diff --git a/internal/cmd/doctor.go b/internal/cmd/doctor.go
index e25c30ac..0812707c 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/doctor.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/doctor.go
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@ func runDoctor(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	d.Register(doctor.NewPatrolPluginsAccessibleCheck())
 	d.Register(doctor.NewPatrolRolesHavePromptsCheck())
 	d.Register(doctor.NewAgentBeadsCheck())
+	d.Register(doctor.NewRigBeadsCheck())
 
 	// NOTE: StaleAttachmentsCheck removed - staleness detection belongs in Deacon molecule
 
diff --git a/internal/doctor/rig_beads_check.go b/internal/doctor/rig_beads_check.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1f138c20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/doctor/rig_beads_check.go
@@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
+package doctor
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/beads"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/rig"
+)
+
+// RigBeadsCheck verifies that rig identity beads exist for all rigs.
+// Rig identity beads track rig metadata like git URL, prefix, and operational state.
+// They are created by gt rig add (see gt-zmznh) but may be missing for legacy rigs.
+type RigBeadsCheck struct {
+	FixableCheck
+}
+
+// NewRigBeadsCheck creates a new rig identity beads check.
+func NewRigBeadsCheck() *RigBeadsCheck {
+	return &RigBeadsCheck{
+		FixableCheck: FixableCheck{
+			BaseCheck: BaseCheck{
+				CheckName:        "rig-beads-exist",
+				CheckDescription: "Verify rig identity beads exist for all rigs",
+			},
+		},
+	}
+}
+
+// Run checks if rig identity beads exist for all rigs.
+func (c *RigBeadsCheck) Run(ctx *CheckContext) *CheckResult {
+	// Load routes to get rig info
+	townBeadsDir := filepath.Join(ctx.TownRoot, ".beads")
+	routes, err := beads.LoadRoutes(townBeadsDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return &CheckResult{
+			Name:    c.Name(),
+			Status:  StatusWarning,
+			Message: "Could not load routes.jsonl",
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Build unique rig list from routes
+	// Routes have format: prefix "gt-" -> path "gastown/mayor/rig"
+	rigSet := make(map[string]struct {
+		prefix    string
+		beadsPath string
+	})
+	for _, r := range routes {
+		// Extract rig name from path (first component)
+		parts := strings.Split(r.Path, "/")
+		if len(parts) >= 1 && parts[0] != "." {
+			rigName := parts[0]
+			prefix := strings.TrimSuffix(r.Prefix, "-")
+			if _, exists := rigSet[rigName]; !exists {
+				rigSet[rigName] = struct {
+					prefix    string
+					beadsPath string
+				}{
+					prefix:    prefix,
+					beadsPath: r.Path,
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if len(rigSet) == 0 {
+		return &CheckResult{
+			Name:    c.Name(),
+			Status:  StatusOK,
+			Message: "No rigs to check",
+		}
+	}
+
+	var missing []string
+	var checked int
+
+	// Check each rig for its identity bead
+	for rigName, info := range rigSet {
+		rigBeadsPath := filepath.Join(ctx.TownRoot, info.beadsPath)
+		bd := beads.New(rigBeadsPath)
+
+		rigBeadID := beads.RigBeadIDWithPrefix(info.prefix, rigName)
+		if _, err := bd.Show(rigBeadID); err != nil {
+			missing = append(missing, rigBeadID)
+		}
+		checked++
+	}
+
+	if len(missing) == 0 {
+		return &CheckResult{
+			Name:    c.Name(),
+			Status:  StatusOK,
+			Message: fmt.Sprintf("All %d rig identity beads exist", checked),
+		}
+	}
+
+	return &CheckResult{
+		Name:    c.Name(),
+		Status:  StatusError,
+		Message: fmt.Sprintf("%d rig identity bead(s) missing", len(missing)),
+		Details: missing,
+		FixHint: "Run 'gt doctor --fix' to create missing rig identity beads",
+	}
+}
+
+// Fix creates missing rig identity beads.
+func (c *RigBeadsCheck) Fix(ctx *CheckContext) error {
+	// Load routes to get rig info
+	townBeadsDir := filepath.Join(ctx.TownRoot, ".beads")
+	routes, err := beads.LoadRoutes(townBeadsDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("loading routes.jsonl: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Build unique rig list from routes
+	rigSet := make(map[string]struct {
+		prefix    string
+		beadsPath string
+	})
+	for _, r := range routes {
+		parts := strings.Split(r.Path, "/")
+		if len(parts) >= 1 && parts[0] != "." {
+			rigName := parts[0]
+			prefix := strings.TrimSuffix(r.Prefix, "-")
+			if _, exists := rigSet[rigName]; !exists {
+				rigSet[rigName] = struct {
+					prefix    string
+					beadsPath string
+				}{
+					prefix:    prefix,
+					beadsPath: r.Path,
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if len(rigSet) == 0 {
+		return nil // No rigs to process
+	}
+
+	// Create missing rig identity beads
+	for rigName, info := range rigSet {
+		rigBeadsPath := filepath.Join(ctx.TownRoot, info.beadsPath)
+		bd := beads.New(rigBeadsPath)
+
+		rigBeadID := beads.RigBeadIDWithPrefix(info.prefix, rigName)
+		if _, err := bd.Show(rigBeadID); err != nil {
+			// Bead doesn't exist - create it
+			// Try to get git URL from rig config
+			rigPath := filepath.Join(ctx.TownRoot, rigName)
+			gitURL := ""
+			if cfg, err := rig.LoadRigConfig(rigPath); err == nil {
+				gitURL = cfg.GitURL
+			}
+
+			fields := &beads.RigFields{
+				Repo:   gitURL,
+				Prefix: info.prefix,
+				State:  "active",
+			}
+
+			if _, err := bd.CreateRigBead(rigBeadID, rigName, fields); err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("creating %s: %w", rigBeadID, err)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}