Using the regular inserter
 		cy.get( '.edit-post-header [aria-label="Add block"]' ).click();
@@ -25,14 +27,29 @@ describe( 'Adding blocks', () => {
 		cy.get( '.editor-inserter__block' ).contains( 'Code' ).click();
 		cy.get( '[placeholder="Write code…"]' ).type( 'Code block' );
 
+		// Using the between inserter
+		cy.document().trigger( 'mousemove', { clientX: 200, clientY: 300 } );
+		cy.document().trigger( 'mousemove', { clientX: 250, clientY: 350 } );
+		cy.get( '[data-type="core/paragraph"] .editor-block-list__insertion-point-inserter' ).click();
+		cy.focused().type( 'Second paragraph' );
+
 		// Switch to Text Mode to check HTML Output
 		cy.get( '.edit-post-more-menu [aria-label="More"]' ).click();
 		cy.get( 'button' ).contains( 'Code Editor' ).click();
 
 		// Assertions
-		cy.get( '.edit-post-text-editor' )
-			.should( 'contain', 'Paragraph block' )
-			// .should( 'contain', 'Quote block' )
-			.should( 'contain', 'Code block' );
+		cy.get( '.editor-post-text-editor' ).should( 'have.value', [
+			'<!-- wp:paragraph -->',
+			'<p>Paragraph block</p>',
+			'<!-- /wp:paragraph -->',
+			'',
+			'<!-- wp:paragraph -->',
+			'<p>Second paragraph</p>',
+			'<!-- /wp:paragraph -->',
+			'',
+			'<!-- wp:code -->',
+			'<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>Code block</code></pre>',
+			'<!-- /wp:code -->',
+		].join( '\n' ) );
 	} );
 } );
diff --git a/test/e2e/integration/004-managing-links.js b/test/e2e/integration/004-managing-links.js
index 7c482c5a533a2..dca8a7ef95cf0 100644
--- a/test/e2e/integration/004-managing-links.js
+++ b/test/e2e/integration/004-managing-links.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 describe( 'Managing links', () => {
-	before( () => {
+	beforeEach( () => {
 		cy.newPost();
 	} );
 
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ describe( 'Managing links', () => {
 
 		cy.get( '.editor-default-block-appender' ).click();
 
+		cy.focused().type( 'Text' );
+
 		cy.get( 'button[aria-label="Link"]' ).click();
 
 		// Typing "left" should not close the dialog
@@ -42,12 +44,12 @@ describe( 'Managing links', () => {
 	it( 'Pressing Left and Esc in Link Dialog in "Docked Toolbar" mode', () => {
 		setFixedToolbar( false );
 
-		const lastBlockSelector = '.editor-block-list__block-edit:last [contenteditable="true"]:first';
+		cy.get( '.editor-default-block-appender' ).click();
 
-		cy.get( lastBlockSelector ).click();
-		cy.focused().type( 'test' );
+		cy.focused().type( 'Text' );
 
 		// we need to trigger isTyping = false
+		const lastBlockSelector = '.editor-block-list__block-edit:last [contenteditable="true"]:first';
 		cy.get( lastBlockSelector ).trigger( 'mousemove', { clientX: 200, clientY: 300 } );
 		cy.get( lastBlockSelector ).trigger( 'mousemove', { clientX: 250, clientY: 350 } );