diff --git a/cmd/bd/create.go b/cmd/bd/create.go
index f7bb8cd0..41228b6b 100644
--- a/cmd/bd/create.go
+++ b/cmd/bd/create.go
@@ -738,8 +738,8 @@ func createInRig(cmd *cobra.Command, rigName, title, description, issueType stri
 		FatalError("cannot use --rig: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	// Resolve the target rig's beads directory
-	targetBeadsDir, _, err := routing.ResolveBeadsDirForRig(rigName, townBeadsDir)
+	// Resolve the target rig's beads directory and prefix
+	targetBeadsDir, targetPrefix, err := routing.ResolveBeadsDirForRig(rigName, townBeadsDir)
 	if err != nil {
 		FatalError("%v", err)
 	}
@@ -756,6 +756,13 @@ func createInRig(cmd *cobra.Command, rigName, title, description, issueType stri
 		}
 	}()
 
+	// Prepare prefix override from routes.jsonl for cross-rig creation
+	// Strip trailing hyphen - database stores prefix without it (e.g., "aops" not "aops-")
+	var prefixOverride string
+	if targetPrefix != "" {
+		prefixOverride = strings.TrimSuffix(targetPrefix, "-")
+	}
+
 	var externalRefPtr *string
 	if externalRef != "" {
 		externalRefPtr = &externalRef
@@ -824,6 +831,8 @@ func createInRig(cmd *cobra.Command, rigName, title, description, issueType stri
 		// Time scheduling fields (bd-xwvo fix)
 		DueAt:      dueAt,
 		DeferUntil: deferUntil,
+		// Cross-rig routing: use route prefix instead of database config
+		PrefixOverride: prefixOverride,
 	}
 
 	if err := targetStore.CreateIssue(ctx, issue, actor); err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/storage/sqlite/queries.go b/internal/storage/sqlite/queries.go
index ba913dff..0dda0082 100644
--- a/internal/storage/sqlite/queries.go
+++ b/internal/storage/sqlite/queries.go
@@ -167,10 +167,14 @@ func (s *SQLiteStorage) CreateIssue(ctx context.Context, issue *types.Issue, act
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to get config: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	// Use IDPrefix override if set, combined with config prefix
-	// e.g., configPrefix="bd" + IDPrefix="wisp" → "bd-wisp"
+	// Determine prefix for ID generation and validation:
+	// 1. PrefixOverride completely replaces config prefix (for cross-rig creation)
+	// 2. IDPrefix appends to config prefix (e.g., "bd" + "wisp" → "bd-wisp")
+	// 3. Otherwise use config prefix as-is
 	prefix := configPrefix
-	if issue.IDPrefix != "" {
+	if issue.PrefixOverride != "" {
+		prefix = issue.PrefixOverride
+	} else if issue.IDPrefix != "" {
 		prefix = configPrefix + "-" + issue.IDPrefix
 	}
 
diff --git a/internal/types/types.go b/internal/types/types.go
index cb1ffd33..8e8b8e9c 100644
--- a/internal/types/types.go
+++ b/internal/types/types.go
@@ -56,8 +56,9 @@ type Issue struct {
 	OriginalSize      int        `json:"original_size,omitempty"`
 
 	// ===== Internal Routing (not exported to JSONL) =====
-	SourceRepo string `json:"-"` // Which repo owns this issue (multi-repo support)
-	IDPrefix   string `json:"-"` // Override prefix for ID generation
+	SourceRepo     string `json:"-"` // Which repo owns this issue (multi-repo support)
+	IDPrefix       string `json:"-"` // Override prefix for ID generation (appends to config prefix)
+	PrefixOverride string `json:"-"` // Completely replace config prefix (for cross-rig creation)
 
 	// ===== Relational Data (populated for export/import) =====
 	Labels       []string      `json:"labels,omitempty"`