diff --git a/apps/desktop-shell/scripts/check-config.mjs b/apps/desktop-shell/scripts/check-config.mjs
index aec08b4a5..e6245ba9b 100644
--- a/apps/desktop-shell/scripts/check-config.mjs
+++ b/apps/desktop-shell/scripts/check-config.mjs
@@ -2478,13 +2478,22 @@ for (const snippet of [
   'BADGE_COUNT_MAX',
   'fn badge_count_payload',
   'set_desktop_app_badge_count',
+  'badge_unavailable_response',
   'ok(request.id.clone(), json!(true))',
   '"count must be an integer between 0 and 99999"',
+  '"badge unavailable"',
+  'badge_unavailable_response_is_stable',
 ]) {
   if (!desktopHostBridgeBadgeSource.includes(snippet)) {
     throw new Error(`desktop shell badge module is missing ${snippet}`);
   }
 }
+if (
+  desktopHostBridgeBadgeSource.includes('error.to_string()') ||
+  desktopHostBridgeBadgeSource.includes('"main window not found"')
+) {
+  throw new Error('desktop shell badge module must hide native window errors');
+}
 if (!desktopHostBridgeBadgeSource.match(/window\s*\.\s*set_badge_count\s*\(\s*count\s*\)/)) {
   throw new Error('desktop shell badge module must call window.set_badge_count(count)');
 }
diff --git a/apps/desktop-shell/src-tauri/src/host_bridge/badge.rs b/apps/desktop-shell/src-tauri/src/host_bridge/badge.rs
index 5103a797f..c518b3cae 100644
--- a/apps/desktop-shell/src-tauri/src/host_bridge/badge.rs
+++ b/apps/desktop-shell/src-tauri/src/host_bridge/badge.rs
@@ -39,15 +39,19 @@ pub(crate) fn set_desktop_app_badge_count(
         Err(response) => return response,
     };
     let Some(window) = app.get_webview_window("main") else {
-        return failed(request.id.clone(), "host_error", "main window not found");
+        return badge_unavailable_response(request);
     };
 
     match window.set_badge_count(count) {
         Ok(()) => ok(request.id.clone(), json!(true)),
-        Err(error) => failed(request.id.clone(), "host_error", error.to_string()),
+        Err(_) => badge_unavailable_response(request),
     }
 }
 
+fn badge_unavailable_response(request: &HostBridgeRequest) -> HostBridgeResponse {
+    failed(request.id.clone(), "host_error", "badge unavailable")
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
@@ -80,4 +84,14 @@ mod tests {
             );
         }
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn badge_unavailable_response_is_stable() {
+        let response = badge_unavailable_response(&request("app.setBadgeCount"));
+
+        assert!(!response.ok);
+        let error = response.error.expect("badge error");
+        assert_eq!(error.code, "host_error");
+        assert_eq!(error.message, "badge unavailable");
+    }
 }