diff --git a/cmd/bd/autoflush.go b/cmd/bd/autoflush.go
index fddd5225..8d3902a9 100644
--- a/cmd/bd/autoflush.go
+++ b/cmd/bd/autoflush.go
@@ -33,6 +33,24 @@ func outputJSON(v interface{}) {
 	}
 }
 
+// outputJSONError outputs an error as JSON to stderr and exits with code 1.
+// Use this when jsonOutput is true and an error occurs, to ensure consistent
+// machine-readable error output. The error is formatted as:
+//
+//	{"error": "error message", "code": "error_code"}
+//
+// The code parameter is optional (pass "" to omit).
+func outputJSONError(err error, code string) {
+	errObj := map[string]string{"error": err.Error()}
+	if code != "" {
+		errObj["code"] = code
+	}
+	encoder := json.NewEncoder(os.Stderr)
+	encoder.SetIndent("", "  ")
+	_ = encoder.Encode(errObj)
+	os.Exit(1)
+}
+
 // findJSONLPath finds the JSONL file path for the current database
 // findJSONLPath discovers the JSONL file path for the current database and ensures
 // the parent directory exists. Uses beads.FindJSONLPath() for discovery (checking
diff --git a/cmd/bd/stale.go b/cmd/bd/stale.go
index 1b1abcb7..5fca2598 100644
--- a/cmd/bd/stale.go
+++ b/cmd/bd/stale.go
@@ -110,6 +110,6 @@ func init() {
 	staleCmd.Flags().IntP("days", "d", 30, "Issues not updated in this many days")
 	staleCmd.Flags().StringP("status", "s", "", "Filter by status (open|in_progress|blocked|deferred)")
 	staleCmd.Flags().IntP("limit", "n", 50, "Maximum issues to show")
-	staleCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&jsonOutput, "json", false, "Output JSON format")
+	// Note: --json flag is defined as a persistent flag in main.go, not here
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(staleCmd)
 }
diff --git a/cmd/bd/stale_test.go b/cmd/bd/stale_test.go
index b2577c08..4722e1e4 100644
--- a/cmd/bd/stale_test.go
+++ b/cmd/bd/stale_test.go
@@ -403,7 +403,8 @@ func TestStaleCommandInit(t *testing.T) {
 	if flags.Lookup("limit") == nil {
 		t.Error("staleCmd should have --limit flag")
 	}
-	if flags.Lookup("json") == nil {
-		t.Error("staleCmd should have --json flag")
+	// --json is inherited from rootCmd as a persistent flag
+	if staleCmd.InheritedFlags().Lookup("json") == nil {
+		t.Error("staleCmd should inherit --json flag from rootCmd")
 	}
 }