diff --git a/cmd/cy/server.go b/cmd/cy/server.go
index 9f25737b..d035a114 100644
--- a/cmd/cy/server.go
+++ b/cmd/cy/server.go
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ func serve(path string) error {
 	cy, err := cy.Start(context.Background(), cy.Options{
 		Config:  findConfig(),
 		DataDir: findDataDir(),
+		Shell:   getShell(),
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/pkg/cy/api/cmd.go b/pkg/cy/api/cmd.go
index 211e6145..74d69fda 100644
--- a/pkg/cy/api/cmd.go
+++ b/pkg/cy/api/cmd.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/cfoust/cy/pkg/bind"
 	"github.com/cfoust/cy/pkg/cy/cmd"
 	"github.com/cfoust/cy/pkg/cy/params"
+	cyParams "github.com/cfoust/cy/pkg/cy/params"
 	"github.com/cfoust/cy/pkg/janet"
 	"github.com/cfoust/cy/pkg/mux/screen/replayable"
 	"github.com/cfoust/cy/pkg/mux/screen/tree"
@@ -26,12 +27,24 @@ type Cmd struct {
 }
 
 func (c *Cmd) New(
+	user interface{},
 	groupId tree.NodeID,
 	path string,
 	cmdParams *janet.Named[CmdParams],
 ) (tree.NodeID, error) {
+	client, ok := user.(Client)
+	if !ok {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("missing client context")
+	}
+
+	shell := "/bin/bash"
+	defaultShell, ok := client.Params().Get(cyParams.ParamDefaultShell)
+	if value, ok := defaultShell.(string); ok {
+		shell = value
+	}
+
 	values := cmdParams.WithDefault(CmdParams{
-		Command: "/bin/bash",
+		Command: shell,
 	})
 
 	group, ok := c.Tree.GroupById(groupId)
diff --git a/pkg/cy/api/input.go b/pkg/cy/api/input.go
index 6d095d48..1a2026b7 100644
--- a/pkg/cy/api/input.go
+++ b/pkg/cy/api/input.go
@@ -48,8 +48,7 @@ func (i *InputModule) Find(
 	}
 
 	shouldAnimate := true
-	clientParams := client.Params()
-	animated, ok := clientParams.Get(cyParams.ParamAnimate)
+	animated, ok := client.Params().Get(cyParams.ParamAnimate)
 	if value, ok := animated.(bool); ok {
 		shouldAnimate = value
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/cy/cy_test.go b/pkg/cy/cy_test.go
index 53594424..df1b5220 100644
--- a/pkg/cy/cy_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cy/cy_test.go
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ func setupServer(t *testing.T) *TestServer {
 
 	cy, err := Start(context.Background(), Options{
 		DataDir: filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "data"),
+		Shell:   "/bin/bash",
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
diff --git a/pkg/cy/defaults.go b/pkg/cy/defaults.go
index 51446531..bab1098d 100644
--- a/pkg/cy/defaults.go
+++ b/pkg/cy/defaults.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ func (c *Cy) setDefaults(options Options) error {
 	defaults := map[string]interface{}{
 		params.ParamDataDirectory: options.DataDir,
 		params.ParamAnimate:       true,
+		params.ParamDefaultShell:  options.Shell,
 	}
 
 	for key, value := range defaults {
diff --git a/pkg/cy/module.go b/pkg/cy/module.go
index 35b329ac..ca05e855 100644
--- a/pkg/cy/module.go
+++ b/pkg/cy/module.go
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ type Options struct {
 	Config string
 	// The default directory in which to store data (e.g. recorded sessions).
 	DataDir string
+	// The default shell
+	Shell string
 }
 
 type historyEvent struct {
diff --git a/pkg/cy/params/constants.go b/pkg/cy/params/constants.go
index 3dc2ab7b..68e62824 100644
--- a/pkg/cy/params/constants.go
+++ b/pkg/cy/params/constants.go
@@ -7,4 +7,7 @@ const (
 	// Whether to enable animation.
 	// boolean, default: true
 	ParamAnimate = "animate"
+	// The default shell with which to start panes.
+	// string, default: /bin/bash, but also $SHELL
+	ParamDefaultShell = "default-shell"
 )