diff --git a/src/textual/_doc.py b/src/textual/_doc.py
index 391c85d12..c976c34b9 100644
--- a/src/textual/_doc.py
+++ b/src/textual/_doc.py
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import hashlib
+import inspect
 import os
 import shlex
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Iterable, cast
+from typing import Awaitable, Callable, Coroutine, Iterable, cast
 
 from textual._import_app import import_app
 from textual.app import App
@@ -54,6 +55,7 @@ def take_svg_screenshot(
     press: Iterable[str] = (),
     title: str | None = None,
     terminal_size: tuple[int, int] = (80, 24),
+    run_before: Callable[[Pilot], Awaitable[None] | None] | None = None,
 ) -> str:
     """
 
@@ -63,11 +65,13 @@ def take_svg_screenshot(
         press: Key presses to run before taking screenshot. "_" is a short pause.
         title: The terminal title in the output image.
         terminal_size: A pair of integers (rows, columns), representing terminal size.
+        run_before: An arbitrary callable that runs arbitrary code before taking the
+            screenshot. Use this to simulate complex user interactions with the app
+            that cannot be simulated by key presses.
 
     Returns:
         An SVG string, showing the content of the terminal window at the time
             the screenshot was taken.
-
     """
 
     if app is None:
@@ -90,7 +94,7 @@ def take_svg_screenshot(
         cache_key = f"{hash.hexdigest()}.svg"
         return cache_key
 
-    if app_path is not None:
+    if app_path is not None and run_before is None:
         screenshot_cache = Path(SCREENSHOT_CACHE)
         screenshot_cache.mkdir(exist_ok=True)
 
@@ -100,6 +104,10 @@ def take_svg_screenshot(
 
     async def auto_pilot(pilot: Pilot) -> None:
         app = pilot.app
+        if run_before is not None:
+            result = run_before(pilot)
+            if inspect.isawaitable(result):
+                await result
         await pilot.press(*press)
         await pilot.wait_for_scheduled_animations()
         await pilot.pause()
@@ -116,7 +124,7 @@ def take_svg_screenshot(
         ),
     )
 
-    if app_path is not None:
+    if app_path is not None and run_before is None:
         screenshot_path.write_text(svg)
 
     assert svg is not None
diff --git a/tests/snapshot_tests/conftest.py b/tests/snapshot_tests/conftest.py
index c5d9ee21b..12769f5bd 100644
--- a/tests/snapshot_tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/snapshot_tests/conftest.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from datetime import datetime
 from operator import attrgetter
 from os import PathLike
 from pathlib import Path, PurePath
-from typing import Union, List, Optional, Callable, Iterable
+from typing import Awaitable, Coroutine, Union, List, Optional, Callable, Iterable
 
 import pytest
 from _pytest.config import ExitCode
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from syrupy import SnapshotAssertion
 from textual._doc import take_svg_screenshot
 from textual._import_app import import_app
 from textual.app import App
+from textual.pilot import Pilot
 
 TEXTUAL_SNAPSHOT_SVG_KEY = pytest.StashKey[str]()
 TEXTUAL_ACTUAL_SVG_KEY = pytest.StashKey[str]()
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ def snap_compare(
         app_path: str | PurePath,
         press: Iterable[str] = ("_",),
         terminal_size: tuple[int, int] = (80, 24),
+        run_before: Callable[[Pilot], Awaitable[None] | None] | None = None,
     ) -> bool:
         """
         Compare a current screenshot of the app running at app_path, with
@@ -54,9 +56,12 @@ def snap_compare(
                 test this function is called from.
             press (Iterable[str]): Key presses to run before taking screenshot. "_" is a short pause.
             terminal_size (tuple[int, int]): A pair of integers (WIDTH, HEIGHT), representing terminal size.
+            run_before: An arbitrary callable that runs arbitrary code before taking the
+                screenshot. Use this to simulate complex user interactions with the app
+                that cannot be simulated by key presses.
 
         Returns:
-            bool: True if the screenshot matches the snapshot.
+            Whether the screenshot matches the snapshot.
         """
         node = request.node
         path = Path(app_path)
@@ -74,6 +79,7 @@ def snap_compare(
             app=app,
             press=press,
             terminal_size=terminal_size,
+            run_before=run_before,
         )
         result = snapshot == actual_screenshot