diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 27be6b045..3573b98b1 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ To update |kitty|, :doc:`follow the instructions <binary>`.
 
 - Document the kitty remote control protocol (:iss:`1646`)
 
+- When piping data to a child in the pipe command do it in a thread so as not
+  to block the UI (:iss:`1708`)
 
 0.14.2 [2019-06-09]
 ---------------------
diff --git a/kitty/boss.py b/kitty/boss.py
index b546b0812..62686aa46 100644
--- a/kitty/boss.py
+++ b/kitty/boss.py
@@ -6,10 +6,10 @@ import atexit
 import json
 import os
 import re
+from contextlib import suppress
 from functools import partial
 from gettext import gettext as _
 from weakref import WeakValueDictionary
-from contextlib import suppress
 
 from .child import cached_process_data
 from .cli import create_opts, parse_args
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ from .fast_data_types import (
     change_os_window_state, create_os_window, current_os_window,
     destroy_global_data, get_clipboard_string, global_font_size,
     mark_os_window_for_close, os_window_font_size, patch_global_colors,
-    set_clipboard_string, set_in_sequence_mode, toggle_fullscreen,
-    toggle_maximized
+    set_clipboard_string, set_in_sequence_mode, thread_write,
+    toggle_fullscreen, toggle_maximized
 )
 from .keys import get_shortcut, shortcut_matches
 from .layout import set_layout_options
@@ -920,7 +920,7 @@ class Boss:
             env, stdin = self.process_stdin_source(stdin=source, window=window)
             if stdin:
                 p = subprocess.Popen(cmd, env=env, stdin=subprocess.PIPE)
-                p.communicate(stdin)
+                thread_write(p.stdin.fileno(), stdin)
             else:
                 subprocess.Popen(cmd)