diff --git a/internal/cmd/sling_helpers.go b/internal/cmd/sling_helpers.go
index 469a85b2..b2b7837d 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/sling_helpers.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/sling_helpers.go
@@ -137,12 +137,18 @@ func storeDispatcherInBead(beadID, dispatcher string) error {
 	}
 
 	// Get the bead to preserve existing description content
-	showCmd := exec.Command("bd", "show", beadID, "--json")
+	// Use --no-daemon for consistency with other sling operations (see h-3f96b)
+	showCmd := exec.Command("bd", "--no-daemon", "show", beadID, "--json", "--allow-stale")
 	out, err := showCmd.Output()
 	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
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(out, &issues); err != nil {
@@ -165,8 +171,8 @@ func storeDispatcherInBead(beadID, dispatcher string) error {
 	// Update the description
 	newDesc := beads.SetAttachmentFields(issue, fields)
 
-	// Update the bead
-	updateCmd := exec.Command("bd", "update", beadID, "--description="+newDesc)
+	// Update the bead (use --no-daemon for consistency)
+	updateCmd := exec.Command("bd", "--no-daemon", "update", beadID, "--description="+newDesc)
 	updateCmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
 	if err := updateCmd.Run(); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("updating bead description: %w", err)
@@ -190,12 +196,18 @@ func storeAttachedMoleculeInBead(beadID, moleculeID string) error {
 	issue := &beads.Issue{}
 	if logPath == "" {
 		// Get the bead to preserve existing description content
-		showCmd := exec.Command("bd", "show", beadID, "--json")
+		// Use --no-daemon for consistency with other sling operations (see h-3f96b)
+		showCmd := exec.Command("bd", "--no-daemon", "show", beadID, "--json", "--allow-stale")
 		out, err := showCmd.Output()
 		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
 		if err := json.Unmarshal(out, &issues); err != nil {
@@ -225,8 +237,8 @@ func storeAttachedMoleculeInBead(beadID, moleculeID string) error {
 		_ = os.WriteFile(logPath, []byte(newDesc), 0644)
 	}
 
-	// Update the bead
-	updateCmd := exec.Command("bd", "update", beadID, "--description="+newDesc)
+	// Update the bead (use --no-daemon for consistency)
+	updateCmd := exec.Command("bd", "--no-daemon", "update", beadID, "--description="+newDesc)
 	updateCmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
 	if err := updateCmd.Run(); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("updating bead description: %w", err)