diff --git a/kittens/url_hints/main.py b/kittens/url_hints/main.py
index 7027e244a..8c29dc566 100644
--- a/kittens/url_hints/main.py
+++ b/kittens/url_hints/main.py
@@ -176,12 +176,16 @@ def run_loop(args, lines, index_map):
     handler = URLHints(lines, index_map)
     loop.loop(handler)
     if handler.chosen and loop.return_code == 0:
-        cmd = command_for_open(args.program)
-        ret = subprocess.Popen(cmd + [handler.chosen]).wait()
-        if ret != 0:
-            print('URL handler "{}" failed with return code: {}'.format(' '.join(cmd), ret), file=sys.stderr)
-            input('Press Enter to quit')
-            loop.return_code = ret
+        if args.in_kitty:
+            import json
+            print('OK:', json.dumps({'url': handler.chosen, 'program': args.program, 'action': 'open_with'}))
+        else:
+            cmd = command_for_open(args.program)
+            ret = subprocess.Popen(cmd + [handler.chosen]).wait()
+            if ret != 0:
+                print('URL handler "{}" failed with return code: {}'.format(' '.join(cmd), ret), file=sys.stderr)
+                input('Press Enter to quit')
+                loop.return_code = ret
     raise SystemExit(loop.return_code)
 
 
@@ -233,6 +237,12 @@ expression instead.
 default={0}
 Comma separated list of recognized URL prefixes. Defaults to:
 {0}
+
+
+--in-kitty
+type=bool-set
+Output the URL instead of opening it. Intended for use from within
+kitty.
 '''.format, ','.join(sorted(URL_PREFIXES)))
 
 
diff --git a/kitty/boss.py b/kitty/boss.py
index ea30a17d7..12b7bea90 100644
--- a/kitty/boss.py
+++ b/kitty/boss.py
@@ -471,6 +471,8 @@ class Boss:
     def get_output(self, source_window, num_lines=1):
         output = ''
         s = source_window.screen
+        if num_lines is None:
+            num_lines = s.lines
         for i in range(min(num_lines, s.lines)):
             output += str(s.linebuf.line(i))
         return output
@@ -517,19 +519,27 @@ class Boss:
         if w is not None and tab is not None and w.overlay_for is None:
             cmdline = args[0] if args else ''
             args = shlex.split(cmdline) if cmdline else []
-            if '--program' not in cmdline:
-                args.extend(('--program', self.opts.open_url_with))
+            if kitten == 'url_hints':
+                args[0:0] = ['--in-kitty', '--program', self.opts.open_url_with]
             if type_of_input in ('text', 'history', 'ansi', 'ansi-history'):
                 data = w.as_text(as_ansi='ansi' in type_of_input, add_history='history' in type_of_input).encode('utf-8')
             elif type_of_input == 'none':
                 data = None
             else:
                 raise ValueError('Unknown type_of_input: {}'.format(type_of_input))
-            tab.new_special_window(
+            overlay_window = tab.new_special_window(
                 SpecialWindow(
                     ['kitty', '+runpy', 'from kittens.{}.main import main; main()'.format(kitten)] + args,
                     stdin=data,
                     overlay_for=w.id))
+            if kitten == 'url_hints':
+                overlay_window.action_on_close = self.open_hinted_url
+
+    def open_hinted_url(self, source_window):
+        output = self.get_output(source_window, num_lines=None)
+        if output.startswith('OK: '):
+            cmd = json.loads(output.partition(' ')[2].strip())
+            open_url(cmd['url'], cmd['program'])
 
     def switch_focus_to(self, window_idx):
         tab = self.active_tab