diff --git a/cmd/lazysecrets/main.go b/cmd/lazysecrets/main.go
index a0f214b..223cd85 100644
--- a/cmd/lazysecrets/main.go
+++ b/cmd/lazysecrets/main.go
@@ -90,19 +90,29 @@ func cmpOr(a, b string) string {
 }
 
 // refArg parses get's and open's arguments: a reference, and optionally
-// the account to use when several could (lazysecrets list's column).
-func refArg(cmd string, args []string) (ref.Ref, error) {
+// the account to use when several could (lazysecrets list's column) and,
+// for open, what to do with it rather than asking (--action).
+func refArg(cmd string, args []string) (r ref.Ref, action string, err error) {
 	fs := flag.NewFlagSet(cmd, flag.ContinueOnError)
 	account := fs.String("account", "", "the account to use when several could, as lazysecrets list prints it")
+	usage := "usage: lazysecrets get [--account <account>] <ref>"
+	act := new(string)
+	if cmd == "open" {
+		act = fs.String("action", "", "do this rather than ask: go (to it), copy (go, and copy its value) or show (go, and show it)")
+		usage = "usage: lazysecrets open [--account <account>] [--action go|copy|show] <ref>"
+	}
 	if err := fs.Parse(args); err != nil {
-		return ref.Ref{}, err
+		return r, "", err
 	}
 	if fs.NArg() != 1 {
-		return ref.Ref{}, fmt.Errorf("usage: lazysecrets %s [--account <account>] <ref>", cmd)
+		return r, "", errors.New(usage)
 	}
-	r, err := ref.Parse(fs.Arg(0))
+	if _, ok := app.OpenActions[*act]; *act != "" && !ok {
+		return r, "", fmt.Errorf("--action: %q is not go, copy or show", *act)
+	}
+	r, err = ref.Parse(fs.Arg(0))
 	r.Account = *account
-	return r, err
+	return r, *act, err
 }
 
 // defaultConfigPath is $LAZYSECRETS_CONFIG_FILE, else config.yaml in the
@@ -131,7 +141,7 @@ func run() error {
 	flag.Usage = func() {
 		fmt.Fprintf(flag.CommandLine.Output(), `Usage:
   lazysecrets [flags]             browse secrets
-  lazysecrets [flags] [open [--account <account>]] <ref>
+  lazysecrets [flags] [open [--account <account>] [--action go|copy|show]] <ref>
                                   open a lazysecrets:// link (also a share link),
                                   Key Vault URL, @Microsoft.KeyVault(...) or
                                   {{secrets/scope/key}}
@@ -168,6 +178,7 @@ Flags:
 	}
 
 	var open, getRef *ref.Ref
+	var openAction string
 	var shareArgs, listArgs []string
 	printKeys := false
 	switch args := flag.Args(); {
@@ -181,7 +192,7 @@ Flags:
 	case len(args) == 1 && args[0] == "keybindings":
 		printKeys = true
 	case len(args) > 0 && args[0] == "get":
-		r, err := refArg("get", args[1:])
+		r, _, err := refArg("get", args[1:])
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -194,11 +205,11 @@ Flags:
 		return updateCmd(*configPath, args[1:])
 	case len(args) == 0:
 	case args[0] == "open" && len(args) >= 2:
-		r, err := refArg("open", args[1:])
+		r, act, err := refArg("open", args[1:])
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		open = &r
+		open, openAction = &r, act
 	case len(args) == 1 && looksLikeRef(args[0]):
 		// lazysecrets <link>, like lazysecrets open <link>
 		r, err := ref.Parse(args[0])
@@ -464,6 +475,7 @@ Flags:
 		ShareKey:       cfg.Sharing.Key,
 		ShareRules:     shareRules(cfg),
 		Open:           open,
+		OpenAction:     openAction,
 		Styles:         &theme,
 		DefaultFg:      defaultFg,
 	})
diff --git a/docs/links.md b/docs/links.md
index 01dd0fc..562ae36 100644
--- a/docs/links.md
+++ b/docs/links.md
@@ -121,6 +121,9 @@ account) and jumps to it, asking which account to use when several can see
 it, ending on a secret's details as `enter` on it would. Links say what,
 not what to do: opening a link to a secret asks whether to just go to it,
 also copy or show its value, or (`y`) copy its value without going there.
+`lazysecrets open --action go|copy|show <link>` does one without asking,
+and `--account <account>` picks the account (as [`list`](#listing-for-fzf-and-pickers)
+prints it) when several can see it.
 
 ## In scripts
 
@@ -153,7 +156,7 @@ instead, showing the names and acting on the links:
 
 ```sh
 lazysecrets list | fzf --ansi --with-nth='2..-3' --accept-nth=-1 \
-  --bind 'ctrl-o:become(lazysecrets open --account {-2} {-1})' \
+  --bind 'ctrl-o:become(lazysecrets open --action go --account {-2} {-1})' \
   --bind 'ctrl-y:execute-silent(lazysecrets get --account {-2} {-1} | pbcopy)'
 ```
 
@@ -170,7 +173,9 @@ clipboard after `values.clipboardClear`, as one copied in lazysecrets is.
 `--account` makes `open` and `get` use the account it was listed through,
 when several of yours can see it: without, `open` asks which, and `get`
 tries the one that last read it first. The link stays as it is, to copy
-and share; the account isn't part of it.
+and share; the account isn't part of it. `--action` tells `open` what to
+do rather than asking, as it does for a link clicked elsewhere: `go` to
+it, `copy` its value too, or `show` it.
 
