diff --git a/gitk b/gitk
index 6e4d71d585..cc2eab454c 100755
--- a/gitk
+++ b/gitk
@@ -12460,11 +12460,13 @@ namespace import ::msgcat::mc
 
 # on OSX bring the current Wish process window to front
 if {[tk windowingsystem] eq "aqua"} {
-    safe_exec [list osascript -e [format {
-        tell application "System Events"
-            set frontmost of processes whose unix id is %d to true
-        end tell
-    } [pid] ]]
+    catch {
+        safe_exec [list osascript -e [format {
+            tell application "System Events"
+                set frontmost of processes whose unix id is %d to true
+            end tell
+        } [pid] ]]
+    }
 }
 
 # Unset GIT_TRACE var if set