diff --git a/internal/beads/beads.go b/internal/beads/beads.go
index 9b67b638..9dbb396d 100644
--- a/internal/beads/beads.go
+++ b/internal/beads/beads.go
@@ -151,6 +151,13 @@ func (b *Beads) run(args ...string) ([]byte, error) {
 		return nil, b.wrapError(err, stderr.String(), args)
 	}
 
+	// Handle bd --no-daemon exit code 0 bug: when issue not found,
+	// --no-daemon exits 0 but writes error to stderr with empty stdout.
+	// Detect this case and treat as error to avoid JSON parse failures.
+	if stdout.Len() == 0 && stderr.Len() > 0 {
+		return nil, b.wrapError(fmt.Errorf("command produced no output"), stderr.String(), args)
+	}
+
 	return stdout.Bytes(), nil
 }
 
@@ -174,7 +181,9 @@ func (b *Beads) wrapError(err error, stderr string, args []string) error {
 	}
 
 	// ErrNotFound is widely used for issue lookups - acceptable exception
-	if strings.Contains(stderr, "not found") || strings.Contains(stderr, "Issue not found") {
+	// Match various "not found" error patterns from bd
+	if strings.Contains(stderr, "not found") || strings.Contains(stderr, "Issue not found") ||
+		strings.Contains(stderr, "no issue found") {
 		return ErrNotFound
 	}
 
diff --git a/internal/cmd/convoy.go b/internal/cmd/convoy.go
index 3ea0babb..a6a19111 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/convoy.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/convoy.go
@@ -1186,6 +1186,10 @@ func getIssueDetails(issueID string) *issueDetails {
 	if err := showCmd.Run(); err != nil {
 		return nil
 	}
+	// Handle bd --no-daemon exit 0 bug: empty stdout means not found
+	if stdout.Len() == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
 
 	var issues []struct {
 		ID        string `json:"id"`
diff --git a/internal/cmd/prime_molecule.go b/internal/cmd/prime_molecule.go
index 661143bb..d8cdf62a 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/prime_molecule.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/prime_molecule.go
@@ -44,6 +44,12 @@ func showMoleculeExecutionPrompt(workDir, moleculeID string) {
 		fmt.Printf("  Check status with: bd mol current %s\n", moleculeID)
 		return
 	}
+	// Handle bd --no-daemon exit 0 bug: empty stdout means not found
+	if stdout.Len() == 0 {
+		fmt.Println(style.Bold.Render("→ PROPULSION PRINCIPLE: Work is on your hook. RUN IT."))
+		fmt.Println("  Begin working on this molecule immediately.")
+		return
+	}
 
 	// Parse JSON output - it's an array with one element
 	var outputs []MoleculeCurrentOutput
diff --git a/internal/cmd/sling.go b/internal/cmd/sling.go
index 523068b4..f649500d 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/sling.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/sling.go
@@ -523,6 +523,10 @@ func storeArgsInBead(beadID, args string) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("fetching bead: %w", err)
 	}
+	// Handle bd --no-daemon exit 0 bug: empty stdout means not found
+	if len(out) == 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("bead not found")
+	}
 
 	// Parse the bead
 	var issues []beads.Issue
@@ -738,9 +742,15 @@ func verifyBeadExists(beadID string) error {
 	if townRoot, err := workspace.FindFromCwd(); err == nil {
 		cmd.Dir = townRoot
 	}
-	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
+	// Use Output() instead of Run() to detect bd --no-daemon exit 0 bug:
+	// when issue not found, --no-daemon exits 0 but produces empty stdout.
+	out, err := cmd.Output()
+	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("bead '%s' not found (bd show failed)", beadID)
 	}
+	if len(out) == 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("bead '%s' not found", beadID)
+	}
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -764,6 +774,11 @@ func getBeadInfo(beadID string) (*beadInfo, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("bead '%s' not found", beadID)
 	}
+	// Handle bd --no-daemon exit 0 bug: when issue not found,
+	// --no-daemon exits 0 but produces empty stdout (error goes to stderr).
+	if len(out) == 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("bead '%s' not found", beadID)
+	}
 	// bd show --json returns an array (issue + dependents), take first element
 	var infos []beadInfo
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(out, &infos); err != nil {
@@ -829,14 +844,16 @@ func resolveSelfTarget() (agentID string, pane string, hookRoot string, err erro
 // Uses --no-daemon with --allow-stale for consistency with verifyBeadExists.
 func verifyFormulaExists(formulaName string) error {
 	// Try bd formula show (handles all formula file formats)
+	// Use Output() instead of Run() to detect bd --no-daemon exit 0 bug:
+	// when formula not found, --no-daemon may exit 0 but produce empty stdout.
 	cmd := exec.Command("bd", "--no-daemon", "formula", "show", formulaName, "--allow-stale")
-	if err := cmd.Run(); err == nil {
+	if out, err := cmd.Output(); err == nil && len(out) > 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
 
 	// Try with mol- prefix
 	cmd = exec.Command("bd", "--no-daemon", "formula", "show", "mol-"+formulaName, "--allow-stale")
-	if err := cmd.Run(); err == nil {
+	if out, err := cmd.Output(); err == nil && len(out) > 0 {
 		return nil
 	}