diff --git a/internal/app/app.go b/internal/app/app.go
index 7297e95..0f8a17e 100644
--- a/internal/app/app.go
+++ b/internal/app/app.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ type App struct {
 	dispatchC          chan event.Command
 	dockerClient       container.DockerClient
 	screen             *terminal.Screen // Screen may be nil.
+	headless           bool
 	clipboardAvailable bool
 	configFilePath     string
 	buildInfo          domain.BuildInfo
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ type Params struct {
 	DockerClient       container.DockerClient
 	ChanSize           int
 	Screen             *terminal.Screen // Screen may be nil.
+	Headless           bool
 	ClipboardAvailable bool
 	ConfigFilePath     string
 	BuildInfo          domain.BuildInfo
@@ -57,6 +59,7 @@ func New(params Params) *App {
 		dispatchC:          make(chan event.Command, cmp.Or(params.ChanSize, defaultChanSize)),
 		dockerClient:       params.DockerClient,
 		screen:             params.Screen,
+		headless:           params.Headless,
 		clipboardAvailable: params.ClipboardAvailable,
 		configFilePath:     params.ConfigFilePath,
 		buildInfo:          params.BuildInfo,
@@ -75,19 +78,21 @@ func (a *App) Run(ctx context.Context) error {
 		return errors.New("config: either sources.mediaServer.rtmp.enabled or sources.mediaServer.rtmps.enabled must be set")
 	}
 
-	ui, err := terminal.StartUI(ctx, terminal.StartParams{
-		EventBus:           a.eventBus,
-		Dispatcher:         func(cmd event.Command) { a.dispatchC <- cmd },
-		Screen:             a.screen,
-		ClipboardAvailable: a.clipboardAvailable,
-		ConfigFilePath:     a.configFilePath,
-		BuildInfo:          a.buildInfo,
-		Logger:             a.logger.With("component", "ui"),
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("start terminal user interface: %w", err)
+	if !a.headless {
+		ui, err := terminal.StartUI(ctx, terminal.StartParams{
+			EventBus:           a.eventBus,
+			Dispatcher:         func(cmd event.Command) { a.dispatchC <- cmd },
+			Screen:             a.screen,
+			ClipboardAvailable: a.clipboardAvailable,
+			ConfigFilePath:     a.configFilePath,
+			BuildInfo:          a.buildInfo,
+			Logger:             a.logger.With("component", "ui"),
+		})
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("start terminal user interface: %w", err)
+		}
+		defer ui.Close()
 	}
-	defer ui.Close()
 
 	// emptyUI is a dummy function that sets the UI state to an empty state, and
 	// re-renders the screen.
@@ -102,6 +107,19 @@ func (a *App) Run(ctx context.Context) error {
 		a.eventBus.Send(event.AppStateChangedEvent{State: domain.AppState{}})
 	}
 
+	// doFatalError publishes a fatal error to the event bus, waiting for the
+	// user to acknowledge it if not in headless mode.
+	doFatalError := func(msg string) {
+		a.eventBus.Send(event.FatalErrorOccurredEvent{Message: msg})
+
+		if a.headless {
+			return
+		}
+
+		emptyUI()
+		<-a.dispatchC
+	}
+
 	containerClient, err := container.NewClient(ctx, a.dockerClient, a.logger.With("component", "container_client"))
 	if err != nil {
 		err = fmt.Errorf("create container client: %w", err)
@@ -112,10 +130,7 @@ func (a *App) Run(ctx context.Context) error {
 		} else {
 			msg = err.Error()
 		}
-		a.eventBus.Send(event.FatalErrorOccurredEvent{Message: msg})
-
-		emptyUI()
-		<-a.dispatchC
+		doFatalError(msg)
 		return err
 	}
 	defer containerClient.Close()
@@ -145,9 +160,7 @@ func (a *App) Run(ctx context.Context) error {
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		err = fmt.Errorf("create mediaserver: %w", err)
-		a.eventBus.Send(event.FatalErrorOccurredEvent{Message: err.Error()})
-		emptyUI()
-		<-a.dispatchC
+		doFatalError(err.Error())
 		return err
 	}
 	defer srv.Close()
@@ -164,17 +177,21 @@ func (a *App) Run(ctx context.Context) error {
 	defer uiUpdateT.Stop()
 
