diff --git a/kitty/boss.py b/kitty/boss.py
index 9fc748948..87316ef68 100755
--- a/kitty/boss.py
+++ b/kitty/boss.py
@@ -146,20 +146,34 @@ class DumpCommands:  # {{{
 
 class VisualSelect:
 
-    def __init__(self, tab_id: int, os_window_id: int, title: str, callback: Callable[[Optional[Tab], Optional[Window]], None]):
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        tab_id: int,
+        os_window_id: int,
+        prev_tab_id: Optional[int],
+        prev_os_window_id: Optional[int],
+        title: str,
+        callback: Callable[[Optional[Tab], Optional[Window]], None],
+        reactivate_prev_tab: bool
+    ) -> None:
         self.tab_id = tab_id
         self.os_window_id = os_window_id
+        self.prev_tab_id = prev_tab_id
+        self.prev_os_window_id = prev_os_window_id
         self.callback = callback
         self.window_ids: List[int] = []
         self.window_used_for_selection_id = 0
+        self.reactivate_prev_tab = reactivate_prev_tab
         set_os_window_title(self.os_window_id, title)
 
     def cancel(self) -> None:
         self.clear_global_state()
+        self.activate_prev_tab()
         self.callback(None, None)
 
     def trigger(self, window_id: int) -> None:
         boss = self.clear_global_state()
+        self.activate_prev_tab()
         w = boss.window_id_map.get(window_id)
         if w is None:
             self.callback(None, None)
@@ -185,6 +199,18 @@ class VisualSelect:
                 boss.mark_window_for_close(w)
         return boss
 
+    def activate_prev_tab(self) -> None:
+        if not self.reactivate_prev_tab or self.prev_tab_id is None:
+            return None
+        boss = get_boss()
+        tm = boss.os_window_map.get(self.os_window_id)
+        if tm is not None:
+            t = tm.tab_for_id(self.prev_tab_id)
+            if t is not tm.active_tab and t is not None:
+                tm.set_active_tab(t)
+        if current_os_window() != self.prev_os_window_id and self.prev_os_window_id is not None:
+            focus_os_window(self.prev_os_window_id, True)
+
 
 class Boss:
 
@@ -909,14 +935,21 @@ class Boss:
         self, tab: Tab,
         callback: Callable[[Optional[Tab], Optional[Window]], None],
         choose_msg: str,
-        only_window_ids: Container[int] = ()
+        only_window_ids: Container[int] = (),
+        reactivate_prev_tab: bool = False
     ) -> None:
         import string
         self.cancel_current_visual_select()
+        initial_tab_id: Optional[int] = None
+        initial_os_window_id = current_os_window()
         tm = tab.tab_manager_ref()
         if tm is not None:
+            if tm.active_tab is not None:
+                initial_tab_id = tm.active_tab.id
             tm.set_active_tab(tab)
-        self.current_visual_select = VisualSelect(tab.id, tab.os_window_id, choose_msg, callback)
+        if initial_os_window_id != tab.os_window_id:
+            focus_os_window(tab.os_window_id, True)
+        self.current_visual_select = VisualSelect(tab.id, tab.os_window_id, initial_tab_id, initial_os_window_id, choose_msg, callback, reactivate_prev_tab)
         if tab.current_layout.only_active_window_visible:
             w = self.select_window_in_tab_using_overlay(tab, choose_msg, only_window_ids)
             self.current_visual_select.window_used_for_selection_id = 0 if w is None else w.id
diff --git a/kitty/rc/select_window.py b/kitty/rc/select_window.py
index ce1d3958c..b6be27990 100644
--- a/kitty/rc/select_window.py
+++ b/kitty/rc/select_window.py
@@ -22,11 +22,12 @@ class SelectWindow(RemoteCommand):
     self: Boolean, if True use tab the command was run in
     title: A title for this selection
     exclude_active: Exclude the currently active window from the list to pick
+    reactivate_prev_tab: Reactivate the previously activated tab when finished
     '''
 
     short_desc = 'Visually select a window in the specified tab'
     desc = (
-        'Prints out the id of the selected window. Other commands '
+        'Prints out the id of the selected window. Other commands'
         ' can then be chained to make use of it.'
     )
     options_spec = MATCH_TAB_OPTION + '\n\n' + '''\
@@ -49,11 +50,19 @@ A title that will be displayed to the user to describe what this selection is fo
 --exclude-active
 type=bool-set
 Exclude the currently active window from the list of windows to pick
+
+
+--reactivate-prev-tab
+type=bool-set
+When the selection is finished, the tab in the same os window that was activated
+before the selection will be reactivated. The last activated os window will also
+be refocused.
 '''
     is_asynchronous = True
 
     def message_to_kitty(self, global_opts: RCOptions, opts: 'CLIOptions', args: ArgsType) -> PayloadType:
-        ans = {'self': opts.self, 'match': opts.match, 'title': opts.title, 'exclude_active': opts.exclude_active}
+        ans = {'self': opts.self, 'match': opts.match, 'title': opts.title, 'exclude_active': opts.exclude_active,
+               'reactivate_prev_tab': opts.reactivate_prev_tab}
         return ans
 
     def response_from_kitty(self, boss: Boss, window: Optional[Window], payload_get: PayloadGetType) -> ResponseType:
@@ -70,7 +79,10 @@ Exclude the currently active window from the list of windows to pick
                     wids = tab.all_window_ids_except_active_window
                 else:
                     wids = set()
-                boss.visual_window_select_action(tab, callback, payload_get('title') or 'Choose window', only_window_ids=wids)
+                boss.visual_window_select_action(
+                    tab, callback, payload_get('title') or 'Choose window', only_window_ids=wids,
+                    reactivate_prev_tab=payload_get('reactivate_prev_tab')
+                )
                 break
         return AsyncResponse()