diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index ab95aad..33bdc7f 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -2224,7 +2224,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "mouth"
-version = "0.2.1"
+version = "0.2.3"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "arboard",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 7ce3a84..ffe6df2 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "mouth"
-version = "0.2.2"
+version = "0.2.3"
 edition = "2024"
 description = "Offline speech-to-text with global hotkey and paste"
 license-file = "LICENSE"
diff --git a/src/cli/run_cmd.rs b/src/cli/run_cmd.rs
index 4ff480f..d203bc0 100644
--- a/src/cli/run_cmd.rs
+++ b/src/cli/run_cmd.rs
@@ -22,10 +22,6 @@ pub fn run() -> Result<()> {
         std::process::exit(1);
     }
 
-    // Hide Windows console window
-    #[cfg(windows)]
-    hide_console();
-
     info!("Mouth v{} starting", env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION"));
     info!("Mode: {:?}", config.mode);
     info!("Hotkey: {}", config.hotkey);
@@ -146,15 +142,3 @@ pub fn run() -> Result<()> {
     ipc::cleanup();
     Ok(())
 }
-
-#[cfg(windows)]
-fn hide_console() {
-    use windows_sys::Win32::System::Console::GetConsoleWindow;
-    use windows_sys::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::{ShowWindow, SW_HIDE};
-    unsafe {
-        let console = GetConsoleWindow();
-        if !console.is_null() {
-            ShowWindow(console, SW_HIDE);
-        }
-    }
-}
diff --git a/src/ipc.rs b/src/ipc.rs
index f2132d8..e444932 100644
--- a/src/ipc.rs
+++ b/src/ipc.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use anyhow::{Context, Result};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use std::io::{Read, Write};
 use std::sync::Arc;
-use tracing::{debug, info, warn};
+use tracing::{debug, info};
 
 use crate::shared_state::SharedState;
 
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ fn unix_listener(path: &str, shared_state: Arc<SharedState>) -> Result<()> {
                         }
                     }
                     Err(e) => {
-                        warn!("Failed to serialize status: {e}");
+                        tracing::warn!("Failed to serialize status: {e}");
                     }
                 }
             }
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 4ec3990..624f845 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#![cfg_attr(windows, windows_subsystem = "windows")]
+
 mod audio_feedback;
 mod cli;
 mod config;
@@ -48,7 +50,16 @@ enum Commands {
     Status,
 }
 
-fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+fn main() {
+    // Attach to parent console when launched from a terminal so CLI subcommands
+    // can write output. Silently fails when double-clicked (no parent console).
+    #[cfg(windows)]
+    unsafe {
+        windows_sys::Win32::System::Console::AttachConsole(
+            windows_sys::Win32::System::Console::ATTACH_PARENT_PROCESS,
+        );
+    }
+
     tracing_subscriber::fmt()
         .with_env_filter(
             tracing_subscriber::EnvFilter::try_from_default_env()
@@ -57,8 +68,9 @@ fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         .init();
 
     let cli = Cli::parse();
+    let is_daemon = matches!(cli.command, None | Some(Commands::Run));
 
-    match cli.command {
+    let result = match cli.command {
         None | Some(Commands::Run) => cli::run_cmd::run(),
 
         Some(Commands::Config { show, reset }) => {
@@ -80,5 +92,32 @@ fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         }
 
         Some(Commands::Status) => cli::status_cmd::status(),
+    };
+
+    if let Err(e) = result {
+        if is_daemon {
+            #[cfg(windows)]
+            show_error_dialog(&format!("Mouth failed to start:\n\n{e:#}"));
+            #[cfg(not(windows))]
+            eprintln!("Error: {e:#}");
+        } else {
+            eprintln!("Error: {e:#}");
+        }
+        std::process::exit(1);
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(windows)]
+fn show_error_dialog(message: &str) {
+    use windows_sys::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::{MessageBoxW, MB_ICONERROR, MB_OK};
+    let title: Vec<u16> = "Mouth".encode_utf16().chain(Some(0)).collect();
+    let msg: Vec<u16> = message.encode_utf16().chain(Some(0)).collect();
+    unsafe {
+        MessageBoxW(
+            std::ptr::null_mut(),
+            msg.as_ptr(),
+            title.as_ptr(),
+            MB_OK | MB_ICONERROR,
+        );
     }
 }