diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/app.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/app.rs
index 21c758b127..3c3c77f94e 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/app.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/app.rs
@@ -99,20 +99,6 @@ impl App {
             app_focused: Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(true)),
         };
 
-        // Periodic notification task: every 5 seconds, if unfocused, send a reminder.
-        {
-            let focused = app.app_focused.clone();
-            tokio::spawn(async move {
-                use tokio::time::{sleep, Duration};
-                loop {
-                    sleep(Duration::from_secs(5)).await;
-                    if !focused.load(Ordering::Relaxed) {
-                        crate::notifications::send_os_notification("Codex is running in the background");
-                    }
-                }
-            });
-        }
-
         let tui_events = tui.event_stream();
         tokio::pin!(tui_events);
 
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs
index f2346616de..8c5a3034fc 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ use std::collections::VecDeque;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
+use crate::notifications;
 use codex_core::config::Config;
 use codex_core::protocol::AgentMessageDeltaEvent;
 use codex_core::protocol::AgentMessageEvent;
@@ -504,6 +505,10 @@ impl ChatWidget {
 
     pub(crate) fn handle_exec_approval_now(&mut self, id: String, ev: ExecApprovalRequestEvent) {
         self.flush_answer_stream_with_separator();
+        // Send an OS notification summarizing the command requiring approval.
+        let preview = ev.command.join(" ");
+        let msg = format!("Approve \"{preview}\"?");
+        notifications::send_os_notification(&msg);
 
         let request = ApprovalRequest::Exec {
             id,