diff --git a/runtime/doc/news.txt b/runtime/doc/news.txt
index 447e607436..b1f0e6038a 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/news.txt
+++ b/runtime/doc/news.txt
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ UI
 
 • todo
 • `vim.ui.img` experimental module added to display images within neovim.
+• `:checkhealth vim.ui.img` reports terminal graphics protocol support.
 
 VIMSCRIPT
 
diff --git a/runtime/lua/vim/tty.lua b/runtime/lua/vim/tty.lua
index 937fee1024..6f624309dd 100644
--- a/runtime/lua/vim/tty.lua
+++ b/runtime/lua/vim/tty.lua
@@ -91,4 +91,52 @@ function M.query(caps, cb)
   end)
 end
 
+--- Send an APC sequence to the terminal and call {cb} for each APC response received.
+--- Cleans up after {timeout} milliseconds if no response is received.
+---
+--- {cb} receives the full APC sequence including the `\027_` prefix.
+--- Return `true` from {cb} to stop listening.
+---
+---@param payload string APC sequence to send (full escape sequence including prefix/suffix)
+---@param opts {timeout?:integer} Options table (timeout in milliseconds, default 1000)
+---@param cb fun(resp:string):boolean? Callback invoked for each APC TermResponse
+---@overload fun(payload:string, cb:fun(resp:string):boolean?)
+function M.query_apc(payload, opts, cb)
+  if type(opts) == 'function' then
+    cb = opts
+    opts = {}
+  end
+
+  vim.validate('payload', payload, 'string')
+  vim.validate('opts', opts, 'table')
+  vim.validate('cb', cb, 'function')
+
+  local timeout = opts and opts.timeout or 1000
+  local timer = assert(vim.uv.new_timer())
+
+  local id = vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd('TermResponse', {
+    nested = true,
+    callback = function(ev)
+      local resp = ev.data.sequence ---@type string
+      if resp:match('^\027_') then
+        if not timer:is_closing() then
+          timer:close()
+        end
+        return cb(resp)
+      end
+    end,
+  })
+
+  vim.api.nvim_ui_send(payload)
+
+  timer:start(timeout, 0, function()
+    vim.schedule(function()
+      pcall(vim.api.nvim_del_autocmd, id)
+    end)
+    if not timer:is_closing() then
+      timer:close()
+    end
+  end)
+end
+
 return M
diff --git a/runtime/lua/vim/ui/img.lua b/runtime/lua/vim/ui/img.lua
index 64e905e75b..23161f5bf9 100644
--- a/runtime/lua/vim/ui/img.lua
+++ b/runtime/lua/vim/ui/img.lua
@@ -113,6 +113,17 @@ function M.del(id)
   return true
 end
 
+---@private
+--- Query whether the host terminal supports displaying images.
+--- Blocks until the terminal responds or times out.
+---
+---@param opts? {timeout?: integer} timeout in milliseconds (default: 1000)
+---@return boolean supported true if the terminal supports image display
+---@return string? msg error detail if the terminal responded but not with OK
+function M._supported(opts)
+  return require('vim.ui.img._kitty').supported(opts)
+end
+
 vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd('VimLeavePre', {
   callback = function()
     ---@type integer[]
diff --git a/runtime/lua/vim/ui/img/_kitty.lua b/runtime/lua/vim/ui/img/_kitty.lua
index 7bdbf66c38..c779489c61 100644
--- a/runtime/lua/vim/ui/img/_kitty.lua
+++ b/runtime/lua/vim/ui/img/_kitty.lua
@@ -147,4 +147,50 @@ function M.delete(img_id)
   }))
 end
 
