diff --git a/scripts/loop_guard.py b/scripts/loop_guard.py
index 71dd3717..73566dc8 100644
--- a/scripts/loop_guard.py
+++ b/scripts/loop_guard.py
@@ -240,9 +240,33 @@ def compute_backoff(consecutive_idle: int) -> int:
     return min(BACKOFF_BASE * (BACKOFF_MULTIPLIER ** consecutive_idle), BACKOFF_MAX)
 
 
+def seed_cycle_result(item: dict) -> None:
+    """Pre-seed cycle_result.json with the top queue item.
+
+    Only writes if cycle_result.json does not already exist — never overwrites
+    agent-written data.  This ensures cycle_retro.py can always resolve the
+    issue number even when the dispatcher (claude-loop, gemini-loop, etc.) does
+    not write cycle_result.json itself.
+    """
+    if CYCLE_RESULT_FILE.exists():
+        return  # Agent already wrote its own result — leave it alone
+
+    seed = {
+        "issue": item.get("issue"),
+        "type": item.get("type", "unknown"),
+    }
+    try:
+        CYCLE_RESULT_FILE.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        CYCLE_RESULT_FILE.write_text(json.dumps(seed) + "\n")
+        print(f"[loop-guard] Seeded cycle_result.json with issue #{seed['issue']}")
+    except OSError as exc:
+        print(f"[loop-guard] WARNING: Could not seed cycle_result.json: {exc}")
+
+
 def main() -> int:
     wait_mode = "--wait" in sys.argv
     status_mode = "--status" in sys.argv
+    pick_mode = "--pick" in sys.argv
 
     state = load_idle_state()
 
@@ -269,6 +293,17 @@ def main() -> int:
         state["consecutive_idle"] = 0
         state["last_idle_at"] = 0
         save_idle_state(state)
+
+        # Pre-seed cycle_result.json so cycle_retro.py can resolve issue=
+        # even when the dispatcher doesn't write the file itself.
+        seed_cycle_result(ready[0])
+
+        if pick_mode:
+            # Emit the top issue number to stdout for shell script capture.
+            issue = ready[0].get("issue")
+            if issue is not None:
+                print(issue)
+
         return 0
 
