diff --git a/internal/syncbranch/worktree.go b/internal/syncbranch/worktree.go
index 7c65ce44..379829d8 100644
--- a/internal/syncbranch/worktree.go
+++ b/internal/syncbranch/worktree.go
@@ -726,7 +726,9 @@ func commitInWorktree(ctx context.Context, worktreePath, jsonlRelPath, message s
 	// Stage the entire .beads directory
 	beadsRelDir := filepath.Dir(jsonlRelPath)
 
-	addCmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "git", "-C", worktreePath, "add", beadsRelDir)
+	// Use -f (force) to add files even if they're gitignored
+	// In contributor mode, .beads/ is excluded in .git/info/exclude but needs to be tracked in sync branch
+	addCmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "git", "-C", worktreePath, "add", "-f", beadsRelDir)
 	if err := addCmd.Run(); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("git add failed in worktree: %w", err)
 	}