diff --git a/internal/rpc/server_compact.go b/internal/rpc/server_compact.go
index e1b8411f..864fb630 100644
--- a/internal/rpc/server_compact.go
+++ b/internal/rpc/server_compact.go
@@ -19,6 +19,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleCompact(req *Request) Response {
 	}
 
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 
 	sqliteStore, ok := store.(*sqlite.SQLiteStorage)
 	if !ok {
@@ -228,6 +234,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleCompactStats(req *Request) Response {
 	}
 
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 
 	sqliteStore, ok := store.(*sqlite.SQLiteStorage)
 	if !ok {
diff --git a/internal/rpc/server_issues_epics.go b/internal/rpc/server_issues_epics.go
index 5248cb04..e7a17e95 100644
--- a/internal/rpc/server_issues_epics.go
+++ b/internal/rpc/server_issues_epics.go
@@ -87,6 +87,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleCreate(req *Request) Response {
 	}
 
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 	ctx := s.reqCtx(req)
 
 	// If parent is specified, generate child ID
@@ -242,6 +248,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleUpdate(req *Request) Response {
 	}
 
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 
 	ctx := s.reqCtx(req)
 	updates := updatesFromArgs(updateArgs)
@@ -284,6 +296,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleClose(req *Request) Response {
 	}
 
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 
 	ctx := s.reqCtx(req)
 	if err := store.CloseIssue(ctx, closeArgs.ID, closeArgs.Reason, s.reqActor(req)); err != nil {
@@ -314,6 +332,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleList(req *Request) Response {
 	}
 
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 
 	filter := types.IssueFilter{
 		Limit: listArgs.Limit,
@@ -492,6 +516,13 @@ func (s *Server) handleResolveID(req *Request) Response {
 		}
 	}
 
+	if s.storage == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
+
 	ctx := s.reqCtx(req)
 	resolvedID, err := utils.ResolvePartialID(ctx, s.storage, args.ID)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -518,6 +549,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleShow(req *Request) Response {
 	}
 
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 
 	ctx := s.reqCtx(req)
 	issue, err := store.GetIssue(ctx, showArgs.ID)
@@ -593,6 +630,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleReady(req *Request) Response {
 	}
 
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 
 	wf := types.WorkFilter{
 		Status:     types.StatusOpen,
@@ -632,6 +675,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleStale(req *Request) Response {
 	}
 
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 
 	filter := types.StaleFilter{
 		Days:   staleArgs.Days,
@@ -657,6 +706,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleStale(req *Request) Response {
 
 func (s *Server) handleStats(req *Request) Response {
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 
 	ctx := s.reqCtx(req)
 	stats, err := store.GetStatistics(ctx)
@@ -684,6 +739,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleEpicStatus(req *Request) Response {
 	}
 
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 
 	ctx := s.reqCtx(req)
 	epics, err := store.GetEpicsEligibleForClosure(ctx)
diff --git a/internal/rpc/server_labels_deps_comments.go b/internal/rpc/server_labels_deps_comments.go
index 345ed280..e48f90ef 100644
--- a/internal/rpc/server_labels_deps_comments.go
+++ b/internal/rpc/server_labels_deps_comments.go
@@ -19,6 +19,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleDepAdd(req *Request) Response {
 	}
 
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 
 	dep := &types.Dependency{
 		IssueID:     depArgs.FromID,
@@ -51,6 +57,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleSimpleStoreOp(req *Request, argsPtr interface{}, argDesc
 	}
 
 	store := s.storage
+	if store == nil {
+		return Response{
+			Success: false,
+			Error:   "storage not available (global daemon deprecated - use local daemon instead with 'bd daemon' in your project)",
+		}
+	}
 
 	ctx := s.reqCtx(req)
 	if err := opFunc(ctx, store, s.reqActor(req)); err != nil {