diff --git a/supacode/Clients/Notifications/SystemNotificationClient.swift b/supacode/Clients/Notifications/SystemNotificationClient.swift
index fa32e174..b3722adf 100644
--- a/supacode/Clients/Notifications/SystemNotificationClient.swift
+++ b/supacode/Clients/Notifications/SystemNotificationClient.swift
@@ -64,7 +64,20 @@ struct SystemNotificationClient {
     case notDetermined
   }
 
+  /// Whether macOS will actually render the app's Dock badge. The Dock badge
+  /// is gated by the system notification permission plus the per-app "Badge
+  /// app icon" switch — it does not depend on Prowl's own banner toggle.
+  enum DockBadgeAuthorization: Equatable {
+    /// Notifications are allowed and "Badge app icon" is on.
+    case available
+    /// macOS is not allowing notifications for Prowl (denied or not yet asked).
+    case notificationsDenied
+    /// Notifications are allowed, but "Badge app icon" is turned off.
+    case badgeDisabled
+  }
+
   var authorizationStatus: @MainActor @Sendable () async -> AuthorizationStatus
+  var dockBadgeAuthorization: @MainActor @Sendable () async -> DockBadgeAuthorization
   var requestAuthorization: @MainActor @Sendable () async -> AuthorizationRequestResult
   var send:
     @MainActor @Sendable (_ title: String, _ body: String, _ worktreeID: Worktree.ID?, _ surfaceID: UUID?) async -> Void
@@ -87,6 +100,16 @@ extension SystemNotificationClient: DependencyKey {
         return .denied
       }
     },
+    dockBadgeAuthorization: {
+      let center = configuredNotificationCenter()
+      let settings = await center.notificationSettings()
+      switch settings.authorizationStatus {
+      case .authorized, .provisional:
+        return settings.badgeSetting == .enabled ? .available : .badgeDisabled
+      default:
+        return .notificationsDenied
+      }
+    },
     requestAuthorization: {
       let center = configuredNotificationCenter()
       do {
@@ -130,6 +153,7 @@ extension SystemNotificationClient: DependencyKey {
 
   static let testValue = SystemNotificationClient(
     authorizationStatus: { .notDetermined },
+    dockBadgeAuthorization: { .available },
     requestAuthorization: { AuthorizationRequestResult(granted: false, errorMessage: nil) },
     send: { _, _, _, _ in },
     openSettings: {}
diff --git a/supacode/Features/Settings/Reducer/SettingsFeature.swift b/supacode/Features/Settings/Reducer/SettingsFeature.swift
index 2138df14..93ecdb09 100644
--- a/supacode/Features/Settings/Reducer/SettingsFeature.swift
+++ b/supacode/Features/Settings/Reducer/SettingsFeature.swift
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ struct SettingsFeature {
     var showNotificationDotOnDock: Bool
     var cliInstallStatus: CLIInstallStatus = .notInstalled
     var cliInstallShowAlert: Bool = true
+    /// Whether macOS will render the Dock notification badge (notification
+    /// permission + the per-app "Badge app icon" switch). Refreshed when the
+    /// Notifications settings pane appears.
+    var dockBadgeAuthorization: SystemNotificationClient.DockBadgeAuthorization = .available
     var selection: SettingsSection? = .general
     var repositorySettings: RepositorySettingsFeature.State?
     @Presents var alert: AlertState<Alert>?
@@ -148,6 +152,8 @@ struct SettingsFeature {
     case uninstallCLIButtonTapped
     case cliInstallCompleted(Result<String, CLIInstallError>)
     case refreshCLIInstallStatus
+    case refreshDockBadgeAuthorization
+    case dockBadgeAuthorizationResponse(SystemNotificationClient.DockBadgeAuthorization)
     case showNotificationPermissionAlert(errorMessage: String?)
     case repositorySettings(RepositorySettingsFeature.Action)
     case alert(PresentationAction<Alert>)
@@ -344,6 +350,15 @@ struct SettingsFeature {
         state.cliInstallStatus = cliInstallClient.installationStatus(cliDefaultInstallPath)
         return .none
 
