diff --git a/include/ghostty.h b/include/ghostty.h
index 9b7a918ec..8c4455564 100644
--- a/include/ghostty.h
+++ b/include/ghostty.h
@@ -747,6 +747,11 @@ typedef struct {
   uint64_t duration;
 } ghostty_action_command_finished_s;
 
+// apprt.action.StartSearch.C
+typedef struct {
+  const char* needle;
+} ghostty_action_start_search_s;
+
 // terminal.Scrollbar
 typedef struct {
   uint64_t total;
@@ -811,6 +816,7 @@ typedef enum {
   GHOSTTY_ACTION_PROGRESS_REPORT,
   GHOSTTY_ACTION_SHOW_ON_SCREEN_KEYBOARD,
   GHOSTTY_ACTION_COMMAND_FINISHED,
+  GHOSTTY_ACTION_START_SEARCH,
 } ghostty_action_tag_e;
 
 typedef union {
@@ -844,6 +850,7 @@ typedef union {
   ghostty_surface_message_childexited_s child_exited;
   ghostty_action_progress_report_s progress_report;
   ghostty_action_command_finished_s command_finished;
+  ghostty_action_start_search_s start_search;
 } ghostty_action_u;
 
 typedef struct {
diff --git a/src/Surface.zig b/src/Surface.zig
index 4323291be..1e1363229 100644
--- a/src/Surface.zig
+++ b/src/Surface.zig
@@ -4877,6 +4877,17 @@ pub fn performBindingAction(self: *Surface, action: input.Binding.Action) !bool
             self.renderer_state.terminal.fullReset();
         },
 
+        .start_search => if (self.search == null) {
+            // To save resources, we don't actually start a search here,
+            // we just notify teh apprt. The real thread will start when
+            // the first needles are set.
+            _ = try self.rt_app.performAction(
+                .{ .surface = self },
+                .start_search,
+                .{ .needle = "" },
+            );
+        } else return false,
+
         .search => |text| search: {
             const s: *Search = if (self.search) |*s| s else init: {
                 // If we're stopping the search and we had no prior search,
diff --git a/src/apprt/action.zig b/src/apprt/action.zig
index 11186f059..45fa8aca0 100644
--- a/src/apprt/action.zig
+++ b/src/apprt/action.zig
@@ -301,6 +301,9 @@ pub const Action = union(Key) {
     /// A command has finished,
     command_finished: CommandFinished,
 
+    /// Start the search overlay with an optional initial needle.
+    start_search: StartSearch,
+
     /// Sync with: ghostty_action_tag_e
     pub const Key = enum(c_int) {
         quit,
@@ -358,6 +361,7 @@ pub const Action = union(Key) {
         progress_report,
         show_on_screen_keyboard,
         command_finished,
+        start_search,
     };
 
     /// Sync with: ghostty_action_u
@@ -770,3 +774,18 @@ pub const CommandFinished = struct {
         };
     }
 };
+
+pub const StartSearch = struct {
+    needle: [:0]const u8,
+
+    // Sync with: ghostty_action_start_search_s
+    pub const C = extern struct {
+        needle: [*:0]const u8,
+    };
+
+    pub fn cval(self: StartSearch) C {
+        return .{
+            .needle = self.needle.ptr,
+        };
+    }
+};
diff --git a/src/input/Binding.zig b/src/input/Binding.zig
index ce60ea0e0..636f343e3 100644
--- a/src/input/Binding.zig
+++ b/src/input/Binding.zig
@@ -340,6 +340,10 @@ pub const Action = union(enum) {
     /// is not performed.
     navigate_search: NavigateSearch,
 
+    /// Start a search if it isn't started already. This doesn't set any
+    /// search terms, but opens the UI for searching.
+    start_search,
+
     /// Clear the screen and all scrollback.
     clear_screen,
 
@@ -1167,6 +1171,7 @@ pub const Action = union(enum) {
             .cursor_key,
             .search,
             .navigate_search,
+            .start_search,
             .reset,
             .copy_to_clipboard,
             .copy_url_to_clipboard,
diff --git a/src/input/command.zig b/src/input/command.zig
index a3df0e858..37dc08fb4 100644
--- a/src/input/command.zig
+++ b/src/input/command.zig
@@ -163,6 +163,12 @@ fn actionCommands(action: Action.Key) []const Command {
             .description = "Paste the contents of the selection clipboard.",
         }},
 
+        .start_search => comptime &.{.{
+            .action = .start_search,
+            .title = "Start Search",
+            .description = "Start a search if one isn't already active.",
+        }},
+
         .navigate_search => comptime &.{ .{
             .action = .{ .navigate_search = .next },
             .title = "Next Search Result",