diff --git a/Sources/DualCameraKit/DualCameraError.swift b/Sources/DualCameraKit/DualCameraError.swift
index be8c519..ee57227 100644
--- a/Sources/DualCameraKit/DualCameraError.swift
+++ b/Sources/DualCameraKit/DualCameraError.swift
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ public enum DualCameraError: Error, Equatable {
         case .notImplemented:
             return "This feature is not yet implemented."
         case .permissionDenied:
-            return "Camera permission was denied by the user."
+            return "Camera permission was denied – if you want to record please try again and accept the ReplayKit permission prompt."
         case .recordingFailed(let reason):
             switch reason {
             case .assetWriterConfigurationFailed:
diff --git a/Sources/DualCameraKit/Screen/DualCameraViewModel.swift b/Sources/DualCameraKit/Screen/DualCameraViewModel.swift
index bb73d11..1838b1a 100644
--- a/Sources/DualCameraKit/Screen/DualCameraViewModel.swift
+++ b/Sources/DualCameraKit/Screen/DualCameraViewModel.swift
@@ -103,6 +103,8 @@ public final class DualCameraViewModel {
             viewState = .capturing
             
             do {
+                // allow for ui updates based on viewState changing
+                // (e.g., hiding buttons for screenshot-based approach)
                 try await Task.sleep(for: .seconds(0.25))
                 let image = try await controller.captureCurrentScreen()
                 viewState = .ready
diff --git a/Sources/DualCameraKit/VideoRecording/DualCameraReplayKitVideoRecorder.swift b/Sources/DualCameraKit/VideoRecording/DualCameraReplayKitVideoRecorder.swift
index 79c1ed4..022c228 100644
--- a/Sources/DualCameraKit/VideoRecording/DualCameraReplayKitVideoRecorder.swift
+++ b/Sources/DualCameraKit/VideoRecording/DualCameraReplayKitVideoRecorder.swift
@@ -40,9 +40,23 @@ public actor DualCameraReplayKitVideoRecorder: DualCameraVideoRecording {
         
         let outputURL = configure(outputURL: config.outputURL)
         
-        recorder.startRecording()
-        state = .active(outputURL: outputURL)
-        DualCameraLogger.session.debug("📹 Screen recording started with ReplayKit")
+        try await withCheckedThrowingContinuation { (continuation: CheckedContinuation<Void, Error>) in
+            recorder.startRecording { error in
+                if let error = error {
+
+                    if let nsError = error as? NSError, nsError.domain == RPRecordingErrorDomain {
+                        continuation.resume(throwing: DualCameraError.permissionDenied)
+                    } else {
+                        continuation.resume(throwing: error)
+                    }
+                    return
+                }
+
+                self.state = .active(outputURL: outputURL)
+                DualCameraLogger.session.debug("📱Screen recording started with ReplayKit")
+                continuation.resume()
+            }
+        }
     }
     
     /// Stops an ongoing video recording and returns the URL of the recorded file