     # Queue empty — apply backoff
diff --git a/tests/loop/test_loop_guard_seed.py b/tests/loop/test_loop_guard_seed.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1dec8f2b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/loop/test_loop_guard_seed.py
@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+"""Tests for loop_guard.seed_cycle_result and --pick mode.
+
+The seed fixes the cycle-metrics dead-pipeline bug (#1250):
+loop_guard pre-seeds cycle_result.json so cycle_retro.py can always
+resolve issue= even when the dispatcher doesn't write the file.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+import sys
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+import pytest
+import scripts.loop_guard as lg
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def _isolate(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """Redirect loop_guard paths to tmp_path for isolation."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr(lg, "QUEUE_FILE", tmp_path / "queue.json")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(lg, "IDLE_STATE_FILE", tmp_path / "idle_state.json")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(lg, "CYCLE_RESULT_FILE", tmp_path / "cycle_result.json")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(lg, "GITEA_API", "http://test:3000/api/v1")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(lg, "REPO_SLUG", "owner/repo")
+
+
+# ── seed_cycle_result ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def test_seed_writes_issue_and_type(tmp_path):
+    """seed_cycle_result writes issue + type to cycle_result.json."""
+    item = {"issue": 42, "type": "bug", "title": "Fix the thing", "ready": True}
+    lg.seed_cycle_result(item)
+
+    data = json.loads((tmp_path / "cycle_result.json").read_text())
+    assert data == {"issue": 42, "type": "bug"}
+
+
+def test_seed_does_not_overwrite_existing(tmp_path):
+    """If cycle_result.json already exists, seed_cycle_result leaves it alone."""
+    existing = {"issue": 99, "type": "feature", "tests_passed": 123}
+    (tmp_path / "cycle_result.json").write_text(json.dumps(existing))
+
+    lg.seed_cycle_result({"issue": 1, "type": "bug"})
+
+    data = json.loads((tmp_path / "cycle_result.json").read_text())
+    assert data["issue"] == 99, "Existing file must not be overwritten"
+
+
+def test_seed_missing_issue_field(tmp_path):
+    """Item with no issue key — seed still writes without crashing."""
+    lg.seed_cycle_result({"type": "unknown"})
+    data = json.loads((tmp_path / "cycle_result.json").read_text())
+    assert data["issue"] is None
+
+
+def test_seed_default_type_when_absent(tmp_path):
+    """Item with no type key defaults to 'unknown'."""
+    lg.seed_cycle_result({"issue": 7})
+    data = json.loads((tmp_path / "cycle_result.json").read_text())
+    assert data["type"] == "unknown"
+
+
+def test_seed_oserror_is_graceful(tmp_path, monkeypatch, capsys):
+    """OSError during seed logs a warning but does not raise."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr(lg, "CYCLE_RESULT_FILE", tmp_path / "no_dir" / "cycle_result.json")
+
+    from pathlib import Path
+    original_mkdir = Path.mkdir
+
+    def failing_mkdir(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        raise OSError("no space left")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(Path, "mkdir", failing_mkdir)
+
+    # Should not raise
+    lg.seed_cycle_result({"issue": 5, "type": "bug"})
+
+    captured = capsys.readouterr()
+    assert "WARNING" in captured.out
+
+
+# ── main() integration ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def _write_queue(tmp_path, items):
+    tmp_path.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    lg.QUEUE_FILE.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    lg.QUEUE_FILE.write_text(json.dumps(items))
+
+
+def test_main_seeds_cycle_result_when_work_found(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """main() seeds cycle_result.json with top queue item on ready queue."""
+    _write_queue(tmp_path, [{"issue": 10, "type": "feature", "ready": True}])
+    monkeypatch.setattr(lg, "_fetch_open_issue_numbers", lambda: None)
+
+    with patch.object(sys, "argv", ["loop_guard"]):
+        rc = lg.main()
+
+    assert rc == 0
+    data = json.loads((tmp_path / "cycle_result.json").read_text())
+    assert data["issue"] == 10
+
+
+def test_main_no_seed_when_queue_empty(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """main() does not create cycle_result.json when queue is empty."""
+    _write_queue(tmp_path, [])
+    monkeypatch.setattr(lg, "_fetch_open_issue_numbers", lambda: None)
+
+    with patch.object(sys, "argv", ["loop_guard"]):
+        rc = lg.main()
+
+    assert rc == 1
+    assert not (tmp_path / "cycle_result.json").exists()
+
+
+def test_main_pick_mode_prints_issue(tmp_path, monkeypatch, capsys):
+    """--pick flag prints the top issue number to stdout."""
+    _write_queue(tmp_path, [{"issue": 55, "type": "bug", "ready": True}])
+    monkeypatch.setattr(lg, "_fetch_open_issue_numbers", lambda: None)
+
+    with patch.object(sys, "argv", ["loop_guard", "--pick"]):
+        rc = lg.main()
+
+    assert rc == 0
+    captured = capsys.readouterr()
+    # The issue number must appear as a line in stdout
+    lines = captured.out.strip().splitlines()
+    assert str(55) in lines
+
+
+def test_main_pick_mode_empty_queue_no_output(tmp_path, monkeypatch, capsys):
+    """--pick with empty queue exits 1, doesn't print an issue number."""
+    _write_queue(tmp_path, [])
+    monkeypatch.setattr(lg, "_fetch_open_issue_numbers", lambda: None)
+
+    with patch.object(sys, "argv", ["loop_guard", "--pick"]):
+        rc = lg.main()
+
+    assert rc == 1
+    captured = capsys.readouterr()
+    # No bare integer line printed
+    for line in captured.out.strip().splitlines():
+        assert not line.strip().isdigit(), f"Unexpected issue