 	startMediaServerC := make(chan struct{}, 1)
-	if ok, startupErr := doStartupCheck(ctx, containerClient, a.eventBus); startupErr != nil {
-		startupErr = fmt.Errorf("startup check: %w", startupErr)
-		a.eventBus.Send(event.FatalErrorOccurredEvent{Message: startupErr.Error()})
-		<-a.dispatchC
-		return startupErr
-	} else if ok {
+	if a.headless { // disable startup check in headless mode for now
 		startMediaServerC <- struct{}{}
+	} else {
+		if ok, startupErr := doStartupCheck(ctx, containerClient, a.eventBus); startupErr != nil {
+			doFatalError(startupErr.Error())
+			return startupErr
+		} else if ok {
+			startMediaServerC <- struct{}{}
+		}
 	}
 
 	for {
 		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return ctx.Err()
 		case <-startMediaServerC:
 			if err = srv.Start(ctx); err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("start mediaserver: %w", err)
@@ -193,6 +210,12 @@ func (a *App) Run(ctx context.Context) error {
 			updateUI()
 		case serverState := <-srv.C():
 			a.logger.Debug("Server state received", "state", serverState)
+
+			if serverState.ExitReason != "" {
+				doFatalError(serverState.ExitReason)
+				return errors.New("media server exited")
+			}
+
 			applyServerState(serverState, state)
 			updateUI()
 		case replState := <-repl.C():
diff --git a/internal/app/integration_test.go b/internal/app/integration_test.go
index a54a760..fc85993 100644
--- a/internal/app/integration_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/integration_test.go
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ func testIntegration(t *testing.T, mediaServerConfig config.MediaServerSource) {
 			done <- struct{}{}
 		}()
 
-		require.NoError(t, app.New(app.Params{
+		require.Equal(t, context.Canceled, app.New(app.Params{
 			ConfigService: configService,
 			DockerClient:  dockerClient,
 			Screen: &terminal.Screen{
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ func TestIntegrationCustomHost(t *testing.T) {
 			done <- struct{}{}
 		}()
 
-		require.NoError(t, app.New(buildAppParams(t, configService, dockerClient, screen, screenCaptureC, logger)).Run(ctx))
+		require.Equal(t, context.Canceled, app.New(buildAppParams(t, configService, dockerClient, screen, screenCaptureC, logger)).Run(ctx))
 	}()
 
 	time.Sleep(time.Second)
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ func TestIntegrationCustomTLSCerts(t *testing.T) {
 			done <- struct{}{}
 		}()
 
-		require.NoError(t, app.New(buildAppParams(t, configService, dockerClient, screen, screenCaptureC, logger)).Run(ctx))
+		require.Equal(t, context.Canceled, app.New(buildAppParams(t, configService, dockerClient, screen, screenCaptureC, logger)).Run(ctx))
 	}()
 
 	require.EventuallyWithT(
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@ func TestIntegrationRestartDestination(t *testing.T) {
 			done <- struct{}{}
 		}()
 
-		require.NoError(t, app.New(buildAppParams(t, configService, dockerClient, screen, screenCaptureC, logger)).Run(ctx))
+		require.Equal(t, context.Canceled, app.New(buildAppParams(t, configService, dockerClient, screen, screenCaptureC, logger)).Run(ctx))
 	}()
 
 	require.EventuallyWithT(
@@ -608,7 +608,7 @@ func TestIntegrationStartDestinationFailed(t *testing.T) {
 			done <- struct{}{}
 		}()
 
-		require.NoError(t, app.New(buildAppParams(t, configService, dockerClient, screen, screenCaptureC, logger)).Run(ctx))
+		require.Equal(t, context.Canceled, app.New(buildAppParams(t, configService, dockerClient, screen, screenCaptureC, logger)).Run(ctx))
 	}()
 
 	require.EventuallyWithT(
@@ -681,7 +681,7 @@ func TestIntegrationDestinationValidations(t *testing.T) {
 			done <- struct{}{}
 		}()
 
