diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 2cc345825..7b444e4ac 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ Detailed list of changes
 
 - kitten @ load-config: Allow (re)loading kitty.conf via remote control
 
+- Remote control: Allow running mappable actions via remote control (`kitten @ action`)
+
 - kitten @ send-text: Add a new option to automatically wrap the sent text in
   bracketed paste escape codes if the program in the destination window has
   turned on bracketed paste.
diff --git a/kitty/boss.py b/kitty/boss.py
index bd8fb4888..08fc5baf6 100644
--- a/kitty/boss.py
+++ b/kitty/boss.py
@@ -1550,7 +1550,7 @@ class Boss:
 
             map kitty_mod+e combine : new_window : next_layout
         ''')
-    def combine(self, action_definition: str, window_for_dispatch: Optional[Window] = None, dispatch_type: str = 'KeyPress') -> bool:
+    def combine(self, action_definition: str, window_for_dispatch: Optional[Window] = None, dispatch_type: str = 'KeyPress', raise_error: bool = False) -> bool:
         consumed = False
         if action_definition:
             try:
@@ -1565,6 +1565,8 @@ class Boss:
                         if len(actions) > 1:
                             self.drain_actions(list(actions[1:]), window_for_dispatch, dispatch_type)
                 except Exception as e:
+                    if raise_error:
+                        raise
                     self.show_error('Key action failed', f'{actions[0].pretty()}\n{e}')
                     consumed = True
         return consumed
diff --git a/kitty/cli_stub.py b/kitty/cli_stub.py
index 0cd4e3be1..a55b7dcf7 100644
--- a/kitty/cli_stub.py
+++ b/kitty/cli_stub.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ LaunchCLIOptions = AskCLIOptions = ClipboardCLIOptions = DiffCLIOptions = CLIOpt
 HintsCLIOptions = IcatCLIOptions = PanelCLIOptions = ResizeCLIOptions = CLIOptions
 ErrorCLIOptions = UnicodeCLIOptions = RCOptions = RemoteFileCLIOptions = CLIOptions
 QueryTerminalCLIOptions = BroadcastCLIOptions = ShowKeyCLIOptions = CLIOptions
-ThemesCLIOptions = TransferCLIOptions = LoadConfigRCOptions = CLIOptions
+ThemesCLIOptions = TransferCLIOptions = LoadConfigRCOptions = ActionRCOptions = CLIOptions
 
 
 def generate_stub() -> None:
diff --git a/kitty/launch.py b/kitty/launch.py
index 613f2cc0f..dc96e3ff6 100644
--- a/kitty/launch.py
+++ b/kitty/launch.py
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ def parse_launch_args(args: Optional[Sequence[str]] = None) -> LaunchSpec:
     try:
         opts, args = parse_args(result_class=LaunchCLIOptions, args=args, ospec=options_spec)
     except SystemExit as e:
-        raise ValueError from e
+        raise ValueError(str(e)) from e
     return LaunchSpec(opts, args)
 
 
diff --git a/kitty/rc/action.py b/kitty/rc/action.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..655537787
--- /dev/null
+++ b/kitty/rc/action.py
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# License: GPLv3 Copyright: 2020, Kovid Goyal <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>
+
+
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional
+
+from .base import (
+    MATCH_WINDOW_OPTION,
+    ArgsType,
+    Boss,
+    PayloadGetType,
+    PayloadType,
+    RCOptions,
+    RemoteCommand,
+    ResponseType,
+    Window,
+)
+from .base import (
+    RemoteControlErrorWithoutTraceback as RemoteControlError,
+)
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from kitty.cli_stub import ActionRCOptions as CLIOptions
+
+
+class Action(RemoteCommand):
+
+    protocol_spec = __doc__ = '''
+    action+/str: The action to perform. Of the form: action [optional args...]
+    match_window/str: Window to run the action on
+    self/bool: Whether to use the window this command is run in as the active window
+    '''
+
+    short_desc = 'Run the specified mappable action'
+    desc = (
+        'Run the specified mappable action. For a list of all available mappable actions, see :doc:`actions`.'
+        ' Any arguments for ACTION should follow the action. Note that parsing of arguments is action dependent'
+        ' so for best results specify all arguments as single string on the command line in the same format as you would'
+        ' use for that action in kitty.conf.'
+    )
+    options_spec = '''\
+--self
+type=bool-set
+Run the action on the window this command is run in instead of the active window.
+
+
+--no-response
+type=bool-set
+default=false
+Don't wait for a response indicating the success of the action. Note that
+using this option means that you will not be notified of failures.
+''' + '\n\n' + MATCH_WINDOW_OPTION
+
+    args = RemoteCommand.Args(spec='ACTION [ARGS FOR ACTION...]', json_field='action', minimum_count=1)
+
+    def message_to_kitty(self, global_opts: RCOptions, opts: 'CLIOptions', args: ArgsType) -> PayloadType:
+        return {'action': ' '.join(args), 'self': opts.self, 'match_window': opts.match}
+
+    def response_from_kitty(self, boss: Boss, window: Optional[Window], payload_get: PayloadGetType) -> ResponseType:
+        w = self.windows_for_match_payload(boss, window, payload_get)
+        if w:
+            window = w[0]
+        ac = payload_get('action')
+        if not ac:
+            raise RemoteControlError('Must specify an action')
+
+        try:
+            consumed = boss.combine(str(ac), window, raise_error=True)
+        except (Exception, SystemExit) as e:
+            raise RemoteControlError(str(e))
+
+        if not consumed:
+            raise RemoteControlError(f'Unknown action: {ac}')
+        return None
+
+
+action = Action()
diff --git a/kitty/rc/base.py b/kitty/rc/base.py
index 08a382aa3..b2199d671 100644
--- a/kitty/rc/base.py
+++ b/kitty/rc/base.py
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ class RemoteControlError(Exception):
     pass
 
 
+class RemoteControlErrorWithoutTraceback(Exception):
+
+    hide_traceback = True
+
+
 class MatchError(ValueError):
 
     hide_traceback = True
@@ -219,7 +224,10 @@ class ArgsHandling:
                 yield f'args = append(args, "{x}")'
             yield '}'
         if self.minimum_count > -1:
-            yield f'if len(args) < {self.minimum_count} {{ return fmt.Errorf("%s", "Must specify at least {self.minimum_count} arguments to {cmd_name}") }}'
+            if self.minimum_count == 1:
+                yield f'if len(args) < {self.minimum_count} {{ return fmt.Errorf("%s", "Must specify at least one argument to {cmd_name}") }}'
+            else:
+                yield f'if len(args) < {self.minimum_count} {{ return fmt.Errorf("%s", "Must specify at least {self.minimum_count} arguments to {cmd_name}") }}'
         if self.args_choices:
             achoices = tuple(self.args_choices())
             yield 'achoices := map[string]bool{' + ' '.join(f'"{x}":true,' for x in achoices) + '}'
diff --git a/kitty/rc/load_config.py b/kitty/rc/load_config.py
index 59b5a9a31..fca346202 100644
--- a/kitty/rc/load_config.py
+++ b/kitty/rc/load_config.py
@@ -46,6 +46,13 @@ or a previous load-config-file command are respected. Use this option to have th
 type=list
 Override individual configuration options, can be specified multiple times.
 Syntax: :italic:`name=value`. For example: :option:`{appname} -o` font_size=20
+
+
+--no-response
+type=bool-set
+default=false
+Don't wait for a response indicating the success of the action. Note that
+using this option means that you will not be notified of failures.
 '''
 
     args = RemoteCommand.Args(spec='CONF_FILE ...', json_field='paths',