diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d899fec..0a251e2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ these are all of the current key bindings in babi
 - <kbd>^S</kbd>: save
 - <kbd>^O</kbd>: save as
 - <kbd>^X</kbd>: quit
+- <kbd>^P</kbd>: open file
 - arrow keys: movement
 - <kbd>^A</kbd> / <kbd>home</kbd>: move to beginning of line
 - <kbd>^E</kbd> / <kbd>end</kbd>: move to end of line
diff --git a/babi/main.py b/babi/main.py
index 1222a11..1c4e728 100644
--- a/babi/main.py
+++ b/babi/main.py
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ def c_main(
                 elif res == EditResult.PREV:
                     screen.i -= 1
                     screen.status.clear()
+                elif res == EditResult.OPEN:
+                    screen.i = len(screen.files) - 1
                 else:
                     raise AssertionError(f'unreachable {res}')
     return 0
diff --git a/babi/screen.py b/babi/screen.py
index 3bc264d..a4f178f 100644
--- a/babi/screen.py
+++ b/babi/screen.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ from babi.prompt import PromptResult
 from babi.status import Status
 
 VERSION_STR = 'babi v0'
-EditResult = enum.Enum('EditResult', 'EXIT NEXT PREV')
+EditResult = enum.Enum('EditResult', 'EXIT NEXT PREV OPEN')
 
 # TODO: find a place to populate these, surely there's a database somewhere
 SEQUENCE_KEYNAME = {
@@ -73,11 +73,11 @@ class Screen:
     ) -> None:
         self.stdscr = stdscr
         color_manager = ColorManager.make()
-        hl_factories = (
+        self.hl_factories = (
             Syntax.from_screen(stdscr, color_manager),
             TrailingWhitespace(color_manager),
         )
-        self.files = [File(f, hl_factories) for f in filenames]
+        self.files = [File(f, self.hl_factories) for f in filenames]
         self.i = 0
         self.history = History()
         self.perf = perf
@@ -451,6 +451,14 @@ class Screen:
             self.file.filename = response
             return self.save()
 
+    def open_file(self) -> Optional[EditResult]:
+        response = self.prompt('enter filename', history='open')
+        if response is not PromptResult.CANCELLED:
+            self.files.append(File(response, self.hl_factories))
+            return EditResult.OPEN
+        else:
+            return None
+
     def quit_save_modified(self) -> Optional[EditResult]:
         if self.file.modified:
             response = self.quick_prompt(
@@ -488,6 +496,7 @@ class Screen:
         b'^S': save,
         b'^O': save_filename,
         b'^X': quit_save_modified,
+        b'^P': open_file,
         b'kLFT3': lambda screen: EditResult.PREV,
         b'kRIT3': lambda screen: EditResult.NEXT,
         b'^Z': background,
diff --git a/tests/features/conftest.py b/tests/features/conftest.py
index b843d6f..71ff9ed 100644
--- a/tests/features/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/features/conftest.py
@@ -254,6 +254,7 @@ KEYS = [
     Key('^E', b'^E', '\x05'),
     Key('^J', b'^J', '\n'),
     Key('^O', b'^O', '\x0f'),
+    Key('^P', b'^P', '\x10'),
     Key('^R', b'^R', '\x12'),
     Key('^S', b'^S', '\x13'),
     Key('^U', b'^U', '\x15'),
diff --git a/tests/features/open_test.py b/tests/features/open_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c6e2a40
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/features/open_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+from testing.runner import and_exit
+
+
+def test_open_cancelled(run, tmpdir):
+    f = tmpdir.join('f')
+    f.write('hello world')
+
+    with run(str(f)) as h, and_exit(h):
+        h.await_text('hello world')
+
+        h.press('^P')
+        h.await_text('enter filename:')
+        h.press('^C')
+
+        h.await_text('cancelled')
+        h.await_text('hello world')
+
+
+def test_open(run, tmpdir):
+    f = tmpdir.join('f')
+    f.write('hello world')
+    g = tmpdir.join('g')
+    g.write('goodbye world')
+
+    with run(str(f)) as h:
+        h.await_text('hello world')
+
+        h.press('^P')
+        h.press_and_enter(str(g))
+
+        h.await_text('[2/2]')
+        h.await_text('goodbye world')
+
+        h.press('^X')
+        h.await_text('hello world')
+
+        h.press('^X')
+        h.await_exit()