diff --git a/src/gemini-viewer.lisp b/src/gemini-viewer.lisp
index d41d562..b28fe12 100644
--- a/src/gemini-viewer.lisp
+++ b/src/gemini-viewer.lisp
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
                                   (db-utils:with-ready-database (:connect nil)
                                     (request new-url))))))
                        (ui:ask-string-input #'on-input-complete
+                                            :priority program-events:+minimum-event-priority+
                                             :prompt
                                             (format nil
                                                     (_ "Redirects to ~s, follows redirect? [y/N] ")
diff --git a/src/main.lisp b/src/main.lisp
index 4ee051d..a44448f 100644
--- a/src/main.lisp
+++ b/src/main.lisp
@@ -87,6 +87,11 @@ etc.) happened"
 (defun reset-timeline-pagination ()
   (ui:reset-timeline-pagination))
 
+(defun load-gemini-url (url)
+  (let* ((refresh-event (make-instance 'program-events:gemini-request-event
+                                       :url url)))
+    (program-events:push-event refresh-event)))
+
 (defun load-configuration-files ()
   (swconf:load-config-file swconf:+shared-conf-filename+)
   (swconf:load-config-file swconf:+conf-filename+))
@@ -117,9 +122,7 @@ etc.) happened"
     (client:init)
     (client:authorize)
     (if command-line:*gemini-url*
-        (progn
-          (gemini-viewer:request *gemini-url*)
-          (ui:focus-to-message-window))
+        (load-gemini-url command-line:*gemini-url*)
         (progn
           (let ((program-events:*process-events-immediately* t))
             (when command-line:*start-timeline*
diff --git a/src/package.lisp b/src/package.lisp
index db3701e..1a91eaf 100644
--- a/src/package.lisp
+++ b/src/package.lisp
@@ -1194,6 +1194,7 @@
    :report-status-event
    :add-crypto-data-event
    :poll-vote-event
+   :gemini-request-event
    :function-event
    :dispatch-program-events
    :add-pagination-status-event
diff --git a/src/program-events.lisp b/src/program-events.lisp
index bc8c408..c7d5e10 100644
--- a/src/program-events.lisp
+++ b/src/program-events.lisp
@@ -179,8 +179,10 @@
   set the payload of this events with the user provided string."))
 
 (defmethod initialize-instance :after ((object ask-user-input-string-event)
-                                       &key &allow-other-keys)
-  (setf (priority object) (truncate (/ +standard-event-priority+ 2))))
+                                       &key (forced-priority nil) &allow-other-keys)
+  (if forced-priority
+        (setf (priority object) forced-priority)
+        (setf (priority object) (truncate (/ +standard-event-priority+ 2)))))
 
 (defmethod process-event ((object ask-user-input-string-event))
   (with-accessors ((prompt        prompt)
@@ -190,6 +192,7 @@
           object)
     (setf (point-tracker:prompt specials:*command-window*)
           prompt)
+    (command-window:remove-messages specials:*command-window*)
     (setf complete:*complete-function* complete-fn)
     (command-window:set-string-mode         specials:*command-window*)
     (command-window:set-history-most-recent specials:*command-window* prompt)
@@ -887,6 +890,17 @@
     (tui:with-notify-errors
       (api-client:poll-vote poll-id choices))))
 
+(defclass gemini-request-event (program-event)
+  ((url
+    :initform nil
+    :initarg  :url
+    :accessor url)))
+
+(defmethod process-event ((object gemini-request-event))
+  (with-accessors ((url url)) object
+    (ui:focus-to-message-window)
+    (gemini-viewer:request url)))
+
 (defclass function-event (program-event) ())
 
 (defmethod process-event ((object function-event))
diff --git a/src/ui-goodies.lisp b/src/ui-goodies.lisp
index 71e8758..62c4278 100644
--- a/src/ui-goodies.lisp
+++ b/src/ui-goodies.lisp
@@ -142,15 +142,17 @@
 
 (defun ask-string-input (on-input-complete-fn
                          &key
+                           (priority      nil)
                            (initial-value nil)
                            (prompt        +default-command-prompt+)
                            (complete-fn   #'complete:directory-complete))
   (flet ((thread-fn ()
            (let ((event (make-instance 'ask-user-input-string-event
-                                       :initial-value initial-value
-                                       :complete-fn   complete-fn
-                                       :prompt        prompt
-                                       :payload       (box:dbox nil))))
+                                       :forced-priority priority
+                                       :initial-value   initial-value
+                                       :complete-fn     complete-fn
+                                       :prompt          prompt
+                                       :payload         (box:dbox nil))))
              (with-accessors ((lock               lock)
                               (condition-variable condition-variable)) event
                (push-event event)