diff --git a/kittens/ask/main.py b/kittens/ask/main.py
index ed8f16ea0..a427a0c30 100644
--- a/kittens/ask/main.py
+++ b/kittens/ask/main.py
@@ -298,7 +298,15 @@ def main(args: List[str]) -> Response:
 
         prompt = '> '
         with suppress(KeyboardInterrupt, EOFError):
-            response = input(prompt)
+            if cli_opts.default:
+                def prefill_text():
+                    readline.insert_text(cli_opts.default)
+                    readline.redisplay()
+                readline.set_pre_input_hook(prefill_text)
+                response = input(prompt)
+                readline.set_pre_input_hook()
+            else:
+                response = input(prompt)
     return {'items': items, 'response': response}
 
 
diff --git a/kitty/boss.py b/kitty/boss.py
index 04a736cbd..c03feba1d 100644
--- a/kitty/boss.py
+++ b/kitty/boss.py
@@ -1418,7 +1418,9 @@ class Boss:
     def set_tab_title(self) -> None:
         tab = self.active_tab
         if tab:
-            args = ['--name=tab-title', '--message', _('Enter the new title for this tab below.'), 'do_set_tab_title', str(tab.id)]
+            args = [
+                '--name=tab-title', '--message', _('Enter the new title for this tab below.'),
+                '--default', tab.name or tab.title, 'do_set_tab_title', str(tab.id)]
             self._run_kitten('ask', args)
 
     def do_set_tab_title(self, title: str, tab_id: int) -> None: