diff --git a/babi/prompt.py b/babi/prompt.py
index a9ede91..13a128f 100644
--- a/babi/prompt.py
+++ b/babi/prompt.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 import curses
 import enum
+import glob
+import os
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 from babi.horizontal_scrolling import line_x
@@ -14,12 +16,19 @@
 
 
 class Prompt:
-    def __init__(self, screen: Screen, prompt: str, lst: list[str]) -> None:
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        screen: Screen,
+        prompt: str, lst: list[str],
+        *,
+        file_glob: bool,
+    ) -> None:
         self._screen = screen
         self._prompt = prompt
         self._lst = lst
         self._y = len(lst) - 1
         self._x = len(self._s)
+        self._enable_file_complete = file_glob
 
     @property
     def _s(self) -> str:
@@ -95,6 +104,24 @@ def _delete(self) -> None:
     def _cut_to_end(self) -> None:
         self._s = self._s[:self._x]
 
+    def _tab(self) -> None:
+        if self._enable_file_complete:
+            self._complete_file()
+
+    def _complete_file(self) -> None:
+        # only allow completion at the end of the prompt or before a separator
+        if self._x != len(self._s) and self._s[self._x] not in ('/', ' '):
+            return
+        partial = self._s[:self._x]
+        completions = glob.glob(f'{partial}*')
+        if not completions:
+            return
+        common = os.path.commonprefix(completions)
+        if not common or common == partial:
+            return
+        self._s = common + self._s[self._x:]  # don't eat text behind cursor
+        self._x = len(common)
+
     def _resize(self) -> None:
         self._screen.resize()
 
@@ -165,6 +192,7 @@ def _submit(self) -> str:
         b'KEY_DC': _delete,
         b'^K': _cut_to_end,
         # misc
+        b'^I': _tab,
         b'KEY_RESIZE': _resize,
         b'^R': _reverse_search,
         b'^M': _submit,
diff --git a/babi/screen.py b/babi/screen.py
index e26c702..fba18ae 100644
--- a/babi/screen.py
+++ b/babi/screen.py
@@ -393,6 +393,7 @@ def prompt(
             self,
             prompt: str,
             *,
+            file_glob: bool,
             allow_empty: bool = False,
             history: str | None = None,
             default_prev: bool = False,
@@ -407,7 +408,7 @@ def prompt(
         else:
             history_data = [default]
 
-        ret = Prompt(self, prompt, history_data).run()
+        ret = Prompt(self, prompt, history_data, file_glob=file_glob).run()
 
         if ret is not PromptResult.CANCELLED and history is not None:
             if ret:  # only put non-empty things in history
@@ -424,7 +425,7 @@ def prompt(
             return ret
 
     def go_to_line(self) -> None:
-        response = self.prompt('enter line number')
+        response = self.prompt('enter line number', file_glob=False)
         if response is not PromptResult.CANCELLED:
             try:
                 lineno = int(response)
@@ -455,7 +456,9 @@ def uncut(self) -> None:
             self.file.uncut(self.cut_buffer, self.layout.file)
 
     def _get_search_re(self, prompt: str) -> Pattern[str] | PromptResult:
-        response = self.prompt(prompt, history='search', default_prev=True)
+        response = self.prompt(
+            prompt, history='search', default_prev=True, file_glob=False,
+        )
         if response is PromptResult.CANCELLED:
             return response
         try:
@@ -494,7 +497,10 @@ def replace(self) -> None:
         search_response = self._get_search_re('search (to replace)')
         if search_response is not PromptResult.CANCELLED:
             response = self.prompt(
-                'replace with', history='replace', allow_empty=True,
+                'replace with',
+                history='replace',
+                allow_empty=True,
+                file_glob=False,
             )
             if response is not PromptResult.CANCELLED:
                 try:
@@ -685,7 +691,7 @@ def _command_retheme(self, args: list[str]) -> None:
     }
 
     def command(self) -> EditResult | None:
-        response = self.prompt('', history='command')
+        response = self.prompt('', history='command', file_glob=False)
         if response is PromptResult.CANCELLED:
             return None
 
