diff --git a/docs/kittens/choose-files.rst b/docs/kittens/choose-files.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..eaef88580
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/kittens/choose-files.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+Selecting files, fast
+========================
+
+.. only:: man
+
+    Overview
+    --------------
+
+
+Configuration
+------------------------
+
+You can configure various aspects of the kitten's operation by creating a
+:file:`choose-files.conf` in your :ref:`kitty config folder <confloc>`.
+See below for the supported configuration directives.
+
+
+.. include:: /generated/conf-kitten-choose_files.rst
+
+
+.. include:: /generated/cli-kitten-choose_files.rst
+
+
diff --git a/kittens/choose_files/main.go b/kittens/choose_files/main.go
index 8edb5d54a..2eaf2fb05 100644
--- a/kittens/choose_files/main.go
+++ b/kittens/choose_files/main.go
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@ package choose_files
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
+	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/kovidgoyal/kitty/tools/cli"
+	"github.com/kovidgoyal/kitty/tools/config"
 	"github.com/kovidgoyal/kitty/tools/tty"
 	"github.com/kovidgoyal/kitty/tools/tui/loop"
 	"github.com/kovidgoyal/kitty/tools/utils"
@@ -14,12 +16,13 @@ var _ = fmt.Print
 var debugprintln = tty.DebugPrintln
 
 type State struct {
-	base_dir    string
-	current_dir string
-	select_dirs bool
-	multiselect bool
-	max_depth   int
-	search_text string
+	base_dir         string
+	current_dir      string
+	select_dirs      bool
+	multiselect      bool
+	max_depth        int
+	exclude_patterns *utils.Set[string]
+	search_text      string
 }
 
 func (s State) BaseDir() string    { return utils.IfElse(s.base_dir == "", default_cwd, s.base_dir) }
@@ -28,6 +31,9 @@ func (s State) Multiselect() bool  { return s.multiselect }
 func (s State) MaxDepth() int      { return utils.IfElse(s.max_depth < 1, 4, s.max_depth) }
 func (s State) String() string     { return utils.Repr(s) }
 func (s State) SearchText() string { return s.search_text }
+func (s State) ExcludePatterns() *utils.Set[string] {
+	return utils.IfElse(s.exclude_patterns == nil, utils.NewSet[string](2), s.exclude_patterns)
+}
 func (s State) CurrentDir() string {
 	return utils.IfElse(s.current_dir == "", s.BaseDir(), s.current_dir)
 }
@@ -57,6 +63,17 @@ func (h *Handler) draw_screen() (err error) {
 	return
 }
 
+func load_config(opts *Options) (ans *Config, err error) {
+	ans = NewConfig()
+	p := config.ConfigParser{LineHandler: ans.Parse}
+	err = p.LoadConfig("choose-files.conf", opts.Config, opts.Override)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	// ans.KeyboardShortcuts = config.ResolveShortcuts(ans.KeyboardShortcuts)
+	return ans, nil
+}
+
 func (h *Handler) init_sizes(new_size loop.ScreenSize) {
 	h.screen_size.width = int(new_size.WidthCells)
 	h.screen_size.height = int(new_size.HeightCells)
@@ -93,14 +110,34 @@ func (h *Handler) OnText(text string, from_key_event, in_bracketed_paste bool) (
 	return h.draw_screen()
 }
 
+func (h *Handler) set_state_from_config(conf *Config) (err error) {
+	h.state.max_depth = int(conf.Max_depth)
+	h.state.exclude_patterns = utils.NewSet[string](len(conf.Exclude_directory))
+	for _, x := range conf.Exclude_directory {
+		if strings.HasPrefix(x, "!") {
+			h.state.exclude_patterns.Discard(x[1:])
+		} else {
+			h.state.exclude_patterns.Add(x)
+		}
+	}
+	return
+}
+
 var default_cwd string
 
 func main(_ *cli.Command, opts *Options, args []string) (rc int, err error) {
+	conf, err := load_config(opts)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 1, err
+	}
 	lp, err := loop.New()
 	if err != nil {
 		return 1, err
 	}
 	handler := Handler{lp: lp}
+	if err = handler.set_state_from_config(conf); err != nil {
+		return 1, err
+	}
 	switch len(args) {
 	case 0:
 		os.Getwd()
diff --git a/kittens/choose_files/main.py b/kittens/choose_files/main.py
index 09a615234..c2ab37079 100644
--- a/kittens/choose_files/main.py
+++ b/kittens/choose_files/main.py
@@ -3,8 +3,34 @@
 
 import sys
 
-from kitty.simple_cli_definitions import CompletionSpec
+from kitty.conf.types import Definition
+from kitty.constants import appname
+from kitty.simple_cli_definitions import CONFIG_HELP, CompletionSpec
 
+definition = Definition(
+    '!kittens.choose_files',
+)
+
+agr = definition.add_group
+egr = definition.end_group
+opt = definition.add_option
+map = definition.add_map
+mma = definition.add_mouse_map
+
+agr('scan', 'Scanning the filesystem')
+opt('+exclude_directory', '/proc', add_to_default=True, long_text='''
+Pattern to exclude directories. Can be specified multiple times. Matches against the absolute path to the directory.
+If the pattern starts with :code:`!`, the :code:`!` is removed and the remaning pattern is removed from the list of patterns. This
+can be used to remove the default excluded directory patterns.
+''')
+opt('+exclude_directory', '/dev', add_to_default=True)
+opt('+exclude_directory', '/sys', add_to_default=True)
+
+opt('max_depth', '4', option_type='positive_int', long_text='''
+The maximum depth to which to scan the filesystem for matches. Using large values will slow things down considerably. The better
+approach is to use a small value and first change to the directory of interest then actually select the file of interest.
+''')
+egr()
 
 def main(args: list[str]) -> None:
     raise SystemExit('This must be run as kitten choose-files')
@@ -14,7 +40,19 @@ usage = '[directory to start choosing files in]'
 
 
 OPTIONS = '''
-'''.format
+--override -o
+type=list
+Override individual configuration options, can be specified multiple times.
+Syntax: :italic:`name=value`. For example: :option:`kitten choose_files -o` max_depth=20
+
+
+--config
+type=list
+completion=type:file ext:conf group:"Config files" kwds:none,NONE
+{config_help}
+
+
+'''.format(config_help=CONFIG_HELP.format(conf_name='diff', appname=appname)).format
 
 
 help_text = '''\
@@ -30,3 +68,5 @@ elif __name__ == '__doc__':
     cd['help_text'] = help_text
     cd['short_desc'] = 'Choose files, fast'
     cd['args_completion'] = CompletionSpec.from_string('type:directory')
+elif __name__ == '__conf__':
+    sys.options_definition = definition  # type: ignore