diff --git a/src/builtins/fish_key_reader.rs b/src/builtins/fish_key_reader.rs
index 90b46f942..021010c82 100644
--- a/src/builtins/fish_key_reader.rs
+++ b/src/builtins/fish_key_reader.rs
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@ use crate::{
     env::env_init,
     input::input_terminfo_get_name,
     input_common::{
-        enable_kitty_progressive_enhancements, terminal_protocol_hacks,
-        terminal_protocols_enable_ifn, CharEvent, ImplicitEvent, InputEventQueue, InputEventQueuer,
-        KITTY_PROGRESSIVE_ENHANCEMENTS_QUERY,
+        enable_kitty_progressive_enhancements, kitty_progressive_enhancements_query,
+        terminal_protocol_hacks, terminal_protocols_enable_ifn, CharEvent, ImplicitEvent,
+        InputEventQueue, InputEventQueuer,
     },
     key::{char_to_symbol, Key},
     nix::isatty,
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ fn setup_and_process_keys(streams: &mut IoStreams, continuous_mode: bool, verbos
     terminal_protocol_hacks();
     streams
         .out
-        .append(str2wcstring(KITTY_PROGRESSIVE_ENHANCEMENTS_QUERY));
+        .append(str2wcstring(kitty_progressive_enhancements_query()));
 
     if continuous_mode {
         streams.err.append(L!("\n"));
diff --git a/src/input_common.rs b/src/input_common.rs
index 3d2d3243e..8847969dc 100644
--- a/src/input_common.rs
+++ b/src/input_common.rs
@@ -458,7 +458,12 @@ macro_rules! kitty_progressive_enhancements {
     };
 }
 
-pub const KITTY_PROGRESSIVE_ENHANCEMENTS_QUERY: &[u8] = b"\x1b[?u";
+pub fn kitty_progressive_enhancements_query() -> &'static [u8] {
+    if std::env::var_os("TERM").is_some_and(|term| term.as_os_str().as_bytes() == b"st-256color") {
+        return b"";
+    }
+    b"\x1b[?u"
+}
 
 pub(crate) fn enable_kitty_progressive_enhancements() -> bool {
     if IN_MIDNIGHT_COMMANDER_PRE_CSI_U.load() || IN_ITERM_PRE_CSI_U.load() {
diff --git a/src/reader.rs b/src/reader.rs
index 8be78265c..088a089d1 100644
--- a/src/reader.rs
+++ b/src/reader.rs
@@ -82,12 +82,12 @@ use crate::history::{
 };
 use crate::input::init_input;
 use crate::input_common::enable_kitty_progressive_enhancements;
+use crate::input_common::kitty_progressive_enhancements_query;
 use crate::input_common::CursorPositionBlockingWait;
 use crate::input_common::CursorPositionWait;
 use crate::input_common::ImplicitEvent;
 use crate::input_common::InputEventQueuer;
 use crate::input_common::IN_MIDNIGHT_COMMANDER_PRE_CSI_U;
-use crate::input_common::KITTY_PROGRESSIVE_ENHANCEMENTS_QUERY;
 use crate::input_common::{
     terminal_protocol_hacks, terminal_protocols_enable_ifn, CharEvent, CharInputStyle, InputData,
     ReadlineCmd,
@@ -2163,7 +2163,7 @@ impl<'a> Reader<'a> {
             let mut out = Outputter::stdoutput().borrow_mut();
             out.begin_buffering();
             // Query for kitty keyboard protocol support.
-            let _ = out.write(KITTY_PROGRESSIVE_ENHANCEMENTS_QUERY);
+            let _ = out.write(kitty_progressive_enhancements_query());
             // Query for cursor position reporting support.
             zelf.request_cursor_position(&mut out, CursorPositionWait::InitialFeatureProbe);
             // Query for synchronized output support.