diff --git a/macos.py b/macos.py
index bb22a21..7c0f7d0 100644
--- a/macos.py
+++ b/macos.py
@@ -125,29 +125,63 @@ def _activate_app() -> None:
             log.warning("Failed to activate macOS app: %s", repr(exc))
 
 
+def _hide_ctk_root() -> None:
+    if _ctk_root is None:
+        return
+    try:
+        _ctk_root.withdraw()
+    except Exception as exc:
+        log.warning("Failed to hide CTk root: %s", repr(exc))
+
+
 def _dispatch(callback: Callable[[], None]) -> None:
     if _ctk_root is None:
         return
-    if threading.current_thread() is threading.main_thread():
-        callback()
-        return
+
+    def invoke() -> None:
+        try:
+            callback()
+        except Exception as exc:
+            log.exception("UI callback failed")
+            try:
+                _show_error(str(exc))
+            except Exception as dialog_exc:
+                log.error("Failed to show UI error: %s", repr(dialog_exc))
+
     try:
-        _ctk_root.after(0, callback)
+        _ctk_root.after_idle(invoke)
     except Exception as exc:
         log.warning("Failed to dispatch UI callback: %s", repr(exc))
 
 
 def _messagebox(kind: str, text: str, title: str) -> Any:
+    import tkinter as tk
     from tkinter import messagebox
 
     result: list[Any] = []
     done = threading.Event()
 
     def show() -> None:
+        parent = None
         try:
             _activate_app()
-            result.append(getattr(messagebox, kind)(title, text, parent=_ctk_root))
+            _hide_ctk_root()
+            parent = tk.Toplevel(_ctk_root)
+            parent.withdraw()
+            result.append(getattr(messagebox, kind)(title, text, parent=parent))
         finally:
+            if parent is not None:
+                try:
+                    parent.destroy()
+                except tk.TclError:
+                    pass
+            _hide_ctk_root()
+            if _ctk_root is not None:
+                try:
+                    _ctk_root.after_idle(_hide_ctk_root)
+                    _ctk_root.after(50, _hide_ctk_root)
+                except tk.TclError:
+                    pass
             done.set()
 
     if threading.current_thread() is threading.main_thread():
@@ -265,11 +299,16 @@ def _on_exit(icon=None, item=None) -> None:
 
 def _edit_config_dialog() -> None:
     global _settings_window
-    if _settings_window is not None and _settings_window.winfo_exists():
-        _activate_app()
-        _settings_window.lift()
-        _settings_window.focus_force()
-        return
+    if _settings_window is not None:
+        try:
+            if _settings_window.winfo_exists():
+                _activate_app()
+                _settings_window.lift()
+                _settings_window.focus_force()
+                return
+        except Exception as exc:
+            log.warning("Failed to reuse settings window: %s", repr(exc))
+        _settings_window = None
 
     cfg = dict(_config)
     theme = ctk_theme_for_platform()
@@ -312,6 +351,7 @@ def _edit_config_dialog() -> None:
         global _settings_window
         root.destroy()
         _settings_window = None
+        _hide_ctk_root()
 
     def cancel() -> None:
         ctk.set_appearance_mode(original_appearance)
@@ -404,6 +444,7 @@ def _show_first_run() -> None:
     def done(open_telegram: bool) -> None:
         FIRST_RUN_MARKER.touch()
         root.destroy()
+        _hide_ctk_root()
         if open_telegram:
             _on_open_in_telegram()
         check_ipv6_warning(_show_info)
@@ -450,6 +491,12 @@ def _initialize_gui() -> bool:
     install_tkinter_variable_del_guard()
     apply_ctk_appearance(ctk, _config.get("appearance", "auto"))
     _ctk_root = ctk.CTk()
+    _ctk_root.title(t("app.name"))
+    _ctk_root.geometry("1x1+0+0")
+    try:
+        _ctk_root.attributes("-alpha", 0.0)
+    except Exception as exc:
+        log.warning("Failed to make CTk root transparent: %s", repr(exc))
     _ctk_root.withdraw()
     _ns_app = NSApplication.sharedApplication()
     if NSApplicationActivationPolicyAccessory is not None: