diff --git a/docs/basic.rst b/docs/basic.rst
index e7b5acab4..9a1982726 100644
--- a/docs/basic.rst
+++ b/docs/basic.rst
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ Toggle maximized                    :sc:`toggle_maximized`
 Input unicode character             :sc:`input_unicode_character` (also :kbd:`^+⌘+space` on macOS)
 Click URL using the keyboard        :sc:`open_url`
 Reset the terminal                  :sc:`reset_terminal`
+Reload :file:`kitty.conf`           :sc:`reload_config_file`
 Debug :file:`kitty.conf`            :sc:`debug_config`
 Pass current selection to program   :sc:`pass_selection_to_program`
 Edit |kitty| config file            :sc:`edit_config_file`
diff --git a/docs/conf.rst b/docs/conf.rst
index 6fba0c3be..960507568 100644
--- a/docs/conf.rst
+++ b/docs/conf.rst
@@ -5,13 +5,14 @@ Configuring kitty
 
 .. highlight:: conf
 
-|kitty| is highly customizable, everything from keyboard shortcuts, to painting
-frames-per-second. See below for an overview of all customization
+|kitty| is highly customizable, everything from keyboard shortcuts, to
+rendering frames-per-second. See below for an overview of all customization
 possibilities.
 
 You can open the config file within kitty by pressing :sc:`edit_config_file`.
-You can also display the current configuration by pressing the
-:sc:`debug_config` key.
+You can reload the config file within kitty by pressing
+:sc:`reload_config_file`. You can also display the current configuration by
+pressing the :sc:`debug_config` key.
 
 .. _confloc:
 
diff --git a/kitty/boss.py b/kitty/boss.py
index 6138aad40..073eeec3b 100755
--- a/kitty/boss.py
+++ b/kitty/boss.py
@@ -1458,7 +1458,7 @@ class Boss:
             self.default_bg_changed_for(w.id)
             w.refresh()
 
-    def load_config(self, *paths: str, apply_overrides: bool = True) -> None:
+    def load_config_file(self, *paths: str, apply_overrides: bool = True) -> None:
         from .config import load_config
         old_opts = get_options()
         paths = paths or old_opts.config_paths
diff --git a/kitty/options/definition.py b/kitty/options/definition.py
index 13b822bdd..0f8bb434e 100644
--- a/kitty/options/definition.py
+++ b/kitty/options/definition.py
@@ -3277,11 +3277,30 @@ and clear the screen, instead of just clearing the screen::
 
 map('Reset the terminal',
     'reset_terminal cmd+option+r clear_terminal reset active',
-    only="macos"
+    only="macos",
+    )
+
+map('Reload kitty.conf',
+    'reload_config_file kitty_mod+f5 load_config_file',
+    long_text='''
+Reload kitty.conf, applying any changes since the last time it was loaded.
+Note that a handful of settings cannot be dynamically changed and require a
+full restart of kitty.  You can also map a keybinding to load a different
+config file, for example::
+
+    map f5 load_config /path/to/alternative/kitty.conf
+
+Note that all setting from the original kitty.conf are discarded, in other words
+the new conf settings *replace* the old ones.
+'''
     )
 
 map('Debug kitty configuration',
-    'debug_config kitty_mod+f6 debug_config'
+    'debug_config kitty_mod+f6 debug_config',
+    long_text='''
+Show details about exactly what configuration kitty is running with and
+its host environment. Useful for debugging issues.
+'''
     )
 
 map('Send arbitrary text on key presses',
diff --git a/kitty/options/types.py b/kitty/options/types.py
index 97a78ea80..2259e347f 100644
--- a/kitty/options/types.py
+++ b/kitty/options/types.py
@@ -804,6 +804,8 @@ defaults.map = [
     KeyDefinition(True, KeyAction('set_background_opacity', ('default',)), 1024, False, 97, (SingleKey(mods=0, is_native=False, key=100),)),
     # reset_terminal
     KeyDefinition(False, KeyAction('clear_terminal', ('reset', True)), 1024, False, 57349, ()),
+    # reload_config_file
+    KeyDefinition(False, KeyAction('load_config_file'), 1024, False, 57368, ()),
     # debug_config
     KeyDefinition(False, KeyAction('debug_config'), 1024, False, 57369, ()),
 ]
diff --git a/kitty/options/utils.py b/kitty/options/utils.py
index 87e46348e..cf57697d2 100644
--- a/kitty/options/utils.py
+++ b/kitty/options/utils.py
@@ -350,8 +350,8 @@ def mouse_selection(func: str, rest: str) -> FuncArgsType:
     return func, [cmap[rest]]
 
 
-@func_with_args('load_config')
-def load_config(func: str, rest: str) -> FuncArgsType:
+@func_with_args('load_config_file')
+def load_config_file(func: str, rest: str) -> FuncArgsType:
     import shlex
     return func, shlex.split(rest)
 # }}}