diff --git a/src/cli.ts b/src/cli.ts
index 1092089..0f6b389 100755
--- a/src/cli.ts
+++ b/src/cli.ts
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ program
     if (!branch && opts.print) {
       branch = branchFromPrompt(opts.print)
     } else if (!branch) {
-      console.error("Branch name or prompt is required.")
+      console.error("✖ Branch name or prompt is required.")
       process.exit(1)
     } else if (branch.includes(" ")) {
       // If the "branch" contains spaces, it's actually a prompt — derive the branch name
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ program
 
     const existing = await state.getSession(root, branch)
     if (existing) {
-      console.error(`Session "${branch}" already exists. Use "sandlot open ${branch}" to re-enter it.`)
+      console.error(`✖ Session "${branch}" already exists. Use "sandlot open ${branch}" to re-enter it.`)
       process.exit(1)
     }
 
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ program
     }
 
     if (sessions.length === 0) {
-      console.log("No active sessions.")
+      console.log("◆ No active sessions.")
       return
     }
 
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ program
     const session = await state.getSession(root, branch)
 
     if (!session) {
-      console.error(`No session found for branch "${branch}".`)
+      console.error(`✖ No session found for branch "${branch}".`)
       process.exit(1)
     }
 
@@ -234,19 +234,19 @@ const closeAction = async (branch: string) => {
   const worktreeAbs = session?.worktree ?? join(homedir(), '.sandlot', basename(root), branch)
 
   await git.removeWorktree(worktreeAbs, root)
-    .catch((e) => console.warn(`Failed to remove worktree: ${e.message}`))
+    .catch((e) => console.warn(`⚠ Failed to remove worktree: ${e.message}`))
 
   await unlink(join(root, '.sandlot', branch))
     .catch(() => {}) // symlink may not exist
 
   await git.deleteLocalBranch(branch, root)
-    .catch((e) => console.warn(`Failed to delete branch ${branch}: ${e.message}`))
+    .catch((e) => console.warn(`⚠ Failed to delete branch ${branch}: ${e.message}`))
 
   if (session) {
     await state.removeSession(root, branch)
   }
 
-  console.log(`Closed session ${branch}`)
+  console.log(`✔ Closed session ${branch}`)
 }
 
 // ── sandlot merge <branch> ──────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -261,13 +261,13 @@ program
     const conflicts = await git.merge(branch, root)
 
     if (conflicts.length === 0) {
-      console.log(`Merged ${branch} into current branch`)
+      console.log(`✔ Merged ${branch} into current branch`)
       await closeAction(branch)
       return
     }
 
     // Resolve conflicts with Claude
-    console.log(`Merge conflicts in ${conflicts.length} file(s). Resolving with Claude...`)
+    console.log(`◆ Merge conflicts in ${conflicts.length} file(s). Resolving with Claude...`)
     const spin = spinner("Starting container")
 
     try {
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ program
     const root = await git.repoRoot()
     const session = await state.getSession(root, branch)
     if (!session) {
-      console.error(`No session found for branch "${branch}".`)
+      console.error(`✖ No session found for branch "${branch}".`)
       process.exit(1)
     }
 
@@ -346,14 +346,14 @@ program
     const root = await git.repoRoot()
     const session = await state.getSession(root, branch)
     if (!session) {
-      console.error(`No session found for branch "${branch}".`)
+      console.error(`✖ No session found for branch "${branch}".`)
       process.exit(1)
     }
 
     // Check for uncommitted changes (staged + unstaged)
     const status = await $`git -C ${session.worktree} status --porcelain`.nothrow().quiet()
     if (status.exitCode !== 0) {
-      console.error("git status failed")
+      console.error("✖ git status failed")
       process.exit(1)
     }
 
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ program
       const main = await git.mainBranch(root)
       const result = await $`git -C ${session.worktree} diff --color=always ${main}...${branch}`.nothrow().quiet()
       if (result.exitCode !== 0) {
-        console.error("git diff failed")
+        console.error("✖ git diff failed")
         process.exit(1)
       }
       diff = result.text()
@@ -401,13 +401,13 @@ program
     const root = await git.repoRoot()
     const session = await state.getSession(root, branch)
     if (!session) {
-      console.error(`No session found for branch "${branch}".`)
+      console.error(`✖ No session found for branch "${branch}".`)
       process.exit(1)
     }
 
     const result = await $`git -C ${session.worktree} log main..HEAD`.nothrow()
     if (result.exitCode !== 0) {
-      console.error("git log failed")
+      console.error("✖ git log failed")
       process.exit(1)
     }
   })
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ program
     const root = await git.repoRoot()
     const session = await state.getSession(root, branch)
     if (!session) {
-      console.error(`No session found for branch "${branch}".`)
+      console.error(`✖ No session found for branch "${branch}".`)
       process.exit(1)
     }
 
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ vmCmd
   .description("Stop the VM")
   .action(async () => {
     await vm.stop()
-    console.log("VM stopped")
+    console.log("✔ VM stopped")
   })
 
 vmCmd
@@ -470,10 +470,10 @@ vmCmd
   .description("Stop and delete the VM")
   .action(async () => {
     await vm.destroy()
-    console.log("VM destroyed")
+    console.log("✔ VM destroyed")
   })
 
 program.parseAsync().catch((err) => {
-  console.error(err.message ?? err)
+  console.error(`✖ ${err.message ?? err}`)
   process.exit(1)
 })
diff --git a/src/vm.ts b/src/vm.ts
index 1a62ca0..76f63b3 100644
--- a/src/vm.ts
+++ b/src/vm.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ function containerPath(hostPath: string): string {
 
 function requireContainer(): void {
   if (!Bun.which("container")) {
-    console.error('Apple Container is not installed. Install it with: brew install container')
+    console.error('✖ Apple Container is not installed. Install it with: brew install container')
     process.exit(1)
   }
 }