diff --git a/pkg/systray/service.go b/pkg/systray/service.go
index b0989cf9..3176dd33 100644
--- a/pkg/systray/service.go
+++ b/pkg/systray/service.go
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import (
 	"context"
 
 	core "dappco.re/go/core"
+	coreerr "dappco.re/go/core/log"
+	"forge.lthn.ai/core/gui/pkg/notification"
 )
 
 type Options struct{}
@@ -41,7 +43,23 @@ func (s *Service) OnStartup(_ context.Context) core.Result {
 	})
 	s.Core().Action("systray.showMessage", func(_ context.Context, opts core.Options) core.Result {
 		t, _ := opts.Get("task").Value.(TaskShowMessage)
-		return core.Result{Value: nil, OK: true}.New(s.manager.ShowMessage(t.Title, t.Message))
+		if err := s.manager.ShowMessage(t.Title, t.Message); err == nil {
+			return core.Result{OK: true}
+		} else {
+			fallback := s.Core().Action("notification.send").Run(context.Background(), core.NewOptions(
+				core.Option{Key: "task", Value: notification.TaskSend{Options: notification.NotificationOptions{
+					Title:   t.Title,
+					Message: t.Message,
+				}}},
+			))
+			if fallback.OK {
+				return core.Result{OK: true}
+			}
+			if fallbackErr, ok := fallback.Value.(error); ok {
+				return core.Result{Value: coreerr.E("systray.showMessage", "tray message failed and notification fallback failed", fallbackErr), OK: false}
+			}
+			return core.Result{Value: err, OK: false}
+		}
 	})
 	s.Core().Action("systray.showPanel", func(_ context.Context, _ core.Options) core.Result {
 		// Panel show — deferred (requires WindowHandle integration)
diff --git a/pkg/systray/service_test.go b/pkg/systray/service_test.go
index e54517ca..b0f1e4b4 100644
--- a/pkg/systray/service_test.go
+++ b/pkg/systray/service_test.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	core "dappco.re/go/core"
+	"forge.lthn.ai/core/gui/pkg/notification"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
@@ -87,6 +88,51 @@ func TestTaskShowMessage_Good(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, "Up", mockTray.lastMessageBody)
 }
 
+type fallbackNotificationPlatform struct {
+	sent bool
+	opts notification.NotificationOptions
+}
+
+func (m *fallbackNotificationPlatform) Send(opts notification.NotificationOptions) error {
+	m.sent = true
+	m.opts = opts
+	return nil
+}
+func (m *fallbackNotificationPlatform) RequestPermission() (bool, error) { return true, nil }
+func (m *fallbackNotificationPlatform) CheckPermission() (bool, error)   { return true, nil }
+func (m *fallbackNotificationPlatform) RevokePermission() error          { return nil }
+func (m *fallbackNotificationPlatform) Clear(id string) error            { return nil }
+
+type failingTrayPlatform struct{}
+
+func (failingTrayPlatform) NewTray() PlatformTray { return &failingTray{} }
+func (failingTrayPlatform) NewMenu() PlatformMenu { return &mockTrayMenu{} }
+
+type failingTray struct{ mockTray }
+
+func (t *failingTray) ShowMessage(title, message string) error {
+	return core.NewError("tray balloon unavailable")
+}
+
+func TestTaskShowMessage_FallbackToNotification_Good(t *testing.T) {
+	notifPlatform := &fallbackNotificationPlatform{}
+	c := core.New(
+		core.WithService(notification.Register(notifPlatform)),
+		core.WithService(Register(failingTrayPlatform{})),
+		core.WithServiceLock(),
+	)
+	require.True(t, c.ServiceStartup(context.Background(), nil).OK)
+
+	svc := core.MustServiceFor[*Service](c, "systray")
+	require.NoError(t, svc.manager.Setup("Test", "Test"))
+
+	r := taskRun(c, "systray.showMessage", TaskShowMessage{Title: "Core", Message: "Up"})
+	require.True(t, r.OK)
+	assert.True(t, notifPlatform.sent)
+	assert.Equal(t, "Core", notifPlatform.opts.Title)
+	assert.Equal(t, "Up", notifPlatform.opts.Message)
+}
+
 func TestQueryInfo_Good(t *testing.T) {
 	svc, c := newTestSystrayService(t)
 	require.NoError(t, svc.manager.Setup("Core", "Core"))
diff --git a/pkg/systray/wails.go b/pkg/systray/wails.go
index 7f861663..0fee3025 100644
--- a/pkg/systray/wails.go
+++ b/pkg/systray/wails.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 package systray
 
 import (
+	coreerr "dappco.re/go/core/log"
 	"github.com/wailsapp/wails/v3/pkg/application"
 )
 
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ func (wt *wailsTray) AttachWindow(w WindowHandle) {
 func (wt *wailsTray) ShowMessage(title, message string) error {
 	_ = title
 	_ = message
-	return nil
+	return coreerr.E("systray.wailsTray.ShowMessage", "tray balloon messages are not supported by this backend", nil)
 }
 
 // wailsTrayMenu wraps *application.Menu for the PlatformMenu interface.