diff --git a/init.example.el b/init.example.el
index b0887dcb5..52f037831 100644
--- a/init.example.el
+++ b/init.example.el
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@
        services          ; TODO managing external services & code builders
        snippets          ; my elves. They type so I don't have to
        spellcheck        ; tasing you for misspelling mispelling
-       syntax-checker    ; tasing you for every semicolon you forget
+       (syntax-checker   ; tasing you for every semicolon you forget
+        +childframe)     ; use childframes for error popups (Emacs 26+ only)
        version-control   ; remember, remember that commit in November
        workspaces        ; tab emulation, persistence & separate workspaces
 
diff --git a/modules/feature/syntax-checker/autoload.el b/modules/feature/syntax-checker/autoload.el
index 6a2d310ae..2265061f9 100644
--- a/modules/feature/syntax-checker/autoload.el
+++ b/modules/feature/syntax-checker/autoload.el
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@
 
 (defun +syntax-checker-show-popup (errors)
   "TODO"
-  (if (and EMACS26+ (display-graphic-p))
+  (if (and EMACS26+
+           (featurep! +childframe)
+           (display-graphic-p))
       (flycheck-posframe-show-posframe errors)
     (flycheck-popup-tip-show-popup errors)))
 
@@ -16,6 +18,9 @@
   "TODO"
   :lighter nil
   :group 'doom
+  (if (featurep! +childframe)
+      (require 'flycheck-posframe)
+    (require 'flycheck-popup-tip))
   (let ((hooks '(post-command-hook focus-out-hook)))
     (cond
      ;; Use our display function and remember the old one but only if we haven't
diff --git a/modules/feature/syntax-checker/config.el b/modules/feature/syntax-checker/config.el
index a0e14074e..29048618e 100644
--- a/modules/feature/syntax-checker/config.el
+++ b/modules/feature/syntax-checker/config.el
@@ -34,4 +34,9 @@
 
 (def-package! flycheck-posframe
   :when EMACS26+
-  :commands flycheck-posframe-show-posframe)
+  :when (featurep! +childframe)
+  :commands flycheck-posframe-show-posframe
+  :config
+  (setq flycheck-posframe-warning-prefix "⚠ "
+        flycheck-posframe-info-prefix "··· "
+        flycheck-posframe-error-prefix "✕ "))
diff --git a/modules/feature/syntax-checker/packages.el b/modules/feature/syntax-checker/packages.el
index d80746c82..f7144267c 100644
--- a/modules/feature/syntax-checker/packages.el
+++ b/modules/feature/syntax-checker/packages.el
@@ -3,5 +3,5 @@
 
 (package! flycheck)
 (package! flycheck-popup-tip)
-(when EMACS26+
+(when (and EMACS26+ (featurep! +childframe))
   (package! flycheck-posframe))