diff --git a/cmd/bd/gate.go b/cmd/bd/gate.go
index 4ff25d72..7c1e6c53 100644
--- a/cmd/bd/gate.go
+++ b/cmd/bd/gate.go
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"database/sql"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
@@ -9,7 +11,12 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
+	_ "github.com/ncruces/go-sqlite3/driver"
+	_ "github.com/ncruces/go-sqlite3/embed"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/beads"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/configfile"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/routing"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/rpc"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/types"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/ui"
@@ -30,10 +37,15 @@ Gate types:
   timer   - Expires after timeout (Phase 2)
   gh:run  - Waits for GitHub workflow (Phase 3)
   gh:pr   - Waits for PR merge (Phase 3)
+  bead    - Waits for cross-rig bead to close (Phase 4)
+
+For bead gates, await_id format is <rig>:<bead-id> (e.g., "gastown:gt-abc123").
 
 Examples:
   bd gate list           # Show all open gates
   bd gate list --all     # Show all gates including closed
+  bd gate check          # Evaluate all open gates
+  bd gate check --type=bead  # Evaluate only bead gates
   bd gate resolve <id>   # Close a gate manually`,
 }
 
@@ -247,6 +259,7 @@ Gate types:
   gh:run   - Check GitHub Actions workflow runs
   gh:pr    - Check pull request merge status
   timer    - Check timer gates (auto-expire based on timeout)
+  bead     - Check cross-rig bead gates
   all      - Check all gate types
 
 GitHub gates use the 'gh' CLI to query status:
@@ -257,6 +270,7 @@ A gate is resolved when:
   - gh:run: status=completed AND conclusion=success
   - gh:pr: state=MERGED
   - timer: current time > created_at + timeout
+  - bead: target bead status=closed
 
 A gate is escalated when:
   - gh:run: status=completed AND conclusion in (failure, cancelled)
@@ -267,6 +281,7 @@ Examples:
   bd gate check --type=gh    # Check only GitHub gates
   bd gate check --type=gh:run # Check only workflow run gates
   bd gate check --type=timer # Check only timer gates
+  bd gate check --type=bead  # Check only cross-rig bead gates
   bd gate check --dry-run    # Show what would happen without changes
   bd gate check --escalate   # Escalate expired/failed gates`,
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
@@ -351,6 +366,8 @@ Examples:
 				result.resolved, result.escalated, result.reason, result.err = checkGHPR(gate)
 			case gate.AwaitType == "timer":
 				result.resolved, result.escalated, result.reason, result.err = checkTimer(gate, now)
+			case gate.AwaitType == "bead":
+				result.resolved, result.reason = checkBeadGate(ctx, gate.AwaitID)
 			default:
 				// Skip unsupported gate types (human gates need manual resolution)
 				continue
@@ -566,6 +583,68 @@ func checkTimer(gate *types.Issue, now time.Time) (resolved, escalated bool, rea
 	return false, false, fmt.Sprintf("expires in %s", remaining), nil
 }
 
+// checkBeadGate checks if a cross-rig bead gate is satisfied.
+// await_id format: <rig>:<bead-id> (e.g., "gastown:gt-abc123")
+// Returns (satisfied, reason).
+func checkBeadGate(ctx context.Context, awaitID string) (bool, string) {
+	// Parse await_id format: <rig>:<bead-id>
+	parts := strings.SplitN(awaitID, ":", 2)
+	if len(parts) != 2 {
+		return false, fmt.Sprintf("invalid await_id format: expected <rig>:<bead-id>, got %q", awaitID)
+	}
+
+	rigName := parts[0]
+	beadID := parts[1]
+
+	if rigName == "" || beadID == "" {
+		return false, "await_id missing rig name or bead ID"
+	}
+
+	// Resolve the target rig's beads directory
+	currentBeadsDir := beads.FindBeadsDir()
+	if currentBeadsDir == "" {
+		return false, "could not find current beads directory"
+	}
+	targetBeadsDir, _, err := routing.ResolveBeadsDirForRig(rigName, currentBeadsDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, fmt.Sprintf("rig %q not found: %v", rigName, err)
+	}
+
+	// Load config to get database path
+	cfg, err := configfile.Load(targetBeadsDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, fmt.Sprintf("failed to load config for rig %q: %v", rigName, err)
+	}
+
+	dbPath := cfg.DatabasePath(targetBeadsDir)
+
+	// Open the target database (read-only)
+	db, err := sql.Open("sqlite3", dbPath+"?mode=ro")
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, fmt.Sprintf("failed to open database for rig %q: %v", rigName, err)
+	}
+	defer func() { _ = db.Close() }()
+
+	// Check if the target bead exists and is closed
+	var status string
+	err = db.QueryRowContext(ctx, `
+		SELECT status FROM issues WHERE id = ?
+	`, beadID).Scan(&status)
+
+	if err != nil {
+		if err == sql.ErrNoRows {
+			return false, fmt.Sprintf("bead %s not found in rig %s", beadID, rigName)
+		}
+		return false, fmt.Sprintf("database query failed: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if status == string(types.StatusClosed) {
+		return true, fmt.Sprintf("target bead %s is closed", beadID)
+	}
+
+	return false, fmt.Sprintf("target bead %s status is %q (waiting for closed)", beadID, status)
+}
+
 // closeGate closes a gate issue with the given reason
 func closeGate(ctx interface{}, gateID, reason string) error {
 	if daemonClient != nil {
@@ -617,10 +696,10 @@ func init() {
 	gateResolveCmd.Flags().StringP("reason", "r", "", "Reason for resolving the gate")
 
 	// gate check flags
-	gateCheckCmd.Flags().StringP("type", "t", "", "Gate type to check (gh, gh:run, gh:pr, timer, all)")
+	gateCheckCmd.Flags().StringP("type", "t", "", "Gate type to check (gh, gh:run, gh:pr, timer, bead, all)")
 	gateCheckCmd.Flags().Bool("dry-run", false, "Show what would happen without making changes")
 	gateCheckCmd.Flags().BoolP("escalate", "e", false, "Escalate failed/expired gates")
-	gateCheckCmd.Flags().IntP("limit", "n", 100, "Limit results (default 100)")
+	gateCheckCmd.Flags().IntP("limit", "l", 100, "Limit results (default 100)")
 
 	// Add subcommands
 	gateCmd.AddCommand(gateListCmd)
diff --git a/cmd/bd/gate_test.go b/cmd/bd/gate_test.go
index 4ef0cd45..e6a0e670 100644
--- a/cmd/bd/gate_test.go
+++ b/cmd/bd/gate_test.go
@@ -1,8 +1,15 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"context"
+	"database/sql"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
+	_ "github.com/ncruces/go-sqlite3/driver"
+	_ "github.com/ncruces/go-sqlite3/embed"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/types"
 )
 
@@ -18,17 +25,20 @@ func TestShouldCheckGate(t *testing.T) {
 		{"empty filter matches gh:pr", "gh:pr", "", true},
 		{"empty filter matches timer", "timer", "", true},
 		{"empty filter matches human", "human", "", true},
+		{"empty filter matches bead", "bead", "", true},
 
 		// "all" filter matches all
 		{"all filter matches gh:run", "gh:run", "all", true},
 		{"all filter matches gh:pr", "gh:pr", "all", true},
 		{"all filter matches timer", "timer", "all", true},
+		{"all filter matches bead", "bead", "all", true},
 
 		// "gh" filter matches all GitHub types
 		{"gh filter matches gh:run", "gh:run", "gh", true},
 		{"gh filter matches gh:pr", "gh:pr", "gh", true},
 		{"gh filter does not match timer", "timer", "gh", false},
 		{"gh filter does not match human", "human", "gh", false},
+		{"gh filter does not match bead", "bead", "gh", false},
 
