diff --git a/cmd/bd/daemon.go b/cmd/bd/daemon.go
index ae4ed2f5..e80ee1ef 100644
--- a/cmd/bd/daemon.go
+++ b/cmd/bd/daemon.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/daemon"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/rpc"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/storage/sqlite"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/syncbranch"
 )
 
 var daemonCmd = &cobra.Command{
@@ -194,10 +195,22 @@ Run 'bd daemon --help' to see all subcommands.`,
 		}
 
 		// Check for upstream if auto-push enabled
-		if autoPush && !gitHasUpstream() {
-			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: no upstream configured (required for --auto-push)\n")
-			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Hint: git push -u origin <branch-name>\n")
-			os.Exit(1)
+		// When sync-branch is configured, check that branch's upstream instead of current HEAD.
+		// This fixes compatibility with jj/jujutsu which always operates in detached HEAD mode.
+		if autoPush {
+			hasUpstream := false
+			if syncBranch := syncbranch.GetFromYAML(); syncBranch != "" {
+				// sync-branch configured: check that branch's upstream
+				hasUpstream = gitBranchHasUpstream(syncBranch)
+			} else {
+				// No sync-branch: check current HEAD's upstream (original behavior)
+				hasUpstream = gitHasUpstream()
+			}
+			if !hasUpstream {
+				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: no upstream configured (required for --auto-push)\n")
+				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Hint: git push -u origin <branch-name>\n")
+				os.Exit(1)
+			}
 		}
 
 		// Warn if starting daemon in a git worktree
diff --git a/cmd/bd/sync_branch.go b/cmd/bd/sync_branch.go
index a82d3afa..ffd376e2 100644
--- a/cmd/bd/sync_branch.go
+++ b/cmd/bd/sync_branch.go
@@ -22,6 +22,18 @@ func getCurrentBranch(ctx context.Context) (string, error) {
 	return strings.TrimSpace(string(output)), nil
 }
 
+// getCurrentBranchOrHEAD returns the current branch name, or "HEAD" if in detached HEAD state.
+// This is useful for jj/jujutsu compatibility where HEAD is always detached but we still
+// need a reference for git operations like log and diff.
+func getCurrentBranchOrHEAD(ctx context.Context) (string, error) {
+	branch, err := getCurrentBranch(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		// Detached HEAD - return "HEAD" as the reference
+		return "HEAD", nil
+	}
+	return branch, nil
+}
+
 // getSyncBranch returns the configured sync branch name
 func getSyncBranch(ctx context.Context) (string, error) {
 	// Ensure store is initialized
@@ -47,7 +59,7 @@ func showSyncStatus(ctx context.Context) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("not in a git repository")
 	}
 
-	currentBranch, err := getCurrentBranch(ctx)
+	currentBranch, err := getCurrentBranchOrHEAD(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/bd/sync_git.go b/cmd/bd/sync_git.go
index 1f534dbe..ee9e7f17 100644
--- a/cmd/bd/sync_git.go
+++ b/cmd/bd/sync_git.go
@@ -57,9 +57,17 @@ func gitHasUpstream() bool {
 	}
 	branch := strings.TrimSpace(string(branchOutput))
 
-	// Check if remote and merge refs are configured
-	remoteCmd := exec.Command("git", "config", "--get", fmt.Sprintf("branch.%s.remote", branch)) //nolint:gosec // G204: branch from git symbolic-ref
-	mergeCmd := exec.Command("git", "config", "--get", fmt.Sprintf("branch.%s.merge", branch))   //nolint:gosec // G204: branch from git symbolic-ref
+	return gitBranchHasUpstream(branch)
+}
+
+// gitBranchHasUpstream checks if a specific branch has an upstream configured.
+// Unlike gitHasUpstream(), this works even when HEAD is detached (e.g., jj/jujutsu).
+// This is critical for sync-branch workflows where the sync branch has upstream
+// tracking but the main working copy may be in detached HEAD state.
+func gitBranchHasUpstream(branch string) bool {
+	// Check if remote and merge refs are configured for the branch
+	remoteCmd := exec.Command("git", "config", "--get", fmt.Sprintf("branch.%s.remote", branch)) //nolint:gosec // G204: branch from caller
+	mergeCmd := exec.Command("git", "config", "--get", fmt.Sprintf("branch.%s.merge", branch))   //nolint:gosec // G204: branch from caller
 
