diff --git a/default-plugins/plugin-manager/src/main.rs b/default-plugins/plugin-manager/src/main.rs
index 63b36a22..9d7be12b 100644
--- a/default-plugins/plugin-manager/src/main.rs
+++ b/default-plugins/plugin-manager/src/main.rs
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ impl Default for NewPluginScreen {
             entering_config_val: false,
             selected_config_index: None,
             request_ids: vec![],
-            load_in_background: true,
+            load_in_background: false,
             colors: Palette::default(),
         }
     }
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ impl NewPluginScreen {
         let (mut should_render, mut should_close) = (false, false);
 
         match key.bare_key {
-            BareKey::Char(character) if key.has_no_modifiers() && character != ' ' => {
+            BareKey::Char(character) if key.has_no_modifiers() => {
                 if let Some(field) = self.get_field_being_edited_mut() {
                     field.push(character);
                 }
@@ -965,7 +965,7 @@ impl State {
     pub fn handle_main_screen_key(&mut self, key: KeyWithModifier) -> bool {
         let mut should_render = false;
         match key.bare_key {
-            BareKey::Char(character) if key.has_no_modifiers() && character != ' ' => {
+            BareKey::Char(character) if key.has_no_modifiers() => {
                 self.search_term.push(character);
                 self.update_search_term();
                 self.reset_selection();
diff --git a/zellij-server/src/plugins/plugin_loader.rs b/zellij-server/src/plugins/plugin_loader.rs
index 654cc55b..32d26dd3 100644
--- a/zellij-server/src/plugins/plugin_loader.rs
+++ b/zellij-server/src/plugins/plugin_loader.rs
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ impl<'a> PluginLoader<'a> {
             engine,
             &plugin_dir,
             path_to_default_shell,
-            zellij_cwd,
+            Some(zellij_cwd),
             capabilities,
             client_attributes,
             default_shell,
@@ -275,7 +275,6 @@ impl<'a> PluginLoader<'a> {
         connected_clients: Arc<Mutex<Vec<ClientId>>>,
         loading_indication: &mut LoadingIndication,
         path_to_default_shell: PathBuf,
-        zellij_cwd: PathBuf,
         capabilities: PluginCapabilities,
         client_attributes: ClientAttributes,
         default_shell: Option<TerminalAction>,
@@ -301,7 +300,7 @@ impl<'a> PluginLoader<'a> {
             engine,
             &plugin_dir,
             path_to_default_shell,
-            zellij_cwd,
+            None,
             capabilities,
             client_attributes,
             default_shell,
@@ -382,7 +381,7 @@ impl<'a> PluginLoader<'a> {
         engine: Engine,
         plugin_dir: &'a PathBuf,
         path_to_default_shell: PathBuf,
-        zellij_cwd: PathBuf,
+        cwd: Option<PathBuf>,
         capabilities: PluginCapabilities,
         client_attributes: ClientAttributes,
         default_shell: Option<TerminalAction>,
@@ -405,6 +404,10 @@ impl<'a> PluginLoader<'a> {
         let keybinds = running_plugin.store.data().keybinds.clone();
         let default_mode = running_plugin.store.data().default_mode;
         let plugin_config = running_plugin.store.data().plugin.clone();
+        // prefer the explicitly given cwd, otherwise copy it from the running plugin
+        // (when reloading a plugin, we want to copy it, when starting a new plugin instance from
+        // meomory, we want to reset it)
+        let zellij_cwd = cwd.unwrap_or_else(|| running_plugin.store.data().plugin_cwd.clone());
         loading_indication.set_name(running_plugin.store.data().name());
         PluginLoader::new(
             plugin_cache,
diff --git a/zellij-server/src/plugins/wasm_bridge.rs b/zellij-server/src/plugins/wasm_bridge.rs
index 85479c37..eceed202 100644
--- a/zellij-server/src/plugins/wasm_bridge.rs
+++ b/zellij-server/src/plugins/wasm_bridge.rs
@@ -363,7 +363,6 @@ impl WasmBridge {
             let plugin_map = self.plugin_map.clone();
             let connected_clients = self.connected_clients.clone();
             let path_to_default_shell = self.path_to_default_shell.clone();
-            let zellij_cwd = self.zellij_cwd.clone();
             let capabilities = self.capabilities.clone();
             let client_attributes = self.client_attributes.clone();
             let default_shell = self.default_shell.clone();
@@ -380,7 +379,6 @@ impl WasmBridge {
                     connected_clients.clone(),
                     &mut loading_indication,
                     path_to_default_shell.clone(),
-                    zellij_cwd.clone(),
                     capabilities.clone(),
                     client_attributes.clone(),
                     default_shell.clone(),
@@ -456,7 +454,6 @@ impl WasmBridge {
                     connected_clients.clone(),
                     &mut loading_indication,
                     path_to_default_shell.clone(),
-                    zellij_cwd.clone(),
                     capabilities.clone(),
                     client_attributes.clone(),
                     default_shell.clone(),