diff --git a/kitty/options/utils.py b/kitty/options/utils.py
index e0ffbab9b..9ab74d042 100644
--- a/kitty/options/utils.py
+++ b/kitty/options/utils.py
@@ -679,6 +679,10 @@ def remote_control_password(val: str, current_val: Dict[str, str]) -> Iterable[T
     val = val.strip()
     if val:
         parts = to_cmdline(val, expand=False)
+        if parts[0].startswith('-'):
+            # this is done so in the future we can add --options to the cmd
+            # line of remote_control_password
+            raise ValueError('Passwords are not allowed to start with hyphens, ignoring this password')
         if len(parts) == 1:
             yield parts[0], tuple()
         else: