diff --git a/kitty/dnd.c b/kitty/dnd.c
index 18e46ae54..552b9a0ae 100644
--- a/kitty/dnd.c
+++ b/kitty/dnd.c
@@ -1101,6 +1101,8 @@ drag_get_data(Window *w, const char *mime_type, size_t *sz, int *err_code) {
 void
 drag_process_item_data(Window *w, size_t idx, int has_more, const uint8_t *payload, size_t payload_sz) {
     (void)w; (void)idx; (void)has_more; (void)payload; (void)payload_sz;
+    // call notify_drag_data_ready() after writing payload to file and
+    // dont forget to check the return value of notify_drag_data_ready()
 }
 #undef img
 #undef abrt
diff --git a/kitty/glfw.c b/kitty/glfw.c
index 90efff5bd..b70461f6a 100644
--- a/kitty/glfw.c
+++ b/kitty/glfw.c
@@ -1144,6 +1144,14 @@ drag_source_callback(GLFWwindow *window UNUSED, GLFWDragEvent *ev) {
 }
 #undef ds
 
+int
+notify_drag_data_ready(id_type os_window_id, const char *mime_type) {
+    OSWindow *w = os_window_for_id(os_window_id);
+    GLFWDragSourceItem item = {.mime_type = mime_type};
+    if (w && w->handle) return glfwStartDrag(w->handle, &item, 1, NULL, -1, false);
+    return ENOENT;
+}
+
 static char*
 get_current_selection(void) {
     if (!global_state.boss) return NULL;
diff --git a/kitty/state.h b/kitty/state.h
index bf56f421a..1ac6ac4db 100644
--- a/kitty/state.h
+++ b/kitty/state.h
@@ -598,3 +598,4 @@ void request_drop_data(OSWindow *w, id_type wid, const char* mime);
 void cancel_current_drag_source(void);
 bool change_drag_image(int idx);
 int start_window_drag(Window *w);
+int notify_drag_data_ready(id_type os_window_id, const char *mime_type);