diff --git a/apps/soundcraft/src/main.rs b/apps/soundcraft/src/main.rs
index 8f37e89..5928d6f 100644
--- a/apps/soundcraft/src/main.rs
+++ b/apps/soundcraft/src/main.rs
@@ -16,15 +16,19 @@ use soundcraft_engine::Engine;
 use soundcraft_ui_egui::{Services, SoundApp, UiState};
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
-struct App(SoundApp, #[cfg(target_os = "macos")] native_menu::NativeMenu);
+struct App(SoundApp, #[cfg(target_os = "macos")] Option<native_menu::NativeMenu>);
 
 impl eframe::App for App {
     fn logic(&mut self, ctx: &egui::Context, _frame: &mut eframe::Frame) {
         #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
-        self.1.process(&mut self.0);
+        if let Some(menu) = &mut self.1 {
+            menu.process(&mut self.0);
+        }
         self.0.logic(ctx);
         #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
-        self.1.sync(&self.0);
+        if let Some(menu) = &mut self.1 {
+            menu.sync(&self.0);
+        }
         // Files dropped on the window: sessions open, audio/MIDI import.
         let dropped: Vec<String> =
             ctx.input(|i| i.raw.dropped_files.iter().map(|f| f.path().to_string_lossy().into_owned()).filter(|s| !s.is_empty()).collect());
@@ -34,12 +38,18 @@ impl eframe::App for App {
         if self.0.quit_requested {
             ctx.send_viewport_cmd(egui::ViewportCommand::Close);
         }
-        let title = format!(
-            "{}{} — SoundCraft — {}",
-            self.0.engine.session().name,
-            if self.0.engine.is_dirty() { " *" } else { "" },
-            if self.0.ui.window == soundcraft_ui_egui::MainWindow::Edit { "Edit" } else { "Mix" }
-        );
+        // With the system menu bar there is no egui bar showing the window and dirty state, so the
+        // title carries them; elsewhere the egui menu bar already does.
+        let title = if self.0.native_menu_bar {
+            format!(
+                "{}{} — SoundCraft — {}",
+                self.0.engine.session().name,
+                if self.0.engine.is_dirty() { " *" } else { "" },
+                if self.0.ui.window == soundcraft_ui_egui::MainWindow::Edit { "Edit" } else { "Mix" }
+            )
+        } else {
+            format!("{} — SoundCraft", self.0.engine.session().name)
+        };
         ctx.send_viewport_cmd(egui::ViewportCommand::Title(title));
     }
     fn raw_input_hook(&mut self, _ctx: &egui::Context, raw: &mut egui::RawInput) {
@@ -197,12 +207,18 @@ fn main() -> eframe::Result {
             for f in &files {
                 open_path(&mut app, f);
             }
+            // If the system menu bar cannot be built, keep the egui menu bar rather than fail to start.
             #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
-            let menu = native_menu::NativeMenu::new(&app, &cc.egui_ctx).map_err(|e| -> Box<dyn std::error::Error + Send + Sync> { Box::new(e) })?;
-            #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
-            {
-                app.native_menu_bar = true;
-            }
+            let menu = match native_menu::NativeMenu::new(&app, &cc.egui_ctx) {
+                Ok(m) => {
+                    app.native_menu_bar = true;
+                    Some(m)
+                }
+                Err(e) => {
+                    log::warn!("system menu bar unavailable, using the in-window menu bar: {e}");
+                    None
+                }
+            };
             Ok(Box::new(App(
                 app,
                 #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
diff --git a/apps/soundcraft/src/native_menu.rs b/apps/soundcraft/src/native_menu.rs
index f1752d7..563d174 100644
--- a/apps/soundcraft/src/native_menu.rs
+++ b/apps/soundcraft/src/native_menu.rs
@@ -15,14 +15,20 @@ pub struct NativeMenu {
     menu: Menu,
     entries: Vec<Entry>,
     events: Receiver<MenuEvent>,
+    /// When `sync` last walked the entries; see `SYNC_EVERY`.
+    last_sync: Option<std::time::Instant>,
 }
 
+/// `sync` walks every menu leaf (~500), so it runs a few times a second rather than every frame,
+/// and right after a menu click.
+const SYNC_EVERY: std::time::Duration = std::time::Duration::from_millis(250);
+
 impl NativeMenu {
     /// Called on the UI thread after eframe has created NSApplication.
     pub fn new(app: &SoundApp, ctx: &egui::Context) -> muda::Result<Self> {
         let menu = Menu::new();
         let (tx, events) = channel();
-        let mut native = Self { menu, entries: Vec::new(), events };
+        let mut native = Self { menu, entries: Vec::new(), events, last_sync: None };
         let app_menu = Submenu::new("SoundCraft", true);
         native.add_item(app, &app_menu, "About SoundCraft", "", Some("window.about".into()))?;
         native.add_item(app, &app_menu, "Session Info", "", Some("window.session_info".into()))?;
@@ -73,17 +79,29 @@ impl NativeMenu {
 
     pub fn process(&mut self, app: &mut SoundApp) {
         while let Ok(event) = self.events.try_recv() {
+            // A click changes state (and Cocoa flips the item's check mark): sync on the next pass.
+            self.last_sync = None;
             if let Some(entry) = self.entries.iter().find(|e| e.item.id() == &event.id)
                 && let Some(command) = &entry.command
                 && menus::item_state(app, &entry.path, Some(command)).0
             {
-                menus::invoke_menu(app, command, &entry.path);
+                if entry.path.is_empty() && command.starts_with("window.") {
+                    // The application menu's About / Session Info open their window (never close it).
+                    let _ = app.run(command, serde_json::json!({"value": true}));
+                } else {
+                    menus::invoke_menu(app, command, &entry.path);
+                }
             }
         }
     }
 
     /// Refresh after engine/control changes; avoid touching Cocoa items with unchanged state.
     pub fn sync(&mut self, app: &SoundApp) {
+        let now = std::time::Instant::now();
+        if self.last_sync.is_some_and(|t| now.duration_since(t) < SYNC_EVERY) {
+            return;
+        }
+        self.last_sync = Some(now);
         for entry in &mut self.entries {
             let (enabled, checked) = menus::item_state(app, &entry.path, entry.command.as_deref());
             if enabled != entry.enabled {