diff --git a/kitty/boss.py b/kitty/boss.py
index 421376e39..d60f92151 100644
--- a/kitty/boss.py
+++ b/kitty/boss.py
@@ -493,10 +493,12 @@ def _run_kitten(self, kitten, args=(), type_of_input='none'):
                 raise ValueError('Unknown type_of_input: {}'.format(type_of_input))
             from kittens.runner import create_kitten_handler
             end_kitten = create_kitten_handler(kitten, orig_args)
+            copts = {k: self.opts[k] for k in ('select_by_word_characters', 'open_url_with')}
             overlay_window = tab.new_special_window(
                 SpecialWindow(
                     ['kitty', '+runpy', 'from kittens.runner import main; main()'] + args,
                     stdin=data,
+                    env={'KITTY_COMMON_OPTS': json.dumps(copts)},
                     overlay_for=w.id))
             overlay_window.action_on_close = partial(self.on_kitten_finish, w.id, end_kitten)
 
diff --git a/kitty/tabs.py b/kitty/tabs.py
index 6a3e3a378..339ed975e 100644
--- a/kitty/tabs.py
+++ b/kitty/tabs.py
@@ -21,11 +21,11 @@
 from .window import Window, calculate_gl_geometry
 
 TabbarData = namedtuple('TabbarData', 'title is_active is_last')
-SpecialWindowInstance = namedtuple('SpecialWindow', 'cmd stdin override_title cwd_from cwd overlay_for')
+SpecialWindowInstance = namedtuple('SpecialWindow', 'cmd stdin override_title cwd_from cwd overlay_for env')
 
 
-def SpecialWindow(cmd, stdin=None, override_title=None, cwd_from=None, cwd=None, overlay_for=None):
-    return SpecialWindowInstance(cmd, stdin, override_title, cwd_from, cwd, overlay_for)
+def SpecialWindow(cmd, stdin=None, override_title=None, cwd_from=None, cwd=None, overlay_for=None, env=None):
+    return SpecialWindowInstance(cmd, stdin, override_title, cwd_from, cwd, overlay_for, env)
 
 
 class Tab:  # {{{
@@ -124,25 +124,27 @@ def goto_layout(self, layout_name):
         self.current_layout = self.create_layout_object(layout_name)
         self.relayout()
 
-    def launch_child(self, use_shell=False, cmd=None, stdin=None, cwd_from=None, cwd=None):
+    def launch_child(self, use_shell=False, cmd=None, stdin=None, cwd_from=None, cwd=None, env=None):
         if cmd is None:
             if use_shell:
                 cmd = resolved_shell(self.opts)
             else:
                 cmd = self.args.args or resolved_shell(self.opts)
-        env = {}
+        fenv = {}
+        if env:
+            fenv.update(env)
         if not is_macos and not is_wayland:
             try:
-                env['WINDOWID'] = str(x11_window_id(self.os_window_id))
+                fenv['WINDOWID'] = str(x11_window_id(self.os_window_id))
             except Exception:
                 import traceback
                 traceback.print_exc()
-        ans = Child(cmd, cwd or self.cwd, self.opts, stdin, env, cwd_from)
+        ans = Child(cmd, cwd or self.cwd, self.opts, stdin, fenv, cwd_from)
         ans.fork()
         return ans
 
-    def new_window(self, use_shell=True, cmd=None, stdin=None, override_title=None, cwd_from=None, cwd=None, overlay_for=None):
-        child = self.launch_child(use_shell=use_shell, cmd=cmd, stdin=stdin, cwd_from=cwd_from, cwd=cwd)
+    def new_window(self, use_shell=True, cmd=None, stdin=None, override_title=None, cwd_from=None, cwd=None, overlay_for=None, env=None):
+        child = self.launch_child(use_shell=use_shell, cmd=cmd, stdin=stdin, cwd_from=cwd_from, cwd=cwd, env=env)
         window = Window(self, child, self.opts, self.args, override_title=override_title)
         if overlay_for is not None:
             overlaid = next(w for w in self.windows if w.id == overlay_for)