diff --git a/kitty/dnd.c b/kitty/dnd.c
index ffddb387a..d85bb39b1 100644
--- a/kitty/dnd.c
+++ b/kitty/dnd.c
@@ -1904,6 +1904,15 @@ subdir_data_for_drag(
 }
 #undef mi
 
+void
+drag_offer_start_to_child(Window *w, int32_t cell_x, int32_t cell_y, int32_t pixel_x, int32_t pixel_y) {
+    char buf[256];
+    int header_size = snprintf(
+        buf, sizeof(buf), "%d;t=o:x=%d:y=%d:X=%d:Y=%d", DND_CODE, cell_x, cell_y, pixel_x, pixel_y);
+    queue_payload_to_child(
+        w->id, w->drag_source.client_id, &w->drag_source.pending, buf, header_size, NULL, 0, false);
+}
+
 void
 drag_remote_file_data(
     Window *w, int32_t x, int32_t y, int32_t X, int32_t Y, bool has_more, const uint8_t *payload, size_t payload_sz
diff --git a/kitty/dnd.h b/kitty/dnd.h
index 27a7012e2..a1ed4effa 100644
--- a/kitty/dnd.h
+++ b/kitty/dnd.h
@@ -37,3 +37,4 @@ void drag_process_item_data(Window *w, size_t idx, int has_more, const uint8_t *
 void drag_remote_file_data(Window *w, int32_t x, int32_t y, int32_t X, int32_t Y, bool has_more, const uint8_t *payload, size_t payload_sz);
 void drag_start_offerring(Window *w, const char *client_machine_id, size_t sz);
 void drag_stop_offerring(Window *w);
+void drag_offer_start_to_child(Window *w, int32_t cell_x, int32_t cell_y, int32_t pixel_x, int32_t pixel_y);
diff --git a/kitty/mouse.c b/kitty/mouse.c
index 01489df22..048dfa908 100644
--- a/kitty/mouse.c
+++ b/kitty/mouse.c
@@ -684,9 +684,8 @@ HANDLER(handle_move_event) {
     if (w->drag_source.initial_left_press.at && distance(w->mouse_pos.global_x, w->mouse_pos.global_y, w->drag_source.initial_left_press.x, w->drag_source.initial_left_press.y) > OPT(drag_threshold)) {
         zero_at_ptr(&w->drag_source.initial_left_press);
         if (w->drag_source.can_offer) {
-            snprintf(mouse_event_buf, sizeof(mouse_event_buf), "%d;t=o:x=%d:y=%d:X=%d:Y=%d",
-                DND_CODE, w->mouse_pos.cell_x, w->mouse_pos.cell_y, (int)w->mouse_pos.global_x, (int)w->mouse_pos.global_y);
-            write_escape_code_to_child(screen, ESC_OSC, mouse_event_buf);
+            drag_offer_start_to_child(
+                w, w->mouse_pos.cell_x, w->mouse_pos.cell_y, (int)w->mouse_pos.global_x, (int)w->mouse_pos.global_y);
             debug("Sent drag start event to child\n");
         } else if (w->drag_source.potential_url_drag.active) {
             w->drag_source.potential_url_drag.active = false;