@@ -720,7 +726,9 @@ def save(self) -> PromptResult | None:
         # TODO: strip trailing whitespace?
         # TODO: save atomically?
         if self.file.filename is None:
-            filename = self.prompt('enter filename')
+            filename = self.prompt(
+                'enter filename', default=self.file.filename, file_glob=True,
+            )
             if filename is PromptResult.CANCELLED:
                 return PromptResult.CANCELLED
             else:
@@ -762,7 +770,9 @@ def save(self) -> PromptResult | None:
         return None
 
     def save_filename(self) -> PromptResult | None:
-        response = self.prompt('enter filename', default=self.file.filename)
+        response = self.prompt(
+            'enter filename', default=self.file.filename, file_glob=True,
+        )
         if response is PromptResult.CANCELLED:
             return PromptResult.CANCELLED
         else:
@@ -770,7 +780,9 @@ def save_filename(self) -> PromptResult | None:
             return self.save()
 
     def open_file(self) -> EditResult | None:
-        response = self.prompt('enter filename', history='open')
+        response = self.prompt(
+            'enter filename', history='open', file_glob=True,
+        )
         if response is not PromptResult.CANCELLED:
             opened = File(
                 response,
diff --git a/tests/features/open_test.py b/tests/features/open_test.py
index 10e38b6..33207ec 100644
--- a/tests/features/open_test.py
+++ b/tests/features/open_test.py
@@ -35,6 +35,55 @@ def test_open(run, tmpdir):
 
         h.press('^X')
         h.await_text('hello world')
+        h.press('^X')
+        h.await_exit()
+
+
+def test_file_glob(run, tmpdir):
+    base = 'globtest'
+    prefix = base + 'ffff.txt'
+    f = tmpdir.join(prefix + 'f')
+    f.write('hello world')
+    g = tmpdir.join(base + 'fggg')
+    g.write('goodbye world')
+    nonexistant = str(tmpdir.join('NONEXISTANT'))
+
+    incomplete = f'{tmpdir.join(base)}fff'
+
+    with run(str(g)) as h:
+        h.await_text('goodbye world')
+
+        h.press('^P')
+        h.press(nonexistant)
+        h.press('Tab')
+        # no completion should be possible
+        h.await_text(f'«{nonexistant[-7:]}')
+        h.press('^C')
+        h.await_text('cancelled')
+
+        h.press('^P')
+        h.press(incomplete)
+        h.await_text(incomplete[-7:])
+
+        # completion inside a word should be blocked
+        h.press('Left')
+        h.press('Tab')
+        h.await_text(incomplete[-7:])
+
+        # move to end of input again
+        h.press('Right')
 
+        # check successful completion
+        h.press('Tab')
+        h.await_text(str(f)[-7:])
+
+        # second tab press shouldn't change anything
+        h.press('Tab')
+        h.await_text(str(f)[-7:])
+
+        h.press('Enter')
+        h.await_text('[2/2]')
+        h.await_text('hello world')
+        h.press('^X')
         h.press('^X')
         h.await_exit()
diff --git a/tests/features/search_test.py b/tests/features/search_test.py
index a3c9e8e..80acea2 100644
--- a/tests/features/search_test.py
+++ b/tests/features/search_test.py
@@ -365,3 +365,17 @@ def test_search_history_extra_blank_lines(run, xdg_data_home):
         pass
     contents = xdg_data_home.join('babi/history/search').read()
     assert contents == 'hello\n'
+
+
+def test_search_fileglob_disabled(run, tmpdir):
+    filename = 'aaaa.txt'
+    query = str(tmpdir.join(filename[0]))
+    f = tmpdir.join(filename)
+    f.write('')
+    with run() as h, and_exit(h):
+        h.press('^W')
+        h.press(query)
+        h.press('Tab')
+        h.await_text(query[-7:])
+        h.await_text_missing(str(f)[-7:])
+        h.press('^C')