diff --git a/internal/utils/path.go b/internal/utils/path.go
index 58590bbf..f9ab54ce 100644
--- a/internal/utils/path.go
+++ b/internal/utils/path.go
@@ -39,11 +39,12 @@ func FindJSONLInDir(dbDir string) string {
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Last resort: use first match (but skip deletions.jsonl and merge artifacts)
+	// Last resort: use first match (but skip deletions.jsonl, interactions.jsonl, and merge artifacts)
 	for _, match := range matches {
 		base := filepath.Base(match)
-		// Skip deletions manifest and merge artifacts
+		// Skip deletions manifest, interactions (audit trail), and merge artifacts
 		if base == "deletions.jsonl" ||
+			base == "interactions.jsonl" ||
 			base == "beads.base.jsonl" ||
 			base == "beads.left.jsonl" ||
 			base == "beads.right.jsonl" {
diff --git a/internal/utils/path_test.go b/internal/utils/path_test.go
index 165c7529..328e439a 100644
--- a/internal/utils/path_test.go
+++ b/internal/utils/path_test.go
@@ -110,6 +110,16 @@ func TestFindJSONLInDir(t *testing.T) {
 			files:    []string{"deletions.jsonl"},
 			expected: "issues.jsonl",
 		},
+		{
+			name:     "only interactions.jsonl - returns default issues.jsonl",
+			files:    []string{"interactions.jsonl"},
+			expected: "issues.jsonl",
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "interactions.jsonl with issues.jsonl - prefers issues",
+			files:    []string{"interactions.jsonl", "issues.jsonl"},
+			expected: "issues.jsonl",
+		},
 		{
 			name:     "only merge artifacts - returns default issues.jsonl",
 			files:    []string{"beads.base.jsonl", "beads.left.jsonl", "beads.right.jsonl"},