diff --git a/bin/swap_mode.sh b/bin/swap_mode.sh
index 75b339b..b5d313f 100755
--- a/bin/swap_mode.sh
+++ b/bin/swap_mode.sh
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ CLAUDE_CONF="${HOME}/.claude.json"
 [ -f "$GEMINI_CONF" ] || { echo "Missing $GEMINI_CONF"; exit 1; }
 [ -f "$CLAUDE_CONF" ] || { echo "Missing $CLAUDE_CONF"; exit 1; }
 
-which sed
 set_light_mode() {
     sed -E -i 's/^([[:space:]]*theme[[:space:]]*=[[:space:]]*)zenwritten-dark/\1zenwritten-light/' "$GHOSTTY_CONF"
     sed -E -i 's/(vim.g.light_mode[[:space:]]*=[[:space:]]*).*/\1true/' "$NVIM_CONF"
@@ -61,11 +60,7 @@ for dir in "${XDG_RUNTIME_DIR:-}" "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}" "/tmp" "$HOME/.local/state/n
 done
 
 
-# Reload Ghostty via AppleScript menu click
-osascript -e 'tell application "System Events"
-    tell process "Ghostty"
-        click menu item "Reload Configuration" of menu "Ghostty" of menu bar item "Ghostty" of menu bar 1
-    end tell
-end tell' 2>/dev/null || true
+# Reload Ghostty config via signal (no Accessibility permissions required)
+kill -SIGUSR2 $(ps aux | grep "[G]hostty.app" | awk '{print $2}')
 
 echo "Switched to ${MODE} mode"
diff --git a/bin/theme_listener.swift b/bin/theme_listener.swift
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1c5c36e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/theme_listener.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+import Cocoa
+import Foundation
+
+func currentMode() -> String {
+    let style = UserDefaults(suiteName: ".GlobalPreferences")?.string(forKey: "AppleInterfaceStyle")
+    return style == "Dark" ? "dark" : "light"
+}
+
+func runSwapScript(mode: String) {
+    let binDir = URL(fileURLWithPath: CommandLine.arguments[0])
+        .resolvingSymlinksInPath()
+        .deletingLastPathComponent()
+        .path
+    let script = "\(binDir)/swap_mode.sh"
+
+    let process = Process()
+    process.executableURL = URL(fileURLWithPath: "/bin/bash")
+    process.arguments = [script, mode]
+    var env = ProcessInfo.processInfo.environment
+    let brewPaths = "/opt/homebrew/opt/gnu-sed/libexec/gnubin/:/opt/homebrew/bin:/usr/local/bin"
+    env["PATH"] = "\(brewPaths):\(env["PATH"] ?? "/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin")"
+    process.environment = env
+    DispatchQueue.global().async {
+        do {
+            try process.run()
+            process.waitUntilExit()
+        } catch {
+            fputs("theme_listener: failed to run swap_mode.sh: \(error)\n", stderr)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+// Sync to current state on startup
+let initial = currentMode()
+print("theme_listener: startup mode = \(initial)")
+runSwapScript(mode: initial)
+
+// Listen for system theme changes
+DistributedNotificationCenter.default().addObserver(
+    forName: Notification.Name("AppleInterfaceThemeChangedNotification"),
+    object: nil,
+    queue: .main
+) { _ in
+    // Brief delay so UserDefaults reflects the new value
+    DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + 0.2) {
+        let mode = currentMode()
+        print("theme_listener: changed to \(mode)")
+        runSwapScript(mode: mode)
+    }
+}
+
+RunLoop.main.run()
diff --git a/config/ghostty/config b/config/ghostty/config
index 4b261f0..5ecbff1 100644
--- a/config/ghostty/config
+++ b/config/ghostty/config
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 # --- Basics
+auto-update-channel = tip
 font-family = "IosevkaTerm Nerd Font Propo"
 font-style = "Regular"
 font-size = 13