diff --git a/kitty/child-monitor.c b/kitty/child-monitor.c
index 218120039..d29d29e6a 100644
--- a/kitty/child-monitor.c
+++ b/kitty/child-monitor.c
@@ -792,7 +792,8 @@ prepare_to_render_os_window(OSWindow *os_window, monotonic_t now, id_type *activ
             if (is_active_non_floating_window) *active_window_bg = window_bg;
             needs_render |= prepare_to_render_window(os_window, tab, w, is_active_non_floating_window, now, scan_for_animated_images, active_window_id);
             for (size_t i = 0; i < w->floating.child_count; i++) {
-                needs_render |= prepare_to_render_window(os_window, tab, w->floating.children + i, is_active_non_floating_window, now, scan_for_animated_images, active_window_id);
+                Window *cw = w->floating.children + i;
+                if (cw->render_data.screen) needs_render |= prepare_to_render_window(os_window, tab, cw, is_active_non_floating_window, now, scan_for_animated_images, active_window_id);
             }
         }
     }
@@ -840,7 +841,8 @@ render_prepared_os_window(OSWindow *os_window, unsigned int active_window_id, co
         if (w->visible && WD.screen) {
             if (draw_window(os_window, w, i == tab->active_window, num_of_visible_windows)) active_window = w;
             for (size_t f = 0; f < w->floating.child_count; f++) {
-                if (draw_window(os_window, w->floating.children + f, i == tab->active_window, num_of_visible_windows)) active_window = w->floating.children + f;
+                Window *cw = w->floating.children + f;
+                if (cw->render_data.screen && draw_window(os_window, cw, i == tab->active_window, num_of_visible_windows)) active_window = cw;
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/kitty/launch.py b/kitty/launch.py
index e7c10233e..5967ad452 100644
--- a/kitty/launch.py
+++ b/kitty/launch.py
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ of the active window in the tab is used as the tab title. The special value
 --type
 type=choices
 default=window
-choices=window,tab,os-window,overlay,overlay-main,background,clipboard,primary
+choices=window,tab,os-window,overlay,overlay-main,background,clipboard,primary,float
 Where to launch the child process:
 
 :code:`window`
@@ -105,6 +105,9 @@ Where to launch the child process:
     directory, the input text for kittens, launch commands, etc. Useful if this overlay is
     intended to run for a long time as a primary window.
 
+:code:`float`
+    A floating window displayed on top of the parent window.
+
 :code:`background`
     The process will be run in the :italic:`background`, without a kitty
     window. Note that if :option:`kitten @ launch --allow-remote-control` is
@@ -122,7 +125,8 @@ Where to launch the child process:
 --keep-focus --dont-take-focus
 type=bool-set
 Keep the focus on the currently active window instead of switching to the newly
-opened window.
+opened window. Note that floating windows always take focus from their parent
+non-floating window.
 
 
 --cwd
@@ -722,8 +726,8 @@ def _launch(
             tab = tab_for_window(boss, opts, target_tab, next_to)
         watchers = load_watch_modules(opts.watcher)
         with Window.set_ignore_focus_changes_for_new_windows(opts.keep_focus):
-            new_window: Window = tab.new_window(
-                env=env or None, watchers=watchers or None, is_clone_launch=is_clone_launch, next_to=next_to, **kw)
+            new_window = tab.new_window(
+                env=env or None, watchers=watchers or None, is_clone_launch=is_clone_launch, next_to=next_to, is_float=opts.type == 'float', **kw)
         if spacing:
             patch_window_edges(new_window, spacing)
             tab.relayout()
diff --git a/kitty/tabs.py b/kitty/tabs.py
index e2eba045c..de8acce16 100644
--- a/kitty/tabs.py
+++ b/kitty/tabs.py
@@ -568,20 +568,27 @@ class Tab:  # {{{
         pass_fds: tuple[int, ...] = (),
         remote_control_fd: int = -1,
         next_to: Window | None = None,
+        is_float: bool = False,
     ) -> Window:
+        floating_in = 0
+        if is_float:
+            fp = next_to or self.active_window
+            if fp is not None:
+                floating_in = fp.id
         child = self.launch_child(
             use_shell=use_shell, cmd=cmd, stdin=stdin, cwd_from=cwd_from, cwd=cwd, env=env,
             is_clone_launch=is_clone_launch, add_listen_on_env_var=False if allow_remote_control and remote_control_passwords else True,
             hold=hold, pass_fds=pass_fds, remote_control_fd=remote_control_fd,
         )
         window = Window(
-            self, child, self.args, override_title=override_title,
+            self, child, self.args, override_title=override_title, floating_in=floating_in,
             copy_colors_from=copy_colors_from, watchers=watchers,
             allow_remote_control=allow_remote_control, remote_control_passwords=remote_control_passwords
         )
         # Must add child before laying out so that resize_pty succeeds
         get_boss().add_child(window)
-        self._add_window(window, location=location, overlay_for=overlay_for, overlay_behind=overlay_behind, bias=bias, next_to=next_to)
+        if not floating_in:
+            self._add_window(window, location=location, overlay_for=overlay_for, overlay_behind=overlay_behind, bias=bias, next_to=next_to)
         if marker:
             try:
                 window.set_marker(marker)