-		require.NoError(t, app.New(buildAppParams(t, configService, dockerClient, screen, screenCaptureC, logger)).Run(ctx))
+		require.Equal(t, context.Canceled, app.New(buildAppParams(t, configService, dockerClient, screen, screenCaptureC, logger)).Run(ctx))
 	}()
 
 	require.EventuallyWithT(
@@ -823,7 +823,7 @@ func TestIntegrationStartupCheck(t *testing.T) {
 			done <- struct{}{}
 		}()
 
-		require.NoError(t, app.New(buildAppParams(t, configService, dockerClient, screen, screenCaptureC, logger)).Run(ctx))
+		require.Equal(t, context.Canceled, app.New(buildAppParams(t, configService, dockerClient, screen, screenCaptureC, logger)).Run(ctx))
 	}()
 
 	require.EventuallyWithT(
@@ -892,13 +892,17 @@ func TestIntegrationMediaServerError(t *testing.T) {
 			done <- struct{}{}
 		}()
 
-		require.NoError(t, app.New(buildAppParams(t, configService, dockerClient, screen, screenCaptureC, logger)).Run(ctx))
+		require.EqualError(
+			t,
+			app.New(buildAppParams(t, configService, dockerClient, screen, screenCaptureC, logger)).Run(ctx),
+			"media server exited",
+		)
 	}()
 
 	require.EventuallyWithT(
 		t,
 		func(c *assert.CollectT) {
-			assert.True(c, contentsIncludes(getContents(), "Mediaserver error: Server process exited unexpectedly."), "expected to see title")
+			assert.True(c, contentsIncludes(getContents(), "Server process exited unexpectedly."), "expected to see title")
 			assert.True(c, contentsIncludes(getContents(), "address already in use"), "expected to see message")
 		},
 		waitTime,
@@ -1069,7 +1073,7 @@ func TestIntegrationCopyURLs(t *testing.T) {
 					done <- struct{}{}
 				}()
 
-				require.NoError(t, app.New(buildAppParams(t, configService, dockerClient, screen, screenCaptureC, logger)).Run(ctx))
+				require.Equal(t, context.Canceled, app.New(buildAppParams(t, configService, dockerClient, screen, screenCaptureC, logger)).Run(ctx))
 			}()
 
 			time.Sleep(3 * time.Second)
diff --git a/internal/terminal/terminal.go b/internal/terminal/terminal.go
index 5bbb530..fd7cae9 100644
--- a/internal/terminal/terminal.go
+++ b/internal/terminal/terminal.go
@@ -486,10 +486,6 @@ func (ui *UI) captureScreen(screen tcell.Screen) {
 func (ui *UI) handleAppStateChanged(evt event.AppStateChangedEvent) {
 	state := evt.State
 
-	if state.Source.ExitReason != "" {
-		ui.handleMediaServerClosed(state.Source.ExitReason)
-	}
-
 	ui.updatePullProgress(state)
 
 	ui.mu.Lock()
@@ -684,24 +680,6 @@ func (ui *UI) hideModal(pageName string) {
 	ui.app.SetFocus(ui.destView)
 }
 
-func (ui *UI) handleMediaServerClosed(exitReason string) {
-	if ui.pages.HasPage(pageNameModalSourceError) {
-		return
-	}
-
-	modal := tview.NewModal()
-	modal.SetText("Mediaserver error: " + exitReason).
-		AddButtons([]string{"Quit"}).
-		SetBackgroundColor(tcell.ColorBlack).
-		SetTextColor(tcell.ColorWhite).
-		SetDoneFunc(func(int, string) {
-			ui.dispatch(event.CommandQuit{})
-		})
-	modal.SetBorderStyle(tcell.StyleDefault.Background(tcell.ColorBlack).Foreground(tcell.ColorWhite))
-
-	ui.pages.AddPage(pageNameModalSourceError, modal, true, true)
-}
-
 const dash = "—"
 
 const (
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 23420a5..4573104 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -3,11 +3,14 @@ package main
 import (
 	"cmp"
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"flag"
 	"fmt"
+	"io"
 	"log/slog"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
+	"os/signal"
 	"runtime/debug"
 	"syscall"
 
