diff --git a/desktop-client/tunnel-helper/src/main.rs b/desktop-client/tunnel-helper/src/main.rs
index 909a9bf..c9ffaa8 100644
--- a/desktop-client/tunnel-helper/src/main.rs
+++ b/desktop-client/tunnel-helper/src/main.rs
@@ -540,6 +540,7 @@ fn connect_direct(profile: &Path) -> Result<(), String> {
         if !status.success() {
             return Err(format!("macOS tunnel connect failed with status {status}"));
         }
+        wait_for_macos_tunnel_running(profile)?;
         return Ok(());
     }
 
@@ -704,6 +705,18 @@ fn tunnel_name(profile: &Path) -> Result<&str, String> {
         .ok_or_else(|| "invalid profile filename".to_string())
 }
 
+#[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+fn wait_for_macos_tunnel_running(profile: &Path) -> Result<(), String> {
+    for _ in 0..12 {
+        if tunnel_service_is_active(profile)? {
+            return Ok(());
+        }
+        std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(500));
+    }
+
+    Err("Tunnel was installed, but no active interface could be verified yet.".into())
+}
+
 fn read_transfer_totals(profile: &Path) -> Result<(u64, u64), String> {
     let tunnel_name = tunnel_name(profile)?;
     let mut command = Command::new(find_wg_cli()?);