 	remoteErr := remoteCmd.Run()
 	mergeErr := mergeCmd.Run()
diff --git a/cmd/bd/sync_git_test.go b/cmd/bd/sync_git_test.go
index 412acaf0..2bbecce9 100644
--- a/cmd/bd/sync_git_test.go
+++ b/cmd/bd/sync_git_test.go
@@ -428,3 +428,209 @@ func TestParseGitStatusForBeadsChanges(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+// TestGitBranchHasUpstream tests the gitBranchHasUpstream function
+// which checks if a specific branch (not current HEAD) has upstream configured.
+// This is critical for jj/jujutsu compatibility where HEAD is always detached
+// but the sync-branch may have proper upstream tracking.
+func TestGitBranchHasUpstream(t *testing.T) {
+	// Create temp directory for test repos
+	tmpDir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "beads-upstream-test-*")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to create temp dir: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer os.RemoveAll(tmpDir)
+
+	// Create a bare "remote" repo
+	remoteDir := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "remote.git")
+	if err := exec.Command("git", "init", "--bare", remoteDir).Run(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to create bare repo: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Create local repo
+	localDir := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "local")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(localDir, 0755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to create local dir: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Initialize and configure local repo
+	cmds := [][]string{
+		{"git", "init", "-b", "main"},
+		{"git", "config", "user.email", "test@test.com"},
+		{"git", "config", "user.name", "Test"},
+		{"git", "remote", "add", "origin", remoteDir},
+	}
+	for _, args := range cmds {
+		cmd := exec.Command(args[0], args[1:]...)
+		cmd.Dir = localDir
+		if out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput(); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Failed to run %v: %v\n%s", args, err, out)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Create initial commit on main
+	testFile := filepath.Join(localDir, "test.txt")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(testFile, []byte("test"), 0644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to create test file: %v", err)
+	}
+	cmds = [][]string{
+		{"git", "add", "test.txt"},
+		{"git", "commit", "-m", "initial"},
+		{"git", "push", "-u", "origin", "main"},
+	}
+	for _, args := range cmds {
+		cmd := exec.Command(args[0], args[1:]...)
+		cmd.Dir = localDir
+		if out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput(); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Failed to run %v: %v\n%s", args, err, out)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Create beads-sync branch with upstream
+	cmds = [][]string{
+		{"git", "checkout", "-b", "beads-sync"},
+		{"git", "push", "-u", "origin", "beads-sync"},
+	}
+	for _, args := range cmds {
+		cmd := exec.Command(args[0], args[1:]...)
+		cmd.Dir = localDir
+		if out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput(); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Failed to run %v: %v\n%s", args, err, out)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Save current dir and change to local repo
+	origDir, _ := os.Getwd()
+	if err := os.Chdir(localDir); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to chdir: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer os.Chdir(origDir)
+
+	// Test 1: beads-sync branch should have upstream
+	t.Run("branch with upstream returns true", func(t *testing.T) {
+		if !gitBranchHasUpstream("beads-sync") {
+			t.Error("gitBranchHasUpstream('beads-sync') = false, want true")
+		}
+	})
+
+	// Test 2: non-existent branch should return false
+	t.Run("non-existent branch returns false", func(t *testing.T) {
+		if gitBranchHasUpstream("no-such-branch") {
+			t.Error("gitBranchHasUpstream('no-such-branch') = true, want false")
+		}
+	})
+
+	// Test 3: Simulate jj detached HEAD - beads-sync should still work
+	t.Run("works with detached HEAD (jj scenario)", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Detach HEAD (simulating jj's behavior)
+		cmd := exec.Command("git", "checkout", "--detach", "HEAD")
+		cmd.Dir = localDir
+		if out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput(); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Failed to detach HEAD: %v\n%s", err, out)
+		}
+
+		// gitHasUpstream() should fail (detached HEAD)
+		if gitHasUpstream() {
+			t.Error("gitHasUpstream() = true with detached HEAD, want false")
+		}
+
+		// But gitBranchHasUpstream("beads-sync") should still work
+		if !gitBranchHasUpstream("beads-sync") {
+			t.Error("gitBranchHasUpstream('beads-sync') = false with detached HEAD, want true")
+		}
+	})
+
+	// Test 4: branch without upstream should return false
+	t.Run("branch without upstream returns false", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Create a local-only branch (no upstream)
+		cmd := exec.Command("git", "checkout", "-b", "local-only")
+		cmd.Dir = localDir
+		if out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput(); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Failed to create local branch: %v\n%s", err, out)
+		}
+
+		if gitBranchHasUpstream("local-only") {
+			t.Error("gitBranchHasUpstream('local-only') = true, want false (no upstream)")
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+// TestGetCurrentBranchOrHEAD tests getCurrentBranchOrHEAD which returns "HEAD"
+// when in detached HEAD state (e.g., jj/jujutsu) instead of failing.
+func TestGetCurrentBranchOrHEAD(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	// Create temp directory for test repo
+	tmpDir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "beads-branch-test-*")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to create temp dir: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer os.RemoveAll(tmpDir)
+
+	// Initialize git repo
+	cmds := [][]string{
+		{"git", "init", "-b", "main"},
+		{"git", "config", "user.email", "test@test.com"},
+		{"git", "config", "user.name", "Test"},
+	}
+	for _, args := range cmds {
+		cmd := exec.Command(args[0], args[1:]...)
+		cmd.Dir = tmpDir
+		if out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput(); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Failed to run %v: %v\n%s", args, err, out)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Create initial commit
+	testFile := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "test.txt")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(testFile, []byte("test"), 0644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to create test file: %v", err)
+	}
+	cmds = [][]string{
+		{"git", "add", "test.txt"},
+		{"git", "commit", "-m", "initial"},
+	}
+	for _, args := range cmds {
+		cmd := exec.Command(args[0], args[1:]...)
+		cmd.Dir = tmpDir
+		if out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput(); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Failed to run %v: %v\n%s", args, err, out)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Save current dir and change to test repo
+	origDir, _ := os.Getwd()
+	if err := os.Chdir(tmpDir); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to chdir: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer os.Chdir(origDir)
+
+	// Test 1: Normal branch returns branch name
+	t.Run("returns branch name when on branch", func(t *testing.T) {
+		branch, err := getCurrentBranchOrHEAD(ctx)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("getCurrentBranchOrHEAD() error = %v", err)
+		}
+		if branch != "main" {
+			t.Errorf("getCurrentBranchOrHEAD() = %q, want %q", branch, "main")
+		}
+	})
+
+	// Test 2: Detached HEAD returns "HEAD"
+	t.Run("returns HEAD when detached", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Detach HEAD
+		cmd := exec.Command("git", "checkout", "--detach", "HEAD")
+		cmd.Dir = tmpDir
+		if out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput(); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Failed to detach HEAD: %v\n%s", err, out)
+		}
+
+		branch, err := getCurrentBranchOrHEAD(ctx)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("getCurrentBranchOrHEAD() error = %v", err)
+		}
+		if branch != "HEAD" {
+			t.Errorf("getCurrentBranchOrHEAD() = %q, want %q", branch, "HEAD")
+		}
+	})
+}