diff --git a/python/voice_to_notes/services/pipeline.py b/python/voice_to_notes/services/pipeline.py
index 2d1f66b..fe4bf04 100644
--- a/python/voice_to_notes/services/pipeline.py
+++ b/python/voice_to_notes/services/pipeline.py
@@ -110,27 +110,57 @@ class PipelineService:
                 )
             return result
 
-        # Step 2: Diarize
+        # Step 2: Diarize (with graceful fallback)
         write_message(
             progress_message(request_id, 50, "pipeline", "Starting speaker diarization...")
         )
 
-        diarization = self._diarize_service.diarize(
-            request_id=request_id,
-            file_path=file_path,
-            num_speakers=num_speakers,
-            min_speakers=min_speakers,
-            max_speakers=max_speakers,
-        )
+        diarization = None
+        try:
+            diarization = self._diarize_service.diarize(
+                request_id=request_id,
+                file_path=file_path,
+                num_speakers=num_speakers,
+                min_speakers=min_speakers,
+                max_speakers=max_speakers,
+            )
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(
+                f"[sidecar] Diarization failed, falling back to transcription-only: {e}",
+                file=sys.stderr,
+                flush=True,
+            )
+            write_message(
+                progress_message(
+                    request_id, 80, "pipeline",
+                    "Diarization unavailable, using transcription only..."
+                )
+            )
 
-        # Step 3: Merge
-        write_message(
-            progress_message(request_id, 90, "pipeline", "Merging transcript with speakers...")
-        )
-
-        result = self._merge_results(transcription, diarization.speaker_segments)
-        result.speakers = diarization.speakers
-        result.num_speakers = diarization.num_speakers
+        # Step 3: Merge (or skip if diarization failed)
+        if diarization is not None:
+            write_message(
+                progress_message(request_id, 90, "pipeline", "Merging transcript with speakers...")
+            )
+            result = self._merge_results(transcription, diarization.speaker_segments)
+            result.speakers = diarization.speakers
+            result.num_speakers = diarization.num_speakers
+        else:
+            result = PipelineResult(
+                language=transcription.language,
+                language_probability=transcription.language_probability,
+                duration_ms=transcription.duration_ms,
+            )
+            for seg in transcription.segments:
+                result.segments.append(
+                    PipelineSegment(
+                        text=seg.text,
+                        start_ms=seg.start_ms,
+                        end_ms=seg.end_ms,
+                        speaker=None,
+                        words=seg.words,
+                    )
+                )
 
         elapsed = time.time() - start_time
         print(
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/commands/transcribe.rs b/src-tauri/src/commands/transcribe.rs
index 9e2239a..2f2e64a 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/commands/transcribe.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/commands/transcribe.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 use serde_json::{json, Value};
+use tauri::{AppHandle, Emitter};
 
 use crate::sidecar::messages::IPCMessage;
 use crate::sidecar::sidecar;
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ pub fn transcribe_file(
 /// Run the full transcription + diarization pipeline via the Python sidecar.
 #[tauri::command]
 pub fn run_pipeline(
+    app: AppHandle,
     file_path: String,
     model: Option<String>,
     device: Option<String>,
@@ -71,7 +73,9 @@ pub fn run_pipeline(
         }),
     );
 
-    let response = manager.send_and_receive(&msg)?;
+    let response = manager.send_and_receive_with_progress(&msg, |progress| {
+        let _ = app.emit("pipeline-progress", &progress.payload);
+    })?;
 
     if response.msg_type == "error" {
         return Err(format!(
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/sidecar/mod.rs b/src-tauri/src/sidecar/mod.rs
index dd60840..c8cc33e 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/sidecar/mod.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/sidecar/mod.rs
@@ -115,8 +115,17 @@ impl SidecarManager {
     }
 
     /// Send a message to the sidecar and read the response.
-    /// This is a blocking call.
+    /// This is a blocking call. Progress messages are skipped.
     pub fn send_and_receive(&self, msg: &IPCMessage) -> Result<IPCMessage, String> {
+        self.send_and_receive_with_progress(msg, |_| {})
+    }
+
+    /// Send a message and read the response, calling on_progress for each progress message.
+    pub fn send_and_receive_with_progress(
+        &self,
+        msg: &IPCMessage,
+        on_progress: impl Fn(&IPCMessage),
+    ) -> Result<IPCMessage, String> {
         // Write to stdin
         {
             let mut stdin_guard = self.stdin.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
@@ -154,10 +163,11 @@ impl SidecarManager {
                     let response: IPCMessage = serde_json::from_str(trimmed)
                         .map_err(|e| format!("Parse error: {e}"))?;
 
-                    // Skip progress messages, return the final result/error
-                    if response.msg_type != "progress" {
-                        return Ok(response);
+                    if response.msg_type == "progress" {
+                        on_progress(&response);
+                        continue;
                     }
+                    return Ok(response);
                 }
             } else {
                 Err("Sidecar stdout not available".to_string())
diff --git a/src/routes/+layout.svelte b/src/routes/+layout.svelte
index a655c08..2112a61 100644
--- a/src/routes/+layout.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/+layout.svelte
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
     padding: 0;
     background: #0a0a23;
     color: #e0e0e0;
+    color-scheme: dark;
     font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen,
       Ubuntu, Cantarell, sans-serif;
     overflow: hidden;
diff --git a/src/routes/+page.svelte b/src/routes/+page.svelte
index 9b139a0..2260060 100644
--- a/src/routes/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/+page.svelte
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import { invoke, convertFileSrc } from '@tauri-apps/api/core';
+  import { listen } from '@tauri-apps/api/event';
   import { open, save } from '@tauri-apps/plugin-dialog';
   import WaveformPlayer from '$lib/components/WaveformPlayer.svelte';
   import TranscriptEditor from '$lib/components/TranscriptEditor.svelte';
@@ -89,6 +90,19 @@
     isTranscribing = true;
     transcriptionProgress = 0;
     transcriptionStage = 'Starting...';
+    transcriptionMessage = 'Initializing pipeline...';
+
+    // Listen for progress events from the sidecar
+    const unlisten = await listen<{
+      percent: number;
+      stage: string;
+      message: string;
+    }>('pipeline-progress', (event) => {
+      const { percent, stage, message } = event.payload;
+      if (typeof percent === 'number') transcriptionProgress = percent;
+      if (typeof stage === 'string') transcriptionStage = stage;
+      if (typeof message === 'string') transcriptionMessage = message;
+    });
 
     try {
       const result = await invoke<{
@@ -159,6 +173,7 @@
       console.error('Pipeline failed:', err);
       alert(`Pipeline failed: ${err}`);
     } finally {
+      unlisten();
       isTranscribing = false;
     }
   }