diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b5d940e..30429fd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ go install github.com/onyx-and-iris/ignr@latest
 -   --height/-H: Height of the selection prompt (default 10)
 -   --filter/-f: Type of filter to apply to the list of templates (default startswith)
     -   may be one of (startswith, contains)
+-   --start-search/-s: Start the prompt in search mode (default false)
 
 *environment variables*
 
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ go install github.com/onyx-and-iris/ignr@latest
 export IGNR_TOKEN=<API Token>
 export IGNR_HEIGHT=10
 export IGNR_FILTER=startswith
+export IGNR_START_SEARCH=false
 ```
 
 ## Commands
diff --git a/filter.go b/filter.go
index f9aba31..cc9ca13 100644
--- a/filter.go
+++ b/filter.go
@@ -2,13 +2,11 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"strings"
-
-	"github.com/spf13/viper"
 )
 
 // filterFunc returns a function that filters templates based on the specified filter type.
-func filterFunc(templates []string) func(input string, index int) bool {
-	switch viper.GetString("filter") {
+func filterFunc(templates []string, filterType string) func(input string, index int) bool {
+	switch filterType {
 	case "contains":
 		return func(input string, index int) bool {
 			return strings.Contains(strings.ToLower(templates[index]), strings.ToLower(input))
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index d16291c..a829c59 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -57,14 +57,17 @@ func init() {
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().IntP("height", "H", 10, "Height of the selection prompt")
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().
 		StringP("filter", "f", "startswith", "Type of filter to apply to the list of templates (e.g., 'startswith', 'contains')")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolP("start-search", "s", false, "Start the prompt in search mode")
 
 	rootCmd.Flags().BoolP("version", "v", false, "Print the version of the CLI")
 
+	viper.SetEnvKeyReplacer(strings.NewReplacer("-", "_"))
 	viper.SetEnvPrefix("IGNR")
 	viper.AutomaticEnv()
 	viper.BindPFlag("token", rootCmd.PersistentFlags().Lookup("token"))
 	viper.BindPFlag("height", rootCmd.PersistentFlags().Lookup("height"))
 	viper.BindPFlag("filter", rootCmd.PersistentFlags().Lookup("filter"))
+	viper.BindPFlag("start-search", rootCmd.PersistentFlags().Lookup("start-search"))
 }
 
 // main is the entry point of the application.
diff --git a/new.go b/new.go
index fe4f1b8..f3bebfc 100644
--- a/new.go
+++ b/new.go
@@ -29,11 +29,21 @@ func init() {
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(newCmd)
 }
 
+type promptConfig struct {
+	Height      int
+	StartSearch bool
+	FilterType  string
+}
+
 // runNewCommand is the handler for the 'new' command.
 // It retrieves the selected .gitignore template from GitHub and writes it to the .gitignore file.
 func runNewCommand(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
-	height := viper.GetInt("height")
-	if height <= 0 {
+	pc := promptConfig{
+		Height:      viper.GetInt("height"),
+		StartSearch: viper.GetBool("start-search"),
+		FilterType:  viper.GetString("filter"),
+	}
+	if pc.Height <= 0 {
 		return errors.New("height must be a positive integer")
 	}
 
@@ -42,7 +52,7 @@ func runNewCommand(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
 		return errors.New("failed to get GitHub client from context")
 	}
 
-	content, err := runPrompt(client, height)
+	content, err := runPrompt(client, &pc)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("error running selection prompt: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -61,7 +71,7 @@ func runNewCommand(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
 }
 
 // runPrompt is a helper function to run the selection prompt for .gitignore templates.
-func runPrompt(client *github.Client, height int) (*github.Gitignore, error) {
+func runPrompt(client *github.Client, pc *promptConfig) (*github.Gitignore, error) {
 	templates, _, err := client.Gitignores.List(context.Background())
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error retrieving gitignore template list: %w", err)
@@ -75,11 +85,12 @@ func runPrompt(client *github.Client, height int) (*github.Gitignore, error) {
 	}
 
 	prompt := promptui.Select{
-		Label:     "Select a .gitignore template",
-		Items:     templates,
-		Templates: selectTemplates,
-		Size:      height,
-		Searcher:  filterFunc(templates),
+		Label:             "Select a .gitignore template",
+		Items:             templates,
+		Templates:         selectTemplates,
+		Size:              pc.Height,
+		Searcher:          filterFunc(templates, pc.FilterType),
+		StartInSearchMode: pc.StartSearch,
 	}
 
 	i, _, err := prompt.Run()