+--- Query whether this terminal supports the kitty graphics protocol.
+--- Blocks until the terminal responds or times out.
+---
+---@param opts? {timeout?: integer} timeout in milliseconds (default: 1000)
+---@return boolean supported
+---@return string? msg error detail if terminal responded but not with OK
+function M.supported(opts)
+  local timeout = opts and opts.timeout or 1000
+
+  -- Do not use APC on terminals that echo unknown sequences
+  if vim.env.TERM_PROGRAM == 'Apple_Terminal' then
+    return false
+  end
+
+  local query_id = generate_id()
+
+  ---@type boolean?
+  local result
+  ---@type string?
+  local msg
+
+  require('vim.tty').query_apc(
+    seq({ a = 'q', i = query_id, s = 1, v = 1 }),
+    { timeout = timeout },
+    function(resp)
+      -- kitty APC response: \027_G[<fields>,]i=<id>[,<fields>];<status>
+      -- status is "OK" or an error code+message like "ENODATA:Missing image data"
+      local id = resp:match('^\027_G[^;]*i=(%d+)')
+      local status = resp:match(';(.-)%s*$')
+      if id and tonumber(id) == query_id and status then
+        result = true
+        msg = status ~= 'OK' and status or nil
+        return true
+      end
+    end
+  )
+
+  -- Wait in a blocking fashion for the response, checking
+  -- at least every 200ms, or faster if the timeout is small
+  vim.wait(timeout + 100, function()
+    return result ~= nil
+  end, math.max(math.min(math.ceil(timeout / 10), 200), 1))
+
+  return result == true, msg
+end
+
 return M
diff --git a/runtime/lua/vim/ui/img/health.lua b/runtime/lua/vim/ui/img/health.lua
index 898ffa7d91..466e15953b 100644
--- a/runtime/lua/vim/ui/img/health.lua
+++ b/runtime/lua/vim/ui/img/health.lua
@@ -1,51 +1,23 @@
 local M = {}
 local health = vim.health
 
-local function system(cmd)
-  local result = vim.system(cmd, { text = true }):wait()
-  if not result then -- Workaround https://github.com/neovim/neovim/issues/37922
-    return false, 'command failed'
-  end
-  return result.code == 0, vim.trim(('%s\n%s'):format(result.stdout, result.stderr))
-end
-
-local function get_tmux_option(option)
-  local cmd = { 'tmux', 'show-option', '-qvg', option } -- try global scope
-  local ok, out = system(cmd)
-  local val = vim.fn.substitute(out, [[\v(\s|\r|\n)]], '', 'g')
-  if not ok then
-    health.error(('command failed: %s\n%s'):format(vim.inspect(cmd), out))
-    return 'error'
-  elseif val == '' then
-    cmd = { 'tmux', 'show-option', '-qvgs', option } -- try session scope
-    ok, out = system(cmd)
-    val = vim.fn.substitute(out, [[\v(\s|\r|\n)]], '', 'g')
-    if not ok then
-      health.error(('command failed: %s\n%s'):format(vim.inspect(cmd), out))
-      return 'error'
-    end
-  end
-  return val
-end
-
 function M.check()
   health.start('vim.ui.img')
 
-  if not vim.env.TMUX or vim.fn.executable('tmux') == 0 then
-    health.ok('no terminal multiplexer detected')
-    return
+  local supported, msg = require('vim.ui.img')._supported()
+
+  if supported then
+    if msg then
+      health.ok(('Graphics protocol: supported (%s)'):format(msg))
+    else
+      health.ok('Graphics protocol: supported')
+    end
+  else
+    health.error('Graphics protocol: not supported by this terminal.')
   end
 
-  local passthrough = get_tmux_option('allow-passthrough')
-  if passthrough ~= 'error' then
-    if passthrough == 'on' or passthrough == 'all' then
-      health.ok('allow-passthrough: ' .. passthrough)
-    else
-      health.error(
-        '`allow-passthrough` is not enabled. Images will not be displayed.',
-        { 'Add to ~/.tmux.conf:\nset-option -g allow-passthrough on' }
-      )
-    end
+  if vim.env.TMUX then
+    health.warn('tmux is detected. Images may not display correctly.')
   end
 end