+      case .refreshDockBadgeAuthorization:
+        return .run { send in
+          await send(.dockBadgeAuthorizationResponse(systemNotificationClient.dockBadgeAuthorization()))
+        }
+
+      case .dockBadgeAuthorizationResponse(let authorization):
+        state.dockBadgeAuthorization = authorization
+        return .none
+
       case .showNotificationPermissionAlert(let errorMessage):
         let message: String
         if let errorMessage, !errorMessage.isEmpty {
diff --git a/supacode/Features/Settings/Views/NotificationsSettingsView.swift b/supacode/Features/Settings/Views/NotificationsSettingsView.swift
index 639414c1..0a0d3955 100644
--- a/supacode/Features/Settings/Views/NotificationsSettingsView.swift
+++ b/supacode/Features/Settings/Views/NotificationsSettingsView.swift
@@ -19,11 +19,6 @@ struct NotificationsSettingsView: View {
             isOn: $store.notificationSoundEnabled
           )
           .help("Play a sound when a notification is received")
-          Toggle(
-            "System notifications",
-            isOn: $store.systemNotificationsEnabled
-          )
-          .help("Show macOS system notifications")
           Toggle(
             "Move notified worktree to top",
             isOn: $store.moveNotifiedWorktreeToTop
@@ -38,11 +33,24 @@ struct NotificationsSettingsView: View {
             }
           }
           .help("Bounce the Prowl app icon in the Dock when a notification is received.")
+        }
+        Section("System") {
+          Toggle(
+            "System notifications",
+            isOn: $store.systemNotificationsEnabled
+          )
+          .help("Show macOS system notification banners")
           Toggle(
-            "Show notification dot on dock icon",
+            "Show notification badge on dock icon",
             isOn: $store.showNotificationDotOnDock
           )
-          .help("Show a badge on the Prowl dock icon while notifications are pending.")
+          .help("Show the unread worktree count on the Prowl dock icon.")
+          .disabled(!dockBadgeAvailable)
+          if let dockBadgeCaption {
+            Text(dockBadgeCaption)
+              .font(.callout)
+              .foregroundStyle(.secondary)
+          }
         }
         Section("Command Finished") {
           Toggle(
@@ -76,5 +84,23 @@ struct NotificationsSettingsView: View {
       .formStyle(.grouped)
     }
     .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, maxHeight: .infinity, alignment: .topLeading)
+    .task {
+      store.send(.refreshDockBadgeAuthorization)
+    }
+  }
+
+  private var dockBadgeAvailable: Bool {
+    store.dockBadgeAuthorization == .available
+  }
+
+  private var dockBadgeCaption: String? {
+    switch store.dockBadgeAuthorization {
+    case .available:
+      return nil
+    case .notificationsDenied:
+      return "Allow notifications for Prowl in System Settings to show the Dock badge."
+    case .badgeDisabled:
+      return "Turn on “Badge app icon” for Prowl in System Settings > Notifications."
+    }
   }
 }
diff --git a/supacodeTests/SettingsFeatureTests.swift b/supacodeTests/SettingsFeatureTests.swift
index a71ed446..4dfa3162 100644
--- a/supacodeTests/SettingsFeatureTests.swift
+++ b/supacodeTests/SettingsFeatureTests.swift
@@ -126,6 +126,19 @@ struct SettingsFeatureTests {
     #expect(settingsFile.global.systemNotificationsEnabled == true)
   }
 
+  @Test(.dependencies) func refreshDockBadgeAuthorizationStoresSystemState() async {
+    let store = TestStore(initialState: SettingsFeature.State()) {
+      SettingsFeature()
+    } withDependencies: {
+      $0.systemNotificationClient.dockBadgeAuthorization = { .badgeDisabled }
+    }
+
+    await store.send(.refreshDockBadgeAuthorization)
+    await store.receive(\.dockBadgeAuthorizationResponse) {
+      $0.dockBadgeAuthorization = .badgeDisabled
+    }
+  }
+
   @Test(.dependencies) func selectionDoesNotMutateRepositorySettings() async {
     let selection = SettingsSection.repository("repo-id")
     let store = TestStore(initialState: SettingsFeature.State()) {