diff --git a/kitty/rc/goto_layout.py b/kitty/rc/goto_layout.py
index e184e3dac..63a2ea355 100644
--- a/kitty/rc/goto_layout.py
+++ b/kitty/rc/goto_layout.py
@@ -25,12 +25,14 @@ class GotoLayout(RemoteCommand):
     desc = (
         'Set the window layout in the specified tabs (or the active tab if not specified).'
         ' You can use special match value :code:`all` to set the layout in all tabs.'
+        ' In case there are multiple layouts with the same name but different options,'
+        ' specify the full layout definition or a unique prefix of the full definition.'
     )
     options_spec = MATCH_TAB_OPTION
     args = RemoteCommand.Args(
         spec='LAYOUT_NAME', count=1, json_field='layout',
         completion=RemoteCommand.CompletionSpec.from_string('type:keyword group:"Layout" kwds:' + ','.join(layout_names())),
-        args_choices=layout_names)
+        )
 
     def message_to_kitty(self, global_opts: RCOptions, opts: 'CLIOptions', args: ArgsType) -> PayloadType:
         if len(args) != 1:
@@ -44,7 +46,7 @@ class GotoLayout(RemoteCommand):
                 try:
                     tab.goto_layout(payload_get('layout'), raise_exception=True)
                 except ValueError:
-                    raise UnknownLayout('The layout {} is unknown or disabled'.format(payload_get('layout')))
+                    raise UnknownLayout('The layout {} is unknown or disabled or the name is ambiguous'.format(payload_get('layout')))
         return None
 
 
diff --git a/kitty/tabs.py b/kitty/tabs.py
index f2c1c174b..9740c7c48 100644
--- a/kitty/tabs.py
+++ b/kitty/tabs.py
@@ -324,20 +324,47 @@ class Tab:  # {{{
 
     @ac('lay', '''
         Switch to the named layout
+        In case there are multiple layouts with the same name and different options,
+        specify the full layout definition or a unique prefix of the full definition.
 
         For example::
 
             map f1 goto_layout tall
+            map f2 goto_layout fat:bias=20
         ''')
     def goto_layout(self, layout_name: str, raise_exception: bool = False) -> None:
         layout_name = layout_name.lower()
-        if layout_name not in self.enabled_layouts:
-            if raise_exception:
-                raise ValueError(layout_name)
-            log_error(f'Unknown or disabled layout: {layout_name}')
-            return
-        self._set_current_layout(layout_name)
-        self.relayout()
+        q, has_colon, rest = layout_name.partition(':')
+        matches = []
+        prefix_matches = []
+        matched_layout = ''
+        for candidate in self.enabled_layouts:
+            x, _, _ = candidate.partition(':')
+            if x == q:
+                if candidate == layout_name:
+                    matched_layout = candidate
+                    break
+                if candidate.startswith(layout_name):
+                    prefix_matches.append(candidate)
+                matches.append(x)
+
+        if not matched_layout:
+            if len(prefix_matches) == 1:
+                matched_layout = prefix_matches[0]
+            elif len(matches) == 1:
+                matched_layout = matches[0]
+        if matched_layout:
+            self._set_current_layout(matched_layout)
+            self.relayout()
+        else:
+            if len(matches) == 0:
+                if raise_exception:
+                    raise ValueError(layout_name)
+                log_error(f'Unknown or disabled layout: {layout_name}')
+            elif len(matches) != 1:
+                if raise_exception:
+                    raise ValueError(layout_name)
+                log_error(f'Multiple layouts match: {layout_name}')
 
     @ac('lay', '''
         Toggle the named layout