 What's [cached](config.md#cache) prints at once. Then, like Go to, it loads
 what's missing or older than `--max-age` (2m), and what's new in it follows
diff --git a/internal/ui/app/app.go b/internal/ui/app/app.go
index 37fc60e..048ba89 100644
--- a/internal/ui/app/app.go
+++ b/internal/ui/app/app.go
@@ -133,6 +133,9 @@ type Options struct {
 	NoHistory bool
 	// Open is a reference to open at startup (lazysecrets open <ref>).
 	Open *ref.Ref
+	// OpenAction, if set, is what to do with Open, rather than asking:
+	// go to it, and maybe copy or show its value (OpenActions).
+	OpenAction string
 	// Styles, if set, replaces the default theme (styles.FromTheme), and
 	// DefaultFg the terminal's default text colour.
 	Styles    *styles.Styles
@@ -283,6 +286,7 @@ type Model struct {
 	prompt     *modal               // popup that has the keyboard
 	linked     []provider.Container // vaults opened from links, this session
 	open       *ref.Ref             // reference to open at startup
+	openAction string               // and what to do with it, or ask
 
 	shareKey   string      // the config's sharing.key
 	shareRules share.Rules // and sharing.keyRules
@@ -447,7 +451,7 @@ func New(providers []provider.Provider, opts Options) Model {
 	}
 	m.defaultFg = opts.DefaultFg
 	m.help = newHelp(m.st)
-	m.open = opts.Open
+	m.open, m.openAction = opts.Open, opts.OpenAction
 	saved := m.store.Layout()
 	m.split, m.heights = saved.Split, saved.Heights
 
@@ -521,18 +525,26 @@ func (m Model) Init() tea.Cmd {
 		cmds = append(cmds, m.fetchLatest(false))
 	}
 	if m.open != nil {
-		r := *m.open
-		cmds = append(cmds, func() tea.Msg { return openRefMsg{r} })
+		msg := openRefMsg{ref: *m.open, action: m.openAction}
+		cmds = append(cmds, func() tea.Msg { return msg })
 	}
 	return tea.Batch(cmds...)
 }
 
-// openRefMsg starts opening a reference from outside the key handler.
-type openRefMsg struct{ ref ref.Ref }
+// openRefMsg starts opening a reference from outside the key handler:
+// asking what to do with it, or doing action (OpenActions).
+type openRefMsg struct {
+	ref    ref.Ref
+	action string
+}
+
+// OpenActions are what lazysecrets open --action takes, the Open link
+// menu's choices that go there.
+var OpenActions = map[string]linkAction{"go": actGo, "copy": actCopy, "show": actShow}
 
 // OpenLink is a message offering r in the Open link popup, for links
 // handed over by the link handler (Program.Send).
-func OpenLink(r ref.Ref) tea.Msg { return openRefMsg{r} }
+func OpenLink(r ref.Ref) tea.Msg { return openRefMsg{ref: r} }
 
 func (m Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	var cmds []tea.Cmd
@@ -589,7 +601,11 @@ func (m Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 
 	case openRefMsg:
 		m.deferHandlerSetup() // the link first
-		cmds = append(cmds, m.offerRef("Open link", msg.ref, false))
+		if act, ok := OpenActions[msg.action]; ok && !msg.ref.IsShare() {
+			cmds = append(cmds, m.openRef(msg.ref, act))
+		} else {
+			cmds = append(cmds, m.offerRef("Open link", msg.ref, false))
+		}
 
 	case resolvedMsg:
 		m.handleResolved(msg)
diff --git a/internal/ui/app/links_test.go b/internal/ui/app/links_test.go
index d57d0d7..a5f5071 100644
--- a/internal/ui/app/links_test.go
+++ b/internal/ui/app/links_test.go
@@ -206,6 +206,19 @@ func TestOpenPromptAndStartupOpen(t *testing.T) {
 	if _, _, s := d2.selected(); s != "api-key" {
 		t.Errorf("open at startup: selected %q", s)
 	}
+
+	// --action: no question, it does that.
+	d3 := newDriverOpts(t, Options{Open: &r, OpenAction: "go"})
+	if d3.m.prompt != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("--action go asked: %q", d3.m.prompt.title)
+	}
+	if _, _, s := d3.selected(); s != "api-key" {
+		t.Errorf("--action go: selected %q", s)
+	}
+	d4 := newDriverOpts(t, Options{Open: &r, OpenAction: "copy"})
+	if _, _, s := d4.selected(); s != "api-key" || d4.clip().content == "" {
+		t.Errorf("--action copy: selected %q, copied %q", s, d4.clip().content)
+	}
 }
 
 func TestShareLinks(t *testing.T) {