diff --git a/crates/k-launcher/src/client.rs b/crates/k-launcher/src/client.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5975aef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/k-launcher/src/client.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+use std::io::Write;
+
+pub fn send_show() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
+    let runtime_dir = std::env::var("XDG_RUNTIME_DIR")
+        .unwrap_or_else(|_| "/run/user/1000".to_string());
+    let socket_path = format!("{runtime_dir}/k-launcher.sock");
+    let mut stream = std::os::unix::net::UnixStream::connect(&socket_path)?;
+    stream.write_all(b"show\n")?;
+    Ok(())
+}
diff --git a/crates/k-launcher/src/main.rs b/crates/k-launcher/src/main.rs
index d15b04e..107b57b 100644
--- a/crates/k-launcher/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/k-launcher/src/main.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+mod client;
+
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
 use k_launcher_kernel::Kernel;
@@ -10,8 +12,25 @@ use plugin_calc::CalcPlugin;
 use plugin_cmd::CmdPlugin;
 use plugin_files::FilesPlugin;
 
-fn main() -> iced::Result {
+fn main() {
     tracing_subscriber::fmt::init();
+
+    let args: Vec<String> = std::env::args().collect();
+    if args.get(1).map(|s| s.as_str()) == Some("show") {
+        if let Err(e) = client::send_show() {
+            eprintln!("error: failed to send show command: {e}");
+            std::process::exit(1);
+        }
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if let Err(e) = run_ui() {
+        eprintln!("error: UI: {e}");
+        std::process::exit(1);
+    }
+}
+
+fn run_ui() -> iced::Result {
     let cfg = k_launcher_config::load();
     let launcher = Arc::new(UnixAppLauncher::new());
     let frecency = FrecencyStore::load();
diff --git a/packaging/systemd/k-launcher.service b/packaging/systemd/k-launcher.service
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2731b69
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packaging/systemd/k-launcher.service
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=k-launcher command palette daemon
+After=graphical-session.target
+
+[Service]
+Type=simple
+ExecStart=/usr/bin/k-launcher
+Restart=on-failure
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=graphical-session.target
diff --git a/packaging/systemd/k-launcher.socket b/packaging/systemd/k-launcher.socket
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..adace73
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packaging/systemd/k-launcher.socket
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=k-launcher IPC socket
+
+[Socket]
+ListenStream=%t/k-launcher.sock
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=sockets.target