diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/shell.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/shell.rs
index 7bfec089c5..1fb2b97dd7 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/shell.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/shell.rs
@@ -204,10 +204,21 @@ pub async fn default_user_shell() -> Shell {
     if cfg!(windows) {
         get_shell(ShellType::PowerShell, None).unwrap_or(Shell::Unknown)
     } else {
-        get_user_shell_path()
+        let user_default_shell = get_user_shell_path()
             .and_then(|shell| detect_shell_type(&shell))
-            .and_then(|shell_type| get_shell(shell_type, None))
-            .unwrap_or(Shell::Unknown)
+            .and_then(|shell_type| get_shell(shell_type, None));
+
+        let shell_with_fallback = if cfg!(target_os = "macos") {
+            user_default_shell
+                .or_else(|| get_shell(ShellType::Zsh, None))
+                .or_else(|| get_shell(ShellType::Bash, None))
+        } else {
+            user_default_shell
+                .or_else(|| get_shell(ShellType::Bash, None))
+                .or_else(|| get_shell(ShellType::Zsh, None))
+        };
+
+        shell_with_fallback.unwrap_or(Shell::Unknown)
     }
 }