diff --git a/cmd-send-keys.c b/cmd-send-keys.c
index fe202335..ddbab6f7 100644
--- a/cmd-send-keys.c
+++ b/cmd-send-keys.c
@@ -33,8 +33,9 @@ const struct cmd_entry cmd_send_keys_entry = {
 	.name = "send-keys",
 	.alias = "send",
 
-	.args = { "HlXRMN:t:", 0, -1 },
-	.usage = "[-HlXRM] [-N repeat-count] " CMD_TARGET_PANE_USAGE " key ...",
+	.args = { "FHlMN:Rt:X", 0, -1 },
+	.usage = "[-FHlMRX] [-N repeat-count] " CMD_TARGET_PANE_USAGE
+	         " key ...",
 
 	.target = { 't', CMD_FIND_PANE, 0 },
 
diff --git a/tmux.1 b/tmux.1
index 8c9fad39..2a1735d8 100644
--- a/tmux.1
+++ b/tmux.1
@@ -2672,7 +2672,7 @@ With
 only
 .Ar key-table .
 .It Xo Ic send-keys
-.Op Fl HlMRX
+.Op Fl FHlMRX
 .Op Fl N Ar repeat-count
 .Op Fl t Ar target-pane
 .Ar key Ar ...
@@ -2711,7 +2711,9 @@ the
 .Sx WINDOWS AND PANES
 section.
 .Fl N
-specifies a repeat count.
+specifies a repeat count and
+.Fl F
+expands formats in arguments where appropriate.
 .It Xo Ic send-prefix
 .Op Fl 2
 .Op Fl t Ar target-pane
diff --git a/window-copy.c b/window-copy.c
index 473112e3..01dc1f85 100644
--- a/window-copy.c
+++ b/window-copy.c
@@ -1673,12 +1673,24 @@ window_copy_cmd_search_backward(struct window_copy_cmd_state *cs)
 	struct window_copy_mode_data	*data = wme->data;
 	u_int				 np = wme->prefix;
 	const char			*argument;
+	char				*expanded;
 
 	if (cs->args->argc == 2) {
 		argument = cs->args->argv[1];
 		if (*argument != '\0') {
-			free(data->searchstr);
-			data->searchstr = xstrdup(argument);
+			if (args_has(cs->args, 'F')) {
+				expanded = format_single(NULL, argument, NULL,
+				    NULL, NULL, wme->wp);
+				if (*expanded == '\0') {
+					free(expanded);
+					return (WINDOW_COPY_CMD_NOTHING);
+				}
+				free(data->searchstr);
+				data->searchstr = expanded;
+			} else {
+				free(data->searchstr);
+				data->searchstr = xstrdup(argument);
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	if (data->searchstr != NULL) {
@@ -1696,12 +1708,24 @@ window_copy_cmd_search_forward(struct window_copy_cmd_state *cs)
 	struct window_copy_mode_data	*data = wme->data;
 	u_int				 np = wme->prefix;
 	const char			*argument;
+	char				*expanded;
 
 	if (cs->args->argc == 2) {
 		argument = cs->args->argv[1];
 		if (*argument != '\0') {
-			free(data->searchstr);
-			data->searchstr = xstrdup(argument);
+			if (args_has(cs->args, 'F')) {
+				expanded = format_single(NULL, argument, NULL,
+				    NULL, NULL, wme->wp);
+				if (*expanded == '\0') {
+					free(expanded);
+					return (WINDOW_COPY_CMD_NOTHING);
+				}
+				free(data->searchstr);
+				data->searchstr = expanded;
+			} else {
+				free(data->searchstr);
+				data->searchstr = xstrdup(argument);
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	if (data->searchstr != NULL) {