@@ -27,16 +30,25 @@ var (
 	date string
 )
 
-func main() {
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
-	defer cancel()
+var errShutdown = errors.New("shutdown")
 
-	if err := run(ctx); err != nil {
+func main() {
+	var exitStatus int
+
+	if err := run(); errors.Is(err, errShutdown) {
+		exitStatus = 130
+	} else if err != nil {
+		exitStatus = 1
 		_, _ = os.Stderr.WriteString("Error: " + err.Error() + "\n")
 	}
+
+	os.Exit(exitStatus)
 }
 
-func run(ctx context.Context) error {
+func run() error {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancelCause(context.Background())
+	defer cancel(nil)
+
 	configService, err := config.NewDefaultService()
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("build config service: %w", err)
@@ -72,11 +84,26 @@ func run(ctx context.Context) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("read or create config: %w", err)
 	}
-	logger, err := buildLogger(cfg.LogFile)
+
+	headless := os.Getenv("OCTO_HEADLESS") != ""
+	logger, err := buildLogger(cfg.LogFile, headless)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("build logger: %w", err)
 	}
 
+	if headless {
+		// When running in headless mode tview doesn't handle SIGINT for us.
+		ch := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
+		signal.Notify(ch, syscall.SIGINT, syscall.SIGTERM)
+
+		go func() {
+			<-ch
+			logger.Info("Received interrupt signal, exiting")
+			signal.Stop(ch)
+			cancel(errShutdown)
+		}()
+	}
+
 	var clipboardAvailable bool
 	if err = clipboard.Init(); err != nil {
 		logger.Warn("Clipboard not available", "err", err)
@@ -100,6 +127,7 @@ func run(ctx context.Context) error {
 	app := app.New(app.Params{
 		ConfigService:      configService,
 		DockerClient:       dockerClient,
+		Headless:           headless,
 		ClipboardAvailable: clipboardAvailable,
 		ConfigFilePath:     configService.Path(),
 		BuildInfo: domain.BuildInfo{
@@ -161,10 +189,24 @@ func printUsage() {
 	os.Stderr.WriteString("\n")
 	os.Stderr.WriteString("Additionally, Octoplex can be configured with the following environment variables:\n\n")
 	os.Stderr.WriteString("  OCTO_DEBUG    Enables debug logging if set\n")
+	os.Stderr.WriteString("  OCTO_HEADLESS Enables headless mode if set (experimental)\n\n")
 }
 
 // buildLogger builds the logger, which may be a no-op logger.
-func buildLogger(cfg config.LogFile) (*slog.Logger, error) {
+func buildLogger(cfg config.LogFile, headless bool) (*slog.Logger, error) {
+	build := func(w io.Writer) *slog.Logger {
+		var handlerOpts slog.HandlerOptions
+		if os.Getenv("OCTO_DEBUG") != "" {
+			handlerOpts.Level = slog.LevelDebug
+		}
+		return slog.New(slog.NewTextHandler(w, &handlerOpts))
+	}
+
+	// In headless mode, always log to stderr.
+	if headless {
+		return build(os.Stderr), nil
+	}
+
 	if !cfg.Enabled {
 		return slog.New(slog.DiscardHandler), nil
 	}
@@ -174,9 +216,5 @@ func buildLogger(cfg config.LogFile) (*slog.Logger, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error opening log file: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	var handlerOpts slog.HandlerOptions
-	if os.Getenv("OCTO_DEBUG") != "" {
-		handlerOpts.Level = slog.LevelDebug
-	}
-	return slog.New(slog.NewTextHandler(fptr, &handlerOpts)), nil
+	return build(fptr), nil
 }