diff --git a/app/src/TopBar.tsx b/app/src/TopBar.tsx
index fbff10c..7424233 100644
--- a/app/src/TopBar.tsx
+++ b/app/src/TopBar.tsx
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ export function TopBar({
               borderRadius: 7, background: COLORS.stError, color: "#fff",
               fontFamily: FONT.ui, fontSize: 9, fontWeight: 700,
               display: "flex", alignItems: "center", justifyContent: "center", boxSizing: "border-box",
+              pointerEvents: "none", // let clicks/hover pass through to the bell button beneath
             }}>
               {unread > 99 ? "99+" : unread}
             </span>