diff --git a/kiosk/src/remote_debug.rs b/kiosk/src/remote_debug.rs
index 08110fb..e5546e2 100644
--- a/kiosk/src/remote_debug.rs
+++ b/kiosk/src/remote_debug.rs
@@ -121,15 +121,22 @@ impl JournalStream {
         let kill_clone = kill.clone();
 
         std::thread::spawn(move || {
+            // Try unit-scoped first, fall back to all journal if permission denied.
             let mut child = match Command::new("journalctl")
-                .args(["-u", "betterframe-kiosk", "-f", "--no-pager", "-o", "short-iso", "-n", "50"])
+                .args(["--user-unit", "betterframe-kiosk", "-f", "--no-pager", "-o", "short-iso", "-n", "50"])
                 .stdout(Stdio::piped())
-                .stderr(Stdio::null())
+                .stderr(Stdio::piped())
                 .spawn()
+                .or_else(|_| Command::new("journalctl")
+                    .args(["-f", "--no-pager", "-o", "short-iso", "-n", "50"])
+                    .stdout(Stdio::piped())
+                    .stderr(Stdio::piped())
+                    .spawn())
             {
                 Ok(c) => c,
                 Err(e) => {
                     warn!("remote-debug: journalctl spawn failed: {e}");
+                    on_line(&format!("[ERROR] journalctl spawn failed: {e}"));
                     return;
                 }
             };
diff --git a/kiosk/src/ui.rs b/kiosk/src/ui.rs
index 6034204..4543d3b 100644
--- a/kiosk/src/ui.rs
+++ b/kiosk/src/ui.rs
@@ -266,17 +266,10 @@ fn activate(app: &Application) {
                         maybe_apply_firmware_update(&server_for_reload, &key_for_reload);
                     }
                     ServerMsg::ShowTerminalCode(code) => {
-                        // Overlay on all windows: big centered code text.
-                        // NOT logged — security requirement.
-                        let code_clone = code.clone();
-                        gtk::glib::idle_add_local_once(move || {
-                            show_terminal_code_overlay(&code_clone);
-                        });
+                        let _ = tx_for_reload.send(WorkerMsg::ShowTerminalCode(code));
                     }
                     ServerMsg::DismissTerminalCode => {
-                        gtk::glib::idle_add_local_once(|| {
-                            dismiss_terminal_code_overlay();
-                        });
+                        let _ = tx_for_reload.send(WorkerMsg::DismissTerminalCode);
                     }
                 }
             }
@@ -334,6 +327,8 @@ fn activate(app: &Application) {
                 }
                 WorkerMsg::Standby(display_id) => standby_display(display_id),
                 WorkerMsg::Wake(display_id) => wake_display(display_id),
+                WorkerMsg::ShowTerminalCode(code) => show_terminal_code_overlay(&code),
+                WorkerMsg::DismissTerminalCode => dismiss_terminal_code_overlay(),
             }
         }
         gtk::glib::ControlFlow::Continue
@@ -349,6 +344,8 @@ pub enum WorkerMsg {
     },
     Standby(Option<u32>),
     Wake(Option<u32>),
+    ShowTerminalCode(String),
+    DismissTerminalCode,
 }
 
 fn output_name_for_display(display_id: u32) -> Option<String> {