Software⏱️ 4 min read📅 2026-06-15

How to Fix: Using notify-send in a tmux session shows error, no notification

Fix notify-send issues in tmux sessions with this solution.

Quick Answer: Try running your script as a separate process using "notify-send -u critical test" to bypass tmux's IPC issues.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. ⚠️ Common Causes
  2. 🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes
  3. ✨ Wrapping Up

The error 'notify-send:26902': GLib-GObject-CRITICAL **: g_object_unref: assertion `G_IS_OBJECT (object)' failed' occurs when using notify-send in a tmux session, causing notifications to fail. This issue affects users who rely on notify-send for on-screen notifications within their tmux sessions.

This problem is frustrating because it requires the user to recreate a new tmux session every time they encounter the error, negating the benefits of using tmux. Fortunately, there are workarounds that can restore the functionality of notify-send without losing an existing tmux session.

⚠️ Common Causes

  • The issue is likely caused by the way notify-send interacts with the tmux session. When a user detaches from a tmux session and re-attaches later, the IPC paths between the terminal and tmux are disrupted, leading to the failure of notify-send. This disruption occurs because the terminal and tmux processes do not maintain a persistent connection after detachment.
  • Another possible cause is related to the way tmux handles window IDs and object references. When a user detaches from a tmux session, the window ID and object references are lost, causing notify-send to fail when it tries to access them.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes

Restoring IPC Paths

  1. Step 1: To resolve this issue, try running the following command in your terminal before re-attaching to the tmux session: `tmux attach-session -t -d` This will detach from the specified tmux session and then re-attach it, restoring the IPC paths between the terminal and tmux.
  2. Step 2: Alternatively, you can try running `tmux send-keys 'Ctrl+A'-'d'` in your terminal before using notify-send. This will detach from the current tmux session and then re-attach to it, allowing notify-send to function correctly.
  3. Step 3: Finally, you can also try modifying your tmux configuration file (usually located at `~/.tmux.conf`) by adding the following line: `set-option 'window-status-style', 'fg:#0000'` This will set the foreground color of the window status bar to black, which may help improve the IPC paths between the terminal and tmux.

Alternative Fix

  1. Step 1: If none of the above methods work, you can try using an alternative notification tool such as `xdg-desktop-menu` or `dmenu`. These tools can be used to create custom notifications that do not rely on the IPC paths between the terminal and tmux.
  2. Step 2: To use `xdg-desktop-menu`, run the following command in your terminal: `xdg-desktop-menu install --novendor notify-send` This will install the `notify-send` package with the necessary dependencies for using it with `xdg-desktop-menu`. You can then use `xdg-desktop-menu` to create custom notifications.

✨ Wrapping Up

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issue with notify-send in your tmux session. Remember to always keep your terminal and tmux sessions up-to-date, as this will help ensure that any security patches or bug fixes are applied. If you continue to encounter issues, consider reaching out to the tmux community for further assistance.

Did this fix your problem?

If not, try searching for specific error codes.

🔍 Search Error Database

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

🛠️ Related Fixes

How to Fix: Pc crashes shortly after launching game (rainbow

Fix Pc crashes shortly after launching game (rainbow six siege). Compl

How to Fix: Installing an APK on a locked down phone

Installing an APK on a locked down phone: Try using a rooted device, e

How to Fix: New PC build- no signal and no clue

Fix New PC build- no signal and no clue. Complete troubleshooting guid