diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 2aa28f77a..ebea1eaa8 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ To update |kitty|, :doc:`follow the instructions <binary>`.
 - X11: Fix arrow mouse cursor using right pointing instead of the default left
   pointing arrow (:iss:`2341`)
 
+- Allow passing the currently active kitty window id in the launch command
+  (:iss:`2391`)
+
 - unicode input kitten: Allow pressing :kbd:`ctrl+tab` to change the input mode
   (:iss:`2343`)
 
diff --git a/docs/launch.rst b/docs/launch.rst
index f5c9d77f9..6f78b1a83 100644
--- a/docs/launch.rst
+++ b/docs/launch.rst
@@ -50,6 +50,17 @@ being the top left corner and ``{lines},{columns}`` being the number of rows
 and columns of the screen.
 
 
+Special arguments
+-------------------
+
+There are a few special placeholder arguments that can be specified as part of
+the command line. Namely ``@selection`` which is replaced by the current
+selection and ``@kitty_active_window_id`` which is replaced by the id of the
+currently active kitty window. For example::
+
+    map f1 launch my-program @kitty-active-window-id
+
+
 Syntax reference
 ------------------
 
diff --git a/kitty/launch.py b/kitty/launch.py
index 765ce107e..dfb87c8f1 100644
--- a/kitty/launch.py
+++ b/kitty/launch.py
@@ -193,10 +193,13 @@ def launch(boss, opts, args, target_tab=None):
     if cmd:
         final_cmd = []
         for x in cmd:
-            if x == '@selection' and active and not opts.copy_cmdline:
-                s = boss.data_for_at(active, x)
-                if s:
-                    x = s
+            if active and not opts.copy_cmdline:
+                if x == '@selection':
+                    s = boss.data_for_at(active, x)
+                    if s:
+                        x = s
+                elif x == '@active-kitty-window-id':
+                    x = str(active.id)
             final_cmd.append(x)
         kw['cmd'] = final_cmd
     if opts.type == 'overlay' and active and not active.overlay_window_id: