diff --git a/kittens/ask/main.py b/kittens/ask/main.py
index b8776f441..eee75db41 100644
--- a/kittens/ask/main.py
+++ b/kittens/ask/main.py
@@ -103,6 +103,11 @@ For example: y:Yes and n;red:No
 A default choice or text. If unspecified, it is "y" for :code:`yesno`, the first choice
 for :code:`choices` and empty for others. The default choice is selected when the user
 presses the Enter key.
+
+
+--prompt -p
+default="> "
+The prompt to use when inputting a line of text or a password.
 '''
 
 
@@ -361,11 +366,14 @@ def main(args: List[str]) -> Response:
         loop.loop(handler)
         return {'items': items, 'response': handler.response}
 
+    prompt = cli_opts.prompt
+    if prompt[0] == prompt[-1] and prompt[0] in '\'"':
+        prompt = prompt[1:-1]
     if cli_opts.type == 'password':
         import getpass
         if cli_opts.message:
             print(styled(cli_opts.message, bold=True))
-        q = getpass.getpass()
+        q = getpass.getpass(prompt)
         return {'items': items, 'response': q or ''}
 
     import readline as rl
@@ -378,7 +386,6 @@ def main(args: List[str]) -> Response:
         if cli_opts.message:
             print(styled(cli_opts.message, bold=True))
 
-        prompt = '> '
         with suppress(KeyboardInterrupt, EOFError):
             if cli_opts.default:
                 def prefill_text() -> None:
diff --git a/kitty/boss.py b/kitty/boss.py
index a43e10643..74a6f8ed7 100644
--- a/kitty/boss.py
+++ b/kitty/boss.py
@@ -705,11 +705,12 @@ class Boss:
         self, msg: str,  # can contain newlines and ANSI formatting
         callback: Callable[..., None],  # called with the answer or empty string when aborted
         window: Optional[Window] = None,  # the window associated with the confirmation
+        prompt: str = '> ',
         is_password: bool = False
     ) -> None:
         def callback_(res: Dict[str, Any], x: int, boss: Boss) -> None:
             callback(res.get('response') or '')
-        cmd = ['--type', 'password' if is_password else 'line', '--message', msg]
+        cmd = ['--type', 'password' if is_password else 'line', '--message', msg, '--prompt', prompt]
         self._run_kitten('ask', cmd, window=window, custom_callback=callback_, default_data={'response': ''})
 
     def confirm_tab_close(self, tab: Tab) -> None:
diff --git a/kitty/window.py b/kitty/window.py
index ec9d48591..3b9c0876a 100644
--- a/kitty/window.py
+++ b/kitty/window.py
@@ -900,17 +900,17 @@ class Window:
                 shm.seek(0)
                 shm.write(b'\x01')
 
-        prompt: str = data['prompt']
+        message: str = data['message']
         if data['type'] == 'confirm':
             get_boss().confirm(
-                prompt, callback, window=self, confirm_on_cancel=bool(data.get('confirm_on_cancel')),
+                message, callback, window=self, confirm_on_cancel=bool(data.get('confirm_on_cancel')),
                 confirm_on_accept=bool(data.get('confirm_on_accept')))
         elif data['type'] == 'choose':
             get_boss().choose(
-                prompt, callback, *data['choices'], window=self, default=data.get('default', ''))
+                message, callback, *data['choices'], window=self, default=data.get('default', ''))
         elif data['type'] == 'get_line':
             get_boss().get_line(
-                prompt, callback, window=self, is_password=bool(data.get('is_password')))
+                message, callback, window=self, is_password=bool(data.get('is_password')), prompt=data.get('prompt', '> '))
         else:
             log_error(f'Ignoring ask request with unknown type: {data["type"]}')
 
diff --git a/shell-integration/ssh/askpass.py b/shell-integration/ssh/askpass.py
index e0dea9e9d..909a0068a 100755
--- a/shell-integration/ssh/askpass.py
+++ b/shell-integration/ssh/askpass.py
@@ -10,16 +10,17 @@ from kitty.shm import SharedMemory
 
 msg = sys.argv[-1]
 prompt = os.environ.get('SSH_ASKPASS_PROMPT', '')
-is_confirm = prompt == 'confirm'
+is_confirm = prompt == 'confirm' or 'continue connecting' in msg
 q = {
-    'prompt': msg,
+    'message': msg,
     'type': 'confirm' if is_confirm else 'get_line',
     'is_password': True,
 }
 
 data = json.dumps(q)
-with SharedMemory(size=len(data) + 1 + SharedMemory.num_bytes_for_size, unlink_on_exit=True, prefix=f'askpass-{os.getpid()}-'
-                  ) as shm, open(os.ctermid(), 'wb') as tty:
+with SharedMemory(
+    size=len(data) + 1 + SharedMemory.num_bytes_for_size, unlink_on_exit=True, prefix=f'askpass-{os.getpid()}-') as shm, \
+        open(os.ctermid(), 'wb') as tty:
     shm.write(b'\0')
     shm.write_data_with_size(data)
     shm.flush()