diff --git a/internal/cmd/beads_version.go b/internal/cmd/beads_version.go
index 9c087d94..326eb561 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/beads_version.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/beads_version.go
@@ -3,13 +3,18 @@ package cmd
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
 	"os/exec"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"regexp"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
+
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/state"
 )
 
 // MinBeadsVersion is the minimum required beads version for Gas Town.
@@ -90,6 +95,58 @@ func (v beadsVersion) compare(other beadsVersion) int {
 // Pre-compiled regex for beads version parsing
 var beadsVersionRe = regexp.MustCompile(`bd version (\d+\.\d+(?:\.\d+)?(?:-\w+)?)`)
 
+// versionCacheTTL is how long a cached version check remains valid.
+// 24 hours is reasonable since version upgrades are infrequent.
+const versionCacheTTL = 24 * time.Hour
+
+// versionCache stores the result of a beads version check.
+type versionCache struct {
+	Version   string    `json:"version"`
+	CheckedAt time.Time `json:"checked_at"`
+	Valid     bool      `json:"valid"` // true if version meets minimum requirement
+}
+
+// versionCachePath returns the path to the version cache file.
+func versionCachePath() string {
+	return filepath.Join(state.CacheDir(), "beads-version.json")
+}
+
+// loadVersionCache reads the cached version check result.
+func loadVersionCache() (*versionCache, error) {
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(versionCachePath())
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	var cache versionCache
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &cache); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return &cache, nil
+}
+
+// saveVersionCache writes the version check result to cache.
+func saveVersionCache(c *versionCache) error {
+	dir := state.CacheDir()
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(dir, 0755); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	data, err := json.MarshalIndent(c, "", "  ")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	// Atomic write via temp file
+	tmp := versionCachePath() + ".tmp"
+	if err := os.WriteFile(tmp, data, 0600); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return os.Rename(tmp, versionCachePath())
+}
+
+// isCacheFresh returns true if the cache is within the TTL.
+func (c *versionCache) isCacheFresh() bool {
+	return time.Since(c.CheckedAt) < versionCacheTTL
+}
+
 func getBeadsVersion() (string, error) {
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Second)
 	defer cancel()
@@ -132,8 +189,27 @@ func CheckBeadsVersion() error {
 }
 
 func checkBeadsVersionInternal() error {
+	// Try to use cached result first to avoid subprocess spawning
+	if cache, err := loadVersionCache(); err == nil && cache.isCacheFresh() {
+		if cache.Valid {
+			return nil // Cached successful check
+		}
+		// Cached failure - still need to check (version might have been upgraded)
+	}
+
 	installedStr, err := getBeadsVersion()
 	if err != nil {
+		// On timeout, try to use stale cache or gracefully degrade
+		if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "timed out") {
+			if cache, cacheErr := loadVersionCache(); cacheErr == nil && cache.Valid {
+				// Use stale cache but warn
+				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Warning: bd version check timed out, using cached result (v%s)\n", cache.Version)
+				return nil
+			}
+			// No cache available - gracefully degrade with warning
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Warning: bd version check timed out (high system load?), proceeding anyway\n")
+			return nil
+		}
 		return fmt.Errorf("cannot verify beads version: %w", err)
 	}
 
@@ -148,7 +224,16 @@ func checkBeadsVersionInternal() error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("cannot parse required beads version %q: %w", MinBeadsVersion, err)
 	}
 
-	if installed.compare(required) < 0 {
+	valid := installed.compare(required) >= 0
+
+	// Cache the result
+	_ = saveVersionCache(&versionCache{
+		Version:   installedStr,
+		CheckedAt: time.Now(),
+		Valid:     valid,
+	})
+
+	if !valid {
 		return fmt.Errorf("beads version %s is required, but %s is installed\n\nPlease upgrade beads: go install github.com/steveyegge/beads/cmd/bd@latest", MinBeadsVersion, installedStr)
 	}