diff --git a/cmd/bd/markdown.go b/cmd/bd/markdown.go
index 6fb407ee..2acb6363 100644
--- a/cmd/bd/markdown.go
+++ b/cmd/bd/markdown.go
@@ -306,6 +306,15 @@ func parseMarkdownFile(path string) ([]*IssueTemplate, error) {
 
 // createIssuesFromMarkdown parses a markdown file and creates multiple issues from it
 func createIssuesFromMarkdown(_ *cobra.Command, filepath string) {
+	// Ensure globals are initialized (bd-m0tl: fix nil pointer when store not ready)
+	if store == nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: database not initialized\n")
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+	if actor == "" {
+		actor = "bd" // Default actor if not set
+	}
+
 	// Parse markdown file
 	templates, err := parseMarkdownFile(filepath)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/merge/merge.go b/internal/merge/merge.go
index 5d3f04e0..06605594 100644
--- a/internal/merge/merge.go
+++ b/internal/merge/merge.go
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ type Issue struct {
 	Description  string       `json:"description,omitempty"`
 	Notes        string       `json:"notes,omitempty"`
 	Status       string       `json:"status,omitempty"`
-	Priority     int          `json:"priority,omitempty"`
+	Priority     int          `json:"priority"` // No omitempty: 0 is valid (P0/critical)
 	IssueType    string       `json:"issue_type,omitempty"`
 	CreatedAt    string       `json:"created_at,omitempty"`
 	UpdatedAt    string       `json:"updated_at,omitempty"`
diff --git a/internal/types/types.go b/internal/types/types.go
index 735a2125..d005e73c 100644
--- a/internal/types/types.go
+++ b/internal/types/types.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ type Issue struct {
 	AcceptanceCriteria string         `json:"acceptance_criteria,omitempty"`
 	Notes              string         `json:"notes,omitempty"`
 	Status             Status         `json:"status,omitempty"`
-	Priority           int            `json:"priority,omitempty"`
+	Priority           int            `json:"priority"` // No omitempty: 0 is valid (P0/critical)
 	IssueType          IssueType      `json:"issue_type,omitempty"`
 	Assignee           string         `json:"assignee,omitempty"`
 	EstimatedMinutes   *int           `json:"estimated_minutes,omitempty"`