diff --git a/src/prompt.copy.test.ts b/src/prompt.copy.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c711ab8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/prompt.copy.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+
+const test = (name: string, fn: () => void | Promise<void>) => {
+  Promise.resolve(fn()).then(() => {
+    console.log(`ok - ${name}`);
+  });
+};
+
+test('clipboard fallback keeps the original error message available to users', () => {
+  const message = 'Both xsel and fallback failed';
+  const output = `Clipboard unavailable. Copy the script manually.\n\n${message}`;
+
+  assert.equal(
+    output.includes('Clipboard unavailable. Copy the script manually.'),
+    true
+  );
+  assert.equal(output.includes(message), true);
+});
diff --git a/src/prompt.ts b/src/prompt.ts
index 145c07b3..fc26d73a 100644
--- a/src/prompt.ts
+++ b/src/prompt.ts
@@ -198,8 +198,18 @@ async function runOrReviseFlow(
         label: '📋 ' + i18n.t('Copy'),
         hint: i18n.t('Copy the generated script to your clipboard'),
         value: async () => {
-          await clipboardy.write(script);
-          p.outro(i18n.t('Copied to clipboard!'));
+          try {
+            await clipboardy.write(script);
+            p.outro(i18n.t('Copied to clipboard!'));
+          } catch (error) {
+            const message =
+              error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
+            p.outro(
+              `${i18n.t(
+                'Clipboard unavailable. Copy the script manually.'
+              )}\n\n${message}`
+            );
+          }
         },
       },
       {