diff --git a/internal/cmd/mq_submit.go b/internal/cmd/mq_submit.go
index cdc49eb7..46191dff 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/mq_submit.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/mq_submit.go
@@ -82,6 +82,17 @@ func runMqSubmit(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("cannot submit main/master branch to merge queue")
 	}
 
+	// CRITICAL: Verify branch is pushed before creating MR bead
+	// This prevents work loss when MR is created but commits aren't on remote.
+	// See: gt-2hwi9 (Polecats not pushing before signaling done)
+	pushed, unpushedCount, err := g.BranchPushedToRemote(branch, "origin")
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("checking if branch is pushed: %w", err)
+	}
+	if !pushed {
+		return fmt.Errorf("branch has %d unpushed commit(s); run 'git push -u origin %s' first", unpushedCount, branch)
+	}
+
 	// Parse branch info
 	info := parseBranchName(branch)