diff --git a/cmd/bd/graph.go b/cmd/bd/graph.go
index ec7c8a1a..d4e585dd 100644
--- a/cmd/bd/graph.go
+++ b/cmd/bd/graph.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/rpc"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/storage"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/storage/sqlite"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/types"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/ui"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/utils"
@@ -80,6 +81,17 @@ Colors indicate status:
 			os.Exit(1)
 		}
 
+		// If daemon is running but doesn't support this command, use direct storage
+		if daemonClient != nil && store == nil {
+			var err error
+			store, err = sqlite.New(ctx, dbPath)
+			if err != nil {
+				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: failed to open database: %v\n", err)
+				os.Exit(1)
+			}
+			defer func() { _ = store.Close() }()
+		}
+
 		// Load the subgraph
 		subgraph, err := loadGraphSubgraph(ctx, store, issueID)
 		if err != nil {