 		// Exact type filters
 		{"gh:run filter matches gh:run", "gh:run", "gh:run", true},
@@ -37,6 +47,8 @@ func TestShouldCheckGate(t *testing.T) {
 		{"gh:pr filter does not match gh:run", "gh:run", "gh:pr", false},
 		{"timer filter matches timer", "timer", "timer", true},
 		{"timer filter does not match gh:run", "gh:run", "timer", false},
+		{"bead filter matches bead", "bead", "bead", true},
+		{"bead filter does not match timer", "timer", "bead", false},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
@@ -52,3 +64,168 @@ func TestShouldCheckGate(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestCheckBeadGate_InvalidFormat(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		awaitID string
+		wantErr string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:    "empty",
+			awaitID: "",
+			wantErr: "invalid await_id format",
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "no colon",
+			awaitID: "gastown-gt-abc",
+			wantErr: "invalid await_id format",
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "missing rig",
+			awaitID: ":gt-abc",
+			wantErr: "await_id missing rig name",
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "missing bead",
+			awaitID: "gastown:",
+			wantErr: "await_id missing rig name or bead ID",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			satisfied, reason := checkBeadGate(ctx, tt.awaitID)
+			if satisfied {
+				t.Errorf("expected not satisfied for %q", tt.awaitID)
+			}
+			if reason == "" {
+				t.Error("expected reason to be set")
+			}
+			// Just check the error message contains the expected substring
+			if tt.wantErr != "" && !gateTestContainsIgnoreCase(reason, tt.wantErr) {
+				t.Errorf("reason %q does not contain %q", reason, tt.wantErr)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCheckBeadGate_RigNotFound(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	// Create a temp directory with a minimal beads setup
+	tmpDir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "gate_test")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer os.RemoveAll(tmpDir)
+
+	// Change to temp dir
+	origDir, _ := os.Getwd()
+	defer os.Chdir(origDir)
+	os.Chdir(tmpDir)
+
+	// Try to check a gate for a non-existent rig
+	satisfied, reason := checkBeadGate(ctx, "nonexistent:some-id")
+	if satisfied {
+		t.Error("expected not satisfied for non-existent rig")
+	}
+	if reason == "" {
+		t.Error("expected reason to be set")
+	}
+	// The error should mention the rig not being found
+	if !gateTestContainsIgnoreCase(reason, "not found") && !gateTestContainsIgnoreCase(reason, "could not find") {
+		t.Errorf("reason should mention not found: %q", reason)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCheckBeadGate_TargetClosed(t *testing.T) {
+	// Create a temporary database that simulates a target rig
+	tmpDir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "bead_gate_test")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer os.RemoveAll(tmpDir)
+
+	// Create a minimal database with a closed issue
+	dbPath := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "beads.db")
+	db, err := sql.Open("sqlite3", dbPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// Create minimal schema
+	_, err = db.Exec(`
+		CREATE TABLE issues (
+			id TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
+			status TEXT,
+			title TEXT,
+			created_at TEXT,
+			updated_at TEXT
+		)
+	`)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// Insert a closed issue
+	now := time.Now().Format(time.RFC3339)
+	_, err = db.Exec(`
+		INSERT INTO issues (id, status, title, created_at, updated_at)
+		VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
+	`, "gt-test123", string(types.StatusClosed), "Test Issue", now, now)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// Insert an open issue
+	_, err = db.Exec(`
+		INSERT INTO issues (id, status, title, created_at, updated_at)
+		VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
+	`, "gt-open456", string(types.StatusOpen), "Open Issue", now, now)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	db.Close()
+
+	// Note: This test can't fully exercise checkBeadGate because it relies on
+	// routing.ResolveBeadsDirForRig which needs a proper routes.jsonl setup.
+	// The full integration test would need the town/rig infrastructure.
+	// For now, we just verify the function signature and basic error handling.
+	t.Log("Database created with closed issue gt-test123 and open issue gt-open456")
+	t.Log("Full integration testing requires routes.jsonl setup")
+}
+
+// gateTestContainsIgnoreCase checks if haystack contains needle (case-insensitive)
+func gateTestContainsIgnoreCase(haystack, needle string) bool {
+	return gateTestContains(gateTestLowerCase(haystack), gateTestLowerCase(needle))
+}
+
+func gateTestContains(s, substr string) bool {
+	return len(s) >= len(substr) && gateTestFindSubstring(s, substr) >= 0
+}
+
+func gateTestLowerCase(s string) string {
+	b := []byte(s)
+	for i := range b {
+		if b[i] >= 'A' && b[i] <= 'Z' {
+			b[i] += 32
+		}
+	}
+	return string(b)
+}
+
+func gateTestFindSubstring(s, substr string) int {
+	if len(substr) == 0 {
+		return 0
+	}
+	for i := 0; i <= len(s)-len(substr); i++ {
+		if s[i:i+len(substr)] == substr {
+			return i
+		}
+	}
+	return -1
+}