diff --git a/internal/config/load.go b/internal/config/load.go
index 575908f..f38f510 100644
--- a/internal/config/load.go
+++ b/internal/config/load.go
@@ -28,26 +28,40 @@ func GetConfigPath() (string, error) {
 }
 
 func Load() (*Config, error) {
-	configPath, err := GetConfigPath()
+	config, legacy, err := LoadOrLegacy()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	if legacy {
+		log.Printf("Config: legacy configuration detected - run hyprvoice onboarding")
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: run hyprvoice onboarding", ErrConfigNotFound)
+	}
+	return config, nil
+}
+
+// LoadOrLegacy loads config and returns (config, isLegacy, error).
+// If config is legacy, returns default config with isLegacy=true instead of error.
+func LoadOrLegacy() (*Config, bool, error) {
+	configPath, err := GetConfigPath()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, false, err
+	}
 
 	if _, err := os.Stat(configPath); os.IsNotExist(err) {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: run hyprvoice onboarding", ErrConfigNotFound)
+		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("%w: run hyprvoice onboarding", ErrConfigNotFound)
 	} else if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to stat config file %s: %w", configPath, err)
+		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("failed to stat config file %s: %w", configPath, err)
 	}
 
 	log.Printf("Config: loading configuration from %s", configPath)
 	var config Config
 	meta, err := toml.DecodeFile(configPath, &config)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to parse config file %s: %w", configPath, err)
+		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("failed to parse config file %s: %w", configPath, err)
 	}
 	if isLegacyConfig(meta, &config) {
 		log.Printf("Config: legacy configuration detected - run hyprvoice onboarding")
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: run hyprvoice onboarding", ErrConfigNotFound)
+		return DefaultConfig(), true, nil
 	}
 
 	if config.Providers == nil {
@@ -58,7 +72,7 @@ func Load() (*Config, error) {
 	config.applyThreadsDefault()
 
 	log.Printf("Config: configuration loaded successfully")
-	return &config, nil
+	return &config, false, nil
 }
 
 func isLegacyConfig(meta toml.MetaData, config *Config) bool {
diff --git a/internal/config/manager.go b/internal/config/manager.go
index 93c2e30..6cd587e 100644
--- a/internal/config/manager.go
+++ b/internal/config/manager.go
@@ -22,25 +22,33 @@ type Manager struct {
 	debounceTimer *time.Timer
 	debounceMutex sync.Mutex
 	debounceDelay time.Duration
+
+	// legacy tracks if config is in legacy format (needs onboarding)
+	legacy bool
 }
 
 func NewManager() (*Manager, error) {
 	log.Printf("Config manager: initializing configuration system...")
 
-	config, err := Load()
+	config, legacy, err := LoadOrLegacy()
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Printf("Config manager: failed to load initial configuration: %v", err)
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	log.Printf("Config manager: validating initial configuration...")
-	if err := config.Validate(); err != nil {
-		log.Printf("Config manager: validation warning: %v", err)
+	if legacy {
+		log.Printf("Config manager: legacy config detected, daemon will prompt for onboarding")
+	} else {
+		log.Printf("Config manager: validating initial configuration...")
+		if err := config.Validate(); err != nil {
+			log.Printf("Config manager: validation warning: %v", err)
+		}
 	}
 
 	m := &Manager{
 		config:        config,
 		debounceDelay: 500 * time.Millisecond, // 500ms debounce delay
+		legacy:        legacy,
 	}
 
 	log.Printf("Config manager: initialization completed successfully")
@@ -56,6 +64,13 @@ func (m *Manager) GetConfig() *Config {
 	return &configCopy
 }
 
+// IsLegacy returns true if the config is in legacy format and needs onboarding
+func (m *Manager) IsLegacy() bool {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	return m.legacy
+}
+
 func (m *Manager) StartWatching(ctx context.Context) error {
 	configPath, err := GetConfigPath()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -136,12 +151,17 @@ func (m *Manager) watchLoop(ctx context.Context, configPath string) {
 func (m *Manager) reloadConfig() {
 	log.Printf("Config manager: starting configuration reload...")
 
-	newConfig, err := Load()
+	newConfig, legacy, err := LoadOrLegacy()
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Printf("Config manager: failed to reload config: %v", err)
 		return
 	}
 
+	if legacy {
+		log.Printf("Config manager: config still in legacy format, skipping reload")
+		return
+	}
+
 	log.Printf("Config manager: validating new configuration...")
 	if err := newConfig.Validate(); err != nil {
 		log.Printf("Config manager: invalid config after reload: %v", err)
@@ -150,6 +170,7 @@ func (m *Manager) reloadConfig() {
 
 	m.mu.Lock()
 	m.config = newConfig
+	m.legacy = false // clear legacy flag on successful reload
 	onConfigReload := m.onConfigReload
 	m.mu.Unlock()
 
diff --git a/internal/daemon/daemon.go b/internal/daemon/daemon.go
index d93799c..4b9e8e5 100644
--- a/internal/daemon/daemon.go
+++ b/internal/daemon/daemon.go
@@ -39,8 +39,14 @@ func New() (*Daemon, error) {
 	conf := configMgr.GetConfig()
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 
+	// force desktop notifications when legacy config so user sees the onboarding prompt
+	notifType := conf.Notifications.Type
+	if configMgr.IsLegacy() {
+		notifType = "desktop"
+	}
+
 	d := &Daemon{
-		notifier:  notify.NewNotifier(conf.Notifications.Type, conf.Notifications.Messages.Resolve()),
+		notifier:  notify.NewNotifier(notifType, conf.Notifications.Messages.Resolve()),
 		configMgr: configMgr,
 		ctx:       ctx,
 		cancel:    cancel,
@@ -178,6 +184,10 @@ func (d *Daemon) handle(c net.Conn) {
 }
 
 func (d *Daemon) toggle() {
+	if d.configMgr.IsLegacy() {
+		d.notifier.Error("Legacy config detected. Run: hyprvoice onboarding")
+		return
+	}
 	conf := d.configMgr.GetConfig()
 	switch d.status() {
 	case pipeline.Idle: