diff --git a/src/Surface.zig b/src/Surface.zig
index 6e58ab5a5..af0a742c6 100644
--- a/src/Surface.zig
+++ b/src/Surface.zig
@@ -1011,19 +1011,21 @@ fn childExited(self: *Surface, info: apprt.surface.Message.ChildExited) void {
 
         log.warn("abnormal process exit detected, showing error message", .{});
 
-        // Update our terminal to note the abnormal exit. In the future we
-        // may want the apprt to handle this to show some native GUI element.
-        self.childExitedAbnormally(info) catch |err| {
-            log.err("error handling abnormal child exit err={}", .{err});
-            return;
-        };
-
-        _ = self.rt_app.performAction(
+        // Try and show a GUI message. If it returns true, don't do anything else.
+        if (self.rt_app.performAction(
             .{ .surface = self },
             .show_child_exited,
             info,
-        ) catch |err| {
+        ) catch |err| gui: {
             log.err("error trying to show native child exited GUI err={}", .{err});
+            break :gui false;
+        }) return;
+
+        // If a native GUI notification was not showm. update our terminal to
+        // note the abnormal exit.
+        self.childExitedAbnormally(info) catch |err| {
+            log.err("error handling abnormal child exit err={}", .{err});
+            return;
         };
 
         return;
@@ -1036,6 +1038,18 @@ fn childExited(self: *Surface, info: apprt.surface.Message.ChildExited) void {
     // surface then they will see this message and know the process has
     // completed.
     terminal: {
+        // First try and show a native GUI message.
+        if (self.rt_app.performAction(
+            .{ .surface = self },
+            .show_child_exited,
+            info,
+        ) catch |err| gui: {
+            log.err("error trying to show native child exited GUI err={}", .{err});
+            break :gui false;
+        }) break :terminal;
+
+        // If the native GUI can't be shown, display a text message in the
+        // terminal.
         self.renderer_state.mutex.lock();
         defer self.renderer_state.mutex.unlock();
         const t: *terminal.Terminal = self.renderer_state.terminal;
@@ -1052,14 +1066,6 @@ fn childExited(self: *Surface, info: apprt.surface.Message.ChildExited) void {
         t.screen.kitty_keyboard.set(.set, .{});
     }
 
-    _ = self.rt_app.performAction(
-        .{ .surface = self },
-        .show_child_exited,
-        info,
-    ) catch |err| {
-        log.err("error trying to show native child exited GUI err={}", .{err});
-    };
-
     // Waiting after command we stop here. The terminal is updated, our
     // state is updated, and now its up to the user to decide what to do.
     if (self.config.wait_after_command) return;
diff --git a/src/apprt/gtk/App.zig b/src/apprt/gtk/App.zig
index a3a6ec411..8987d3504 100644
--- a/src/apprt/gtk/App.zig
+++ b/src/apprt/gtk/App.zig
@@ -521,7 +521,7 @@ pub fn performAction(
         .ring_bell => try self.ringBell(target),
         .toggle_command_palette => try self.toggleCommandPalette(target),
         .open_url => self.openUrl(value),
-        .show_child_exited => try self.showChildExited(target, value),
+        .show_child_exited => return try self.showChildExited(target, value),
 
         // Unimplemented
         .close_all_windows,
@@ -847,10 +847,10 @@ fn toggleCommandPalette(_: *App, target: apprt.Target) !void {
     }
 }
 
-fn showChildExited(_: *App, target: apprt.Target, value: apprt.surface.Message.ChildExited) !void {
+fn showChildExited(_: *App, target: apprt.Target, value: apprt.surface.Message.ChildExited) (error{})!bool {
     switch (target) {
-        .app => {},
-        .surface => |surface| try surface.rt_surface.showChildExited(value),
+        .app => return false,
+        .surface => |surface| return try surface.rt_surface.showChildExited(value),
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/apprt/gtk/Surface.zig b/src/apprt/gtk/Surface.zig
index f8d6dd5da..5d835b4b3 100644
--- a/src/apprt/gtk/Surface.zig
+++ b/src/apprt/gtk/Surface.zig
@@ -2504,8 +2504,8 @@ fn gtkStreamEnded(media_file: *gtk.MediaFile, _: *gobject.ParamSpec, _: ?*anyopa
     media_file.unref();
 }
 
-pub fn showChildExited(self: *Surface, info: apprt.surface.Message.ChildExited) (error{})!void {
-    if (!adw_version.supportsBanner()) return;
+pub fn showChildExited(self: *Surface, info: apprt.surface.Message.ChildExited) (error{})!bool {
+    if (!adw_version.supportsBanner()) return false;
 
     const warning_box = gtk.Box.new(.vertical, 0);
 
@@ -2528,4 +2528,6 @@ pub fn showChildExited(self: *Surface, info: apprt.surface.Message.ChildExited)
     warning_box.append(banner_widget);
 
     self.overlay.addOverlay(warning_box.as(gtk.Widget));
+
+    return true;
 }