diff --git a/src/config/Config.zig b/src/config/Config.zig
index c1888dbe8..9b0e6cc0f 100644
--- a/src/config/Config.zig
+++ b/src/config/Config.zig
@@ -1858,6 +1858,12 @@ class: ?[:0]const u8 = null,
 ///     If an invalid key is pressed, the sequence ends but the table remains
 ///     active.
 ///
+///   * Chain actions work within tables, the `chain` keyword applies to
+///     the most recently defined binding in the table. e.g. if you set
+///     `table/ctrl+a=new_window` you can chain by using `chain=text:hello`.
+///     Important: chain itself doesn't get prefixed with the table name,
+///     since it applies to the most recent binding in any table.
+///
 ///   * Prefixes like `global:` work within tables:
 ///     `foo/global:ctrl+a=new_window`.
 ///
@@ -6213,6 +6219,15 @@ pub const Keybinds = struct {
     /// which allows all table names to be available without reservation.
     tables: std.StringArrayHashMapUnmanaged(inputpkg.Binding.Set) = .empty,
 
+    /// The most recent binding target for `chain=` additions.
+    ///
+    /// This is intentionally tracked at the Keybinds level so that chains can
+    /// apply across table boundaries according to parse order.
+    chain_target: union(enum) {
+        root,
+        table: []const u8,
+    } = .root,
+
     pub fn init(self: *Keybinds, alloc: Allocator) !void {
         // We don't clear the memory because it's in the arena and unlikely
         // to be free-able anyways (since arenas can only clear the last
@@ -6220,6 +6235,7 @@ pub const Keybinds = struct {
         // will be freed when the config is freed.
         self.set = .{};
         self.tables = .empty;
+        self.chain_target = .root;
 
         // keybinds for opening and reloading config
         try self.set.put(
@@ -7002,6 +7018,7 @@ pub const Keybinds = struct {
             log.info("config has 'keybind = clear', all keybinds cleared", .{});
             self.set = .{};
             self.tables = .empty;
+            self.chain_target = .root;
             return;
         }
 
@@ -7039,16 +7056,39 @@ pub const Keybinds = struct {
             if (binding.len == 0) {
                 log.debug("config has 'keybind = {s}/', table cleared", .{table_name});
                 gop.value_ptr.* = .{};
+                self.chain_target = .root;
                 return;
             }
 
+            // Chains are only allowed at the root level. Their target is
+            // tracked globally by parse order in `self.chain_target`.
+            if (std.mem.startsWith(u8, binding, "chain=")) {
+                return error.InvalidFormat;
+            }
+
             // Parse and add the binding to the table
             try gop.value_ptr.parseAndPut(alloc, binding);
+            self.chain_target = .{ .table = gop.key_ptr.* };
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (std.mem.startsWith(u8, value, "chain=")) {
+            switch (self.chain_target) {
+                .root => try self.set.parseAndPut(alloc, value),
+                .table => |table_name| {
+                    const table = self.tables.getPtr(table_name) orelse {
+                        self.chain_target = .root;
+                        return error.InvalidFormat;
+                    };
+                    try table.parseAndPut(alloc, value);
+                },
+            }
             return;
         }
 
         // Parse into default set
         try self.set.parseAndPut(alloc, value);
+        self.chain_target = .root;
     }
 
     /// Deep copy of the struct. Required by Config.
@@ -7490,6 +7530,63 @@ pub const Keybinds = struct {
         try testing.expect(keybinds.tables.contains("mytable"));
     }
 
+    test "parseCLI chain without prior parsed binding is invalid" {
+        const testing = std.testing;
+        var arena = ArenaAllocator.init(testing.allocator);
+        defer arena.deinit();
+        const alloc = arena.allocator();
+
+        var keybinds: Keybinds = .{};
+
+        try testing.expectError(
+            error.InvalidFormat,
+            keybinds.parseCLI(alloc, "chain=new_tab"),
+        );
+    }
+
+    test "parseCLI table chain syntax is invalid" {
+        const testing = std.testing;
+        var arena = ArenaAllocator.init(testing.allocator);
+        defer arena.deinit();
+        const alloc = arena.allocator();
+
+        var keybinds: Keybinds = .{};
+
+        try keybinds.parseCLI(alloc, "foo/a=text:hello");
+        try testing.expectError(
+            error.InvalidFormat,
+            keybinds.parseCLI(alloc, "foo/chain=deactivate_key_table"),
+        );
+    }
+
+    test "parseCLI chain applies to most recent table binding" {
+        const testing = std.testing;
+        var arena = ArenaAllocator.init(testing.allocator);
+        defer arena.deinit();
+        const alloc = arena.allocator();
+
+        var keybinds: Keybinds = .{};
+
+        try keybinds.parseCLI(alloc, "ctrl+n=activate_key_table:foo");
+        try keybinds.parseCLI(alloc, "foo/a=text:hello");
+        try keybinds.parseCLI(alloc, "chain=deactivate_key_table");
+
+        const root_entry = keybinds.set.get(.{
+            .mods = .{ .ctrl = true },
+            .key = .{ .unicode = 'n' },
+        }).?.value_ptr.*;
+        try testing.expect(root_entry == .leaf);
+        try testing.expect(root_entry.leaf.action == .activate_key_table);
+
+        const foo_entry = keybinds.tables.get("foo").?.get(.{
+            .key = .{ .unicode = 'a' },
+        }).?.value_ptr.*;
+        try testing.expect(foo_entry == .leaf_chained);
+        try testing.expectEqual(@as(usize, 2), foo_entry.leaf_chained.actions.items.len);
+        try testing.expect(foo_entry.leaf_chained.actions.items[0] == .text);
+        try testing.expect(foo_entry.leaf_chained.actions.items[1] == .deactivate_key_table);
+    }
+
     test "clone with tables" {
         const testing = std.testing;
         var arena = ArenaAllocator.init(testing.allocator);