diff --git a/tools/cmd/at/send_text.go b/tools/cmd/at/send_text.go
index 762bdced1..620c884a5 100644
--- a/tools/cmd/at/send_text.go
+++ b/tools/cmd/at/send_text.go
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"io"
 	"kitty/tools/tui/loop"
+	"kitty/tools/utils"
+	"kitty/tools/utils/shlex"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
 )
@@ -19,13 +21,16 @@ func parse_send_text(io_data *rc_io_data, args []string) error {
 	generators := make([]func(io_data *rc_io_data) (bool, error), 0, 1)
 
 	if len(args) > 0 {
+		for i, arg := range args {
+			args[i] = shlex.ExpandANSICEscapes(arg)
+		}
 		text := strings.Join(args, " ")
 		text_gen := func(io_data *rc_io_data) (bool, error) {
 			limit := len(text)
 			if limit > 2048 {
 				limit = 2048
 			}
-			set_payload_data(io_data, "text:"+text[:limit])
+			set_payload_data(io_data, "base64:"+base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString(utils.UnsafeStringToBytes(text[:limit])))
 			text = text[limit:]
 			return len(text) == 0, nil
 		}