diff --git a/core/cmd/dms/commands_doctor.go b/core/cmd/dms/commands_doctor.go
index 206a8597..7a792136 100644
--- a/core/cmd/dms/commands_doctor.go
+++ b/core/cmd/dms/commands_doctor.go
@@ -557,6 +557,8 @@ func detectRunningWM() string {
 		return "Hyprland"
 	case os.Getenv("NIRI_SOCKET") != "":
 		return "niri"
+	case os.Getenv("MANGO_INSTANCE_SIGNATURE") != "":
+		return "MangoWC"
 	case os.Getenv("MIRACLESOCK") != "":
 		return "Miracle WM"
 	case os.Getenv("XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP") != "":
diff --git a/core/internal/matugen/matugen.go b/core/internal/matugen/matugen.go
index bdf84673..245eb1b2 100644
--- a/core/internal/matugen/matugen.go
+++ b/core/internal/matugen/matugen.go
@@ -47,13 +47,14 @@ type TemplateDef struct {
 	ConfigFile         string
 	Kind               TemplateKind
 	RunUnconditionally bool
+	RequiredEnv        string
 }
 
 var templateRegistry = []TemplateDef{
 	{ID: "gtk", Kind: TemplateKindGTK, RunUnconditionally: true},
 	{ID: "niri", Commands: []string{"niri"}, ConfigFile: "niri.toml"},
 	{ID: "hyprland", Commands: []string{"Hyprland"}, ConfigFile: "hyprland.toml"},
-	{ID: "mangowc", Commands: []string{"mango"}, ConfigFile: "mangowc.toml"},
+	{ID: "mangowc", Commands: []string{"mango"}, ConfigFile: "mangowc.toml", RequiredEnv: "MANGO_INSTANCE_SIGNATURE"},
 	{ID: "qt5ct", Commands: []string{"qt5ct"}, ConfigFile: "qt5ct.toml"},
 	{ID: "qt6ct", Commands: []string{"qt6ct"}, ConfigFile: "qt6ct.toml"},
 	{ID: "firefox", Commands: []string{"firefox"}, ConfigFile: "firefox.toml"},
@@ -356,6 +357,9 @@ output_path = '%s'
 		if opts.ShouldSkipTemplate(tmpl.ID) {
 			continue
 		}
+		if !templateSessionActive(tmpl) {
+			continue
+		}
 
 		switch tmpl.Kind {
 		case TemplateKindGTK:
@@ -489,6 +493,18 @@ func appendTerminalConfig(opts *Options, cfgFile *os.File, tmpDir string, checkC
 	cfgFile.WriteString("\n")
 }
 
+func templateSessionActive(tmpl TemplateDef) bool {
+	if tmpl.RequiredEnv == "" {
+		return true
+	}
+	socket := os.Getenv(tmpl.RequiredEnv)
+	if socket == "" {
+		return false
+	}
+	_, err := os.Stat(socket)
+	return err == nil
+}
+
 func appExists(checker utils.AppChecker, checkCmd []string, checkFlatpaks []string) bool {
 	// Both nil is treated as "skip check" / unconditionally run
 	if checkCmd == nil && checkFlatpaks == nil {
@@ -951,7 +967,7 @@ func CheckTemplates(checker utils.AppChecker) []TemplateCheck {
 		case tmpl.Kind == TemplateKindEmacs:
 			detected = appExists(checker, tmpl.Commands, tmpl.Flatpaks) && utils.EmacsConfigDir() != ""
 		default:
-			detected = appExists(checker, tmpl.Commands, tmpl.Flatpaks)
+			detected = appExists(checker, tmpl.Commands, tmpl.Flatpaks) && templateSessionActive(tmpl)
 		}
 
 		checks = append(checks, TemplateCheck{ID: tmpl.ID, Detected: detected})
diff --git a/core/internal/matugen/matugen_test.go b/core/internal/matugen/matugen_test.go
index 48880df2..a42638a9 100644
--- a/core/internal/matugen/matugen_test.go
+++ b/core/internal/matugen/matugen_test.go
@@ -441,3 +441,49 @@ func TestBuildMergedConfigColorsOnly(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NotContains(t, content, "[templates.gtk]")
 	assert.False(t, strings.Contains(content, "output_path = 'CONFIG_DIR/"), "colors-only config should not emit app template outputs")
 }
+
+func TestBuildMergedConfigSkipsMangowcWithoutActiveSession(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("MANGO_INSTANCE_SIGNATURE", "")
+
+	tempDir := t.TempDir()
+	shellDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "shell")
+	configsDir := filepath.Join(shellDir, "matugen", "configs")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(configsDir, 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to create configs dir: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(configsDir, "base.toml"), []byte("[config]\n"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to write base config: %v", err)
+	}
+	mangowcConfig := "[templates.dmsmango]\ninput_path = 'in'\noutput_path = 'out'\n"
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(configsDir, "mangowc.toml"), []byte(mangowcConfig), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to write mangowc config: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	cfgFile, err := os.CreateTemp(tempDir, "merged-*.toml")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to create temp config: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer os.Remove(cfgFile.Name())
+	defer cfgFile.Close()
+
+	opts := &Options{
+		ShellDir:      shellDir,
+		ConfigDir:     filepath.Join(tempDir, "config"),
+		StateDir:      filepath.Join(tempDir, "state"),
+		SkipTemplates: "gtk,niri,hyprland,qt5ct,qt6ct,firefox,pywalfox,zenbrowser,vesktop,vencord,equibop,ghostty,kitty,foot,alacritty,wezterm,nvim,dgop,kcolorscheme,vscode,emacs,zed",
+	}
+
+	if err := buildMergedConfig(opts, cfgFile, filepath.Join(tempDir, "templates")); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("buildMergedConfig failed: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := cfgFile.Close(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to close merged config: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	output, err := os.ReadFile(cfgFile.Name())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to read merged config: %v", err)
+	}
+	assert.NotContains(t, string(output), "[templates.dmsmango]")
+}
diff --git a/quickshell/Common/SettingsData.qml b/quickshell/Common/SettingsData.qml
index 356ded1b..e7d97a2b 100644
--- a/quickshell/Common/SettingsData.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Common/SettingsData.qml
@@ -1372,7 +1372,14 @@ Singleton {
         }
     }
 
+    function cosmicIntegrationAvailable() {
+        const desktop = (Quickshell.env("XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP") || "").toUpperCase();
+        return desktop.includes("COSMIC");
+    }
+
     function updateCosmicIconTheme() {
+        if (!cosmicIntegrationAvailable())
+            return;
         const resolved = resolveIconTheme();
         let cosmicThemeName = (resolved === "System Default") ? systemDefaultIconTheme : resolved;
         if (!cosmicThemeName || cosmicThemeName === "System Default") {
@@ -1403,6 +1410,8 @@ Singleton {
     }
 
     function updateCosmicThemeMode(isLightMode) {
+        if (!cosmicIntegrationAvailable())
+            return;
         const isDark = isLightMode ? "false" : "true";
         const script = `mkdir -p ${_configDir}/cosmic/com.system76.CosmicTheme.Mode/v1
         printf '%s\\n' ${isDark} > ${_configDir}/cosmic/com.system76.CosmicTheme.Mode/v1/is_dark 2>/dev/null || true`;
diff --git a/quickshell/Services/MangoService.qml b/quickshell/Services/MangoService.qml
index 795ab00b..f8303df2 100644
--- a/quickshell/Services/MangoService.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Services/MangoService.qml
@@ -414,6 +414,8 @@ Singleton {
     }
 
     function reloadConfig(showToast, suppressWatch) {
+        if (!CompositorService.isMango || !root.available)
+            return;
         const shouldShowToast = showToast !== false;
         const shouldSuppressWatch = suppressWatch !== false;
         if (shouldSuppressWatch)
diff --git a/quickshell/matugen/configs/mangowc.toml b/quickshell/matugen/configs/mangowc.toml
index fd51da21..1bb41591 100644
--- a/quickshell/matugen/configs/mangowc.toml
+++ b/quickshell/matugen/configs/mangowc.toml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 [templates.dmsmango]
 input_path = 'SHELL_DIR/matugen/templates/mango-colors.conf'
 output_path = 'CONFIG_DIR/mango/dms/colors.conf'
-post_hook = 'sh -c "mmsg dispatch reload_config 2>&1 || true"'
+post_hook = 'sh -c "[ -n \"$MANGO_INSTANCE_SIGNATURE\" ] && mmsg dispatch reload_config || true"'