diff --git a/macos/Permissions.mm b/macos/Permissions.mm
index d2576b6..5b63799 100644
--- a/macos/Permissions.mm
+++ b/macos/Permissions.mm
@@ -49,30 +49,38 @@ void Permissions::openAccessibilitySettings() {
 
 bool Permissions::checkFullDiskAccess() {
     // There's no official API to check Full Disk Access.
-    // We try to read a protected file that requires FDA permission.
-    // Safari bookmarks is a commonly used test file.
+    // Try to actually read a protected file that requires FDA.
 
-    NSArray* testPaths = @[
-        [NSHomeDirectory() stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"Library/Safari/Bookmarks.plist"],
-        [NSHomeDirectory() stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"Library/Safari/CloudTabs.db"],
-        @"/Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCC/TCC.db",
-        [NSHomeDirectory() stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCC/TCC.db"]
-    ];
+    NSString* testPath = [NSHomeDirectory() stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"Library/Safari/Bookmarks.plist"];
 
     NSFileManager* fm = [NSFileManager defaultManager];
-    for (NSString* path in testPaths) {
-        if ([fm fileExistsAtPath:path]) {
-            // File exists, try to read it
-            if ([fm isReadableFileAtPath:path]) {
-                return true;  // Can read protected file = FDA granted
-            } else {
-                return false; // File exists but can't read = FDA not granted
-            }
+    if ([fm fileExistsAtPath:testPath]) {
+        // Try to actually read the file (more reliable than isReadableFileAtPath)
+        NSData* data = [NSData dataWithContentsOfFile:testPath];
+        if (data != nil) {
+            NSLog(@"FDA check: OK (can read Safari bookmarks)");
+            return true;
+        } else {
+            NSLog(@"FDA check: FAILED (Safari bookmarks exists but unreadable)");
+            return false;
         }
     }
 
-    // If none of the test files exist, assume FDA is granted
-    // (edge case: fresh system without Safari history)
+    // Safari bookmarks doesn't exist, try TCC database
+    testPath = @"/Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCC/TCC.db";
+    if ([fm fileExistsAtPath:testPath]) {
+        NSData* data = [NSData dataWithContentsOfFile:testPath];
+        if (data != nil) {
+            NSLog(@"FDA check: OK (can read TCC.db)");
+            return true;
+        } else {
+            NSLog(@"FDA check: FAILED (TCC.db exists but unreadable)");
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+
+    // No test files exist, assume OK
+    NSLog(@"FDA check: SKIPPED (no test files found)");
     return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/macos/main.mm b/macos/main.mm
index 62e8253..e722f9e 100644
--- a/macos/main.mm
+++ b/macos/main.mm
@@ -496,10 +496,11 @@ int main(int argc, const char* argv[])
             Permissions::requestAccessibility();
         }
 
+        // FDA check is unreliable (no official API), just log a warning
         if (!Permissions::checkFullDiskAccess()) {
-            NSLog(@"Full Disk Access permission not granted.");
-            NSLog(@"Please grant permission in System Preferences > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access");
-            Permissions::openFullDiskAccessSettings();
+            NSLog(@"Full Disk Access: not detected (may be false negative).");
+            NSLog(@"If file access issues occur, grant FDA in System Preferences > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access");
+            // Don't auto-open settings since detection is unreliable
         }
 
         // Create client