diff --git a/docs/sessions.rst b/docs/sessions.rst
index d0719f99a..8b379c35a 100644
--- a/docs/sessions.rst
+++ b/docs/sessions.rst
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ all the major keywords you can use in kitty session files:
     launch tail -f /var/log/syslog
 
     # Focus the first tab (index 0) when the session loads
+    # You can also use a match expression like: focus_tab title:logs
     focus_tab 0
 
     # Create a complex layout using multiple splits. Creates two columns of
@@ -279,12 +280,14 @@ documentation for them.
     otherwise the window manager might block changing focus to prevent *focus
     stealing*.
 
-``focus_tab [tab index]``
+``focus_tab [tab specifier]``
     Set which tab should be active (focused) in the current OS Window. The tab
-    index is 0-based, so ``focus_tab 0`` will focus the first tab, ``focus_tab 1``
-    the second tab, and so on. This is useful for session files that create
-    multiple tabs and want to ensure a specific tab is active when the session
-    is loaded.
+    specifier can be either a plain number (treated as a 0-based index) or a
+    match expression. For example, ``focus_tab 0`` will focus the first tab,
+    ``focus_tab 1`` the second tab, and ``focus_tab title:logs`` will focus the
+    tab whose title matches "logs". See :ref:`search_syntax` for the full syntax
+    of match expressions. This is useful for session files that create multiple
+    tabs and want to ensure a specific tab is active when the session is loaded.
 
 ``enabled_layouts comma separated list of layout names``
     Set the layouts allowed in the current tab. Same syntax as
diff --git a/kitty/session.py b/kitty/session.py
index 0c4b32374..e6e175dd4 100644
--- a/kitty/session.py
+++ b/kitty/session.py
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ class Session:
     def __init__(self, default_title: str | None = None):
         self.tabs: list[Tab] = []
         self.active_tab_idx = 0
+        self.focus_tab_spec: str | None = None
         self.default_title = default_title
         self.os_window_size: WindowSizes | None = None
         self.os_window_class: str | None = None
@@ -177,8 +178,8 @@ class Session:
         self.active_tab_idx = max(0, len(self.tabs) - 1)
         self.tabs[-1].active_window_idx = max(0, len(self.tabs[-1].windows) - 1)
 
-    def focus_tab(self, idx: int) -> None:
-        self.active_tab_idx = max(0, min(idx, len(self.tabs) - 1))
+    def focus_tab(self, spec: str) -> None:
+        self.focus_tab_spec = spec
 
     def set_enabled_layouts(self, raw: str) -> None:
         self.tabs[-1].enabled_layouts = to_layout_names(raw)
@@ -254,10 +255,7 @@ def parse_session(
             elif cmd == 'focus':
                 ans.focus()
             elif cmd == 'focus_tab':
-                try:
-                    ans.focus_tab(int(rest))
-                except ValueError:
-                    raise ValueError(f'focus_tab requires an integer tab index, got: {rest}')
+                ans.focus_tab(rest)
             elif cmd == 'focus_os_window':
                 ans.focus_os_window = True
             elif cmd == 'enabled_layouts':
diff --git a/kitty/tabs.py b/kitty/tabs.py
index 011dd5871..d2eafa2f3 100644
--- a/kitty/tabs.py
+++ b/kitty/tabs.py
@@ -1064,6 +1064,24 @@ class TabManager:  # {{{
             self._add_tab(tab)
             if i == session.active_tab_idx:
                 active_tab = tab
+
+        # Handle focus_tab_spec if specified
+        if session.focus_tab_spec is not None:
+            spec = session.focus_tab_spec.strip()
+            # Try to parse as a plain number (index)
+            try:
+                idx = int(spec)
+                # Clamp to valid range
+                idx = max(0, min(idx, len(self.tabs) - 1))
+                active_tab = self.tabs[idx]
+            except ValueError:
+                # Not a plain number, treat as match expression
+                from .fast_data_types import get_boss
+                boss = get_boss()
+                matched_tabs = list(boss.match_tabs(spec, self.tabs))
+                if matched_tabs:
+                    active_tab = matched_tabs[0]
+
         if active_tab is not None:
             idx = self.tabs.index(active_tab)
             self._set_active_tab(idx)