diff --git a/Modules/Launcher/Plugins/ApplicationsPlugin.qml b/Modules/Launcher/Plugins/ApplicationsPlugin.qml
index 9fb8cba9..043bc52b 100644
--- a/Modules/Launcher/Plugins/ApplicationsPlugin.qml
+++ b/Modules/Launcher/Plugins/ApplicationsPlugin.qml
@@ -203,15 +203,22 @@ Item {
         if (Settings.data.appLauncher.sortByMostUsed)
           recordUsage(app)
         if (Settings.data.appLauncher.customLaunchPrefixEnabled && Settings.data.appLauncher.customLaunchPrefix) {
+          // Use custom launch prefix
           const prefix = Settings.data.appLauncher.customLaunchPrefix.split(" ")
 
           if (app.runInTerminal) {
-            const command = prefix.concat([app.id + ".desktop"])
-            Logger.d("ApplicationsPlugin", "Launching via custom prefix (with desktop id): " + command.join(" "))
+            // For terminal apps, use the app command directly
+            const command = prefix.concat(app.command)
+            Quickshell.execDetached(command)
+          } else if (app.id) {
+            // For GUI apps, try to use the app name/executable name instead of desktop file
+            // This works better with commands like "niri msg action spawn --"
+            const appName = app.executableName || app.name.toLowerCase().replace(/\s+/g, '-')
+            const command = prefix.concat([appName])
             Quickshell.execDetached(command)
           } else {
+            // Fallback to direct command execution
             const command = prefix.concat(app.command)
-            Logger.d("ApplicationsPlugin", "Launching via custom prefix (with command): " + command.join(" "))
             Quickshell.execDetached(command)
           }
         } else if (Settings.data.appLauncher.useApp2Unit && app.id) {