diff --git a/aider/io.py b/aider/io.py
index 405dceb0d..07884c6d6 100644
--- a/aider/io.py
+++ b/aider/io.py
@@ -963,10 +963,14 @@ class InputOutput:
     def get_default_notification_command(self):
         """Return a default notification command based on the operating system."""
         import platform
-
+        
         system = platform.system()
-
+        
         if system == "Darwin":  # macOS
+            # Check for terminal-notifier first
+            if shutil.which("terminal-notifier"):
+                return "terminal-notifier -title 'Aider' -message 'Aider is waiting for your input'"
+            # Fall back to osascript
             return (
                 'osascript -e \'display notification "Aider is waiting for your input" with title'
                 ' "Aider"\''
@@ -988,7 +992,7 @@ class InputOutput:
                 " [System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox]::Show('Aider is waiting for your input',"
                 " 'Aider')\""
             )
-
+        
         return None  # Unknown system
 
     def ring_bell(self):
@@ -996,7 +1000,10 @@ class InputOutput:
         if self.bell_on_next_input and self.notifications:
             if self.notifications_command:
                 try:
-                    subprocess.run(self.notifications_command, shell=True)
+                    result = subprocess.run(self.notifications_command, shell=True, capture_output=True)
+                    if result.returncode != 0 and result.stderr:
+                        error_msg = result.stderr.decode('utf-8', errors='replace')
+                        self.tool_warning(f"Failed to run notifications command: {error_msg}")
                 except Exception as e:
                     self.tool_warning(f"Failed to run notifications command: {e}")
             else: