diff --git a/tools/plan_check b/tools/plan_check
index 63a6908..7e897ff 100755
--- a/tools/plan_check
+++ b/tools/plan_check
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ if len(sys.argv) < 3:
     sys.exit(1)
 
 import shutil
-if os.environ.get('OLLIE_BEADS_ENABLE') == '1' and shutil.which('bd'):
+if os.environ.get('OLLIE_BEADS_ENABLE') == '1' and shutil.which('bd') and os.path.exists('.beads'):
     print("error: beads is available — use 'bd' for planning instead of plan_check", file=sys.stderr)
     sys.exit(2)
 
diff --git a/tools/plan_create b/tools/plan_create
index bae18a3..3f2bb02 100755
--- a/tools/plan_create
+++ b/tools/plan_create
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 # Output: plan filename in pl/
 set -euo pipefail
 
-if [ "${OLLIE_BEADS_ENABLE:-0}" = "1" ] && command -v bd >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+if [ "${OLLIE_BEADS_ENABLE:-0}" = "1" ] && command -v bd >/dev/null 2>&1 && [ -f ".beads" ]; then
     echo "error: beads is available — use 'bd' for planning instead of plan_create" >&2
     exit 2
 fi
diff --git a/tools/plan_start b/tools/plan_start
index 4b2fb70..46cf92e 100755
--- a/tools/plan_start
+++ b/tools/plan_start
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 # Output: new filename
 set -euo pipefail
 
-if [ "${OLLIE_BEADS_ENABLE:-0}" = "1" ] && command -v bd >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+if [ "${OLLIE_BEADS_ENABLE:-0}" = "1" ] && command -v bd >/dev/null 2>&1 && [ -f ".beads" ]; then
     echo "error: beads is available — use 'bd' for planning instead of plan_start" >&2
     exit 2
 fi