diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 5c31f0587..3192913af 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ DFHack Future
     New plugins:
     New scripts:
     Misc improvements:
+        - cmd-prompt can now access selected items, units, and buildings
 
 DFHack 0.40.16-r1
     Internals:
diff --git a/library/include/modules/Gui.h b/library/include/modules/Gui.h
index 6acb0ce08..e2b137e2a 100644
--- a/library/include/modules/Gui.h
+++ b/library/include/modules/Gui.h
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ namespace DFHack
         // A unit is selected via 'v', 'k', unitjobs, or
         // a full-screen item view of a cage or suchlike
         DFHACK_EXPORT bool any_unit_hotkey(df::viewscreen *top);
+        DFHACK_EXPORT df::unit *getAnyUnit(df::viewscreen *top);
         DFHACK_EXPORT df::unit *getSelectedUnit(color_ostream &out, bool quiet = false);
 
         // An item is selected via 'v'->inventory, 'k', 't', or
@@ -93,10 +94,12 @@ namespace DFHack
         // last case, the highlighted contained item is returned, not
         // the container itself.
         DFHACK_EXPORT bool any_item_hotkey(df::viewscreen *top);
+        DFHACK_EXPORT df::item *getAnyItem(df::viewscreen *top);
         DFHACK_EXPORT df::item *getSelectedItem(color_ostream &out, bool quiet = false);
 
         // A building is selected via 'q', 't' or 'i' (civzone)
         DFHACK_EXPORT bool any_building_hotkey(df::viewscreen *top);
+        DFHACK_EXPORT df::building *getAnyBuilding(df::viewscreen *top);
         DFHACK_EXPORT df::building *getSelectedBuilding(color_ostream &out, bool quiet = false);
 
         // Low-level API that gives full control over announcements and reports
diff --git a/library/modules/Gui.cpp b/library/modules/Gui.cpp
index fedb95954..5e142c798 100644
--- a/library/modules/Gui.cpp
+++ b/library/modules/Gui.cpp
@@ -773,7 +773,7 @@ df::job *Gui::getSelectedJob(color_ostream &out, bool quiet)
         return getSelectedWorkshopJob(out, quiet);
 }
 
-static df::unit *getAnyUnit(df::viewscreen *top)
+df::unit *Gui::getAnyUnit(df::viewscreen *top)
 {
     using namespace ui_sidebar_mode;
     using df::global::ui;
@@ -904,7 +904,7 @@ df::unit *Gui::getSelectedUnit(color_ostream &out, bool quiet)
     return unit;
 }
 
-static df::item *getAnyItem(df::viewscreen *top)
+df::item *Gui::getAnyItem(df::viewscreen *top)
 {
     using namespace ui_sidebar_mode;
     using df::global::ui;
@@ -1017,7 +1017,7 @@ df::item *Gui::getSelectedItem(color_ostream &out, bool quiet)
     return item;
 }
 
-static df::building *getAnyBuilding(df::viewscreen *top)
+df::building *Gui::getAnyBuilding(df::viewscreen *top)
 {
     using namespace ui_sidebar_mode;
     using df::global::ui;
diff --git a/package/darwin/dfhack b/package/darwin/dfhack
index 55aa81a98..814ecd013 100755
--- a/package/darwin/dfhack
+++ b/package/darwin/dfhack
@@ -12,6 +12,6 @@ fi
 
 old_tty_settings=$(stty -g)
 cd "${PWD}"
-DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES=./hack/libdfhack.dylib ./dwarfort.exe "$@"
+DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES=./hack/libdfhack.dylib ./dwarfort.exe "$@" 2>&1 | tee dfhack.log
 stty "$old_tty_settings"
 echo ""
diff --git a/package/linux/dfhack b/package/linux/dfhack
index 4fa3e20e7..44677d87e 100755
--- a/package/linux/dfhack
+++ b/package/linux/dfhack
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ case "$1" in
     ret=$?
     ;;
   *)
-    setarch i386 -R env LD_PRELOAD=$PRELOAD_LIB ./libs/Dwarf_Fortress "$@"
+    setarch i386 -R env LD_PRELOAD=$PRELOAD_LIB ./libs/Dwarf_Fortress "$@" 2>&1 | tee dfhack.log
     ret=$?
     ;;
 esac
diff --git a/plugins/command-prompt.cpp b/plugins/command-prompt.cpp
index 36df35cd6..cf1e78763 100644
--- a/plugins/command-prompt.cpp
+++ b/plugins/command-prompt.cpp
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ public:
     void help() { }
     int8_t movies_okay() { return 0; }
 
+    df::unit* getSelectedUnit() { return Gui::getAnyUnit(parent); }
+    df::item* getSelectedItem() { return Gui::getAnyItem(parent); }
+    df::building* getSelectedBuilding() { return Gui::getAnyBuilding(parent); }
+
     std::string getFocusString() { return "commandprompt"; }
     viewscreen_commandpromptst(std::string entry):is_response(false)
     {