diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index d77b50b8..2c18c27e 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ static const char *const binding_action_map[] = {
     [BIND_ACTION_MINIMIZE] = "minimize",
     [BIND_ACTION_MAXIMIZE] = "maximize",
     [BIND_ACTION_FULLSCREEN] = "fullscreen",
+    [BIND_ACTION_EXEC] = "exec",
     [BIND_ACTION_PIPE_SCROLLBACK] = "pipe-scrollback",
     [BIND_ACTION_PIPE_VIEW] = "pipe-visible",
     [BIND_ACTION_PIPE_SELECTED] = "pipe-selected",
diff --git a/doc/foot.ini.5.scd b/doc/foot.ini.5.scd
index 07a3cb94..d41657fa 100644
--- a/doc/foot.ini.5.scd
+++ b/doc/foot.ini.5.scd
@@ -812,6 +812,20 @@ e.g. *search-start=none*.
 	
 	Default: _not bound_
 
+*exec*
+	Executes a slave process bound to the same tty as the main
+	session process. The syntax is similar to *pipe-visible* and
+	similar bindings.
+	
+	Note that the process is controlling the tty at the same time
+	as the currently running process and it can mess up completely
+	the terminal state. Be careful of what you configure.
+	
+	Example:
+		*exec=[clear] Control+Shift+l*
+	
+	Default: _not bound_
+
 *show-urls-launch*
 	Enter URL mode, where all currently visible URLs are tagged with a
 	jump label with a key sequence that will open the URL (and exit
diff --git a/input.c b/input.c
index 0a3773bc..79f9f927 100644
--- a/input.c
+++ b/input.c
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 #include "vt.h"
 #include "xmalloc.h"
 #include "xsnprintf.h"
+#include "slave.h"
 
 struct pipe_context {
     char *text;
@@ -204,6 +205,22 @@ execute_binding(struct seat *seat, struct terminal *term,
             xdg_toplevel_set_fullscreen(term->window->xdg_toplevel, NULL);
         return true;
 
+    case BIND_ACTION_EXEC:
+        if (binding->aux->type != BINDING_AUX_PIPE)
+            return true;
+
+        int argc = 0;
+        while(binding->aux->pipe.args[argc]) argc++;
+
+        if (slave_spawn(
+             term->ptmx, argc, term->cwd, binding->aux->pipe.args, NULL,
+             &term->conf->env_vars, term->conf->term, NULL, false, false, NULL) == -1) {
+            LOG_ERRNO("failed to spawn slave for exec action");
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        return true;
+
     case BIND_ACTION_PIPE_SCROLLBACK:
         if (term->grid == &term->alt)
             break;
diff --git a/key-binding.h b/key-binding.h
index f607644f..6e0a4883 100644
--- a/key-binding.h
+++ b/key-binding.h
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ enum bind_action_normal {
     BIND_ACTION_MINIMIZE,
     BIND_ACTION_MAXIMIZE,
     BIND_ACTION_FULLSCREEN,
+    BIND_ACTION_EXEC,
     BIND_ACTION_PIPE_SCROLLBACK,
     BIND_ACTION_PIPE_VIEW,
     BIND_ACTION_PIPE_SELECTED,
diff --git a/slave.c b/slave.c
index d4861ad0..784e169a 100644
--- a/slave.c
+++ b/slave.c
@@ -205,16 +205,16 @@ emit_notifications(int fd, const user_notifications_t *notifications)
 
 static noreturn void
 slave_exec(int ptmx, char *argv[], char *const envp[], int err_fd,
-           bool login_shell, const user_notifications_t *notifications)
+           bool login_shell, bool init, const user_notifications_t *notifications)
 {
     int pts = -1;
     const char *pts_name = ptsname(ptmx);
 
-    if (grantpt(ptmx) == -1) {
+    if (init && grantpt(ptmx) == -1) {
         LOG_ERRNO("failed to grantpt()");
         goto err;
     }
-    if (unlockpt(ptmx) == -1) {
+    if (init && unlockpt(ptmx) == -1) {
         LOG_ERRNO("failed to unlockpt()");
         goto err;
     }
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ slave_exec(int ptmx, char *argv[], char *const envp[], int err_fd,
     close(ptmx);
     ptmx = -1;
 
-    if (setsid() == -1) {
+    if (init && setsid() == -1) {
         LOG_ERRNO("failed to setsid()");
         goto err;
     }
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ slave_exec(int ptmx, char *argv[], char *const envp[], int err_fd,
         goto err;
     }
 
-    if (ioctl(pts, TIOCSCTTY, 0) < 0) {
+    if (init && ioctl(pts, TIOCSCTTY, 0) < 0) {
         LOG_ERRNO("failed to configure controlling terminal");
         goto err;
     }
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ slave_exec(int ptmx, char *argv[], char *const envp[], int err_fd,
     }
 #endif
 
-    if (tll_length(*notifications) > 0) {
+    if (notifications && tll_length(*notifications) > 0) {
         int flags = fcntl(pts, F_GETFL);
         if (flags < 0)
             goto err;
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ pid_t
 slave_spawn(int ptmx, int argc, const char *cwd, char *const *argv,
             char *const *envp, const env_var_list_t *extra_env_vars,
             const char *term_env, const char *conf_shell, bool login_shell,
-            const user_notifications_t *notifications)
+            bool init, const user_notifications_t *notifications)
 {
     int fork_pipe[2];
     if (pipe2(fork_pipe, O_CLOEXEC) < 0) {
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ slave_spawn(int ptmx, int argc, const char *cwd, char *const *argv,
             setenv("SHELL", shell_argv[0], 1);
 
         slave_exec(ptmx, shell_argv, envp != NULL ? envp : environ,
-                   fork_pipe[1], login_shell, notifications);
+                   fork_pipe[1], login_shell, init, notifications);
         BUG("Unexpected return from slave_exec()");
         break;
 
diff --git a/slave.h b/slave.h
index b1c08f14..2d67a622 100644
--- a/slave.h
+++ b/slave.h
@@ -9,5 +9,5 @@
 pid_t slave_spawn(
     int ptmx, int argc, const char *cwd, char *const *argv, char *const *envp,
     const env_var_list_t *extra_env_vars, const char *term_env,
-    const char *conf_shell, bool login_shell,
+    const char *conf_shell, bool login_shell, bool init,
     const user_notifications_t *notifications);
diff --git a/terminal.c b/terminal.c
index 78ce4bc3..edb9e9f8 100644
--- a/terminal.c
+++ b/terminal.c
@@ -1336,7 +1336,7 @@ term_init(const struct config *conf, struct fdm *fdm, struct reaper *reaper,
     /* Start the slave/client */
     if ((term->slave = slave_spawn(
              term->ptmx, argc, term->cwd, argv, envp, &conf->env_vars,
-             conf->term, conf->shell, conf->login_shell,
+             conf->term, conf->shell, conf->login_shell, true,
              &conf->notifications)) == -1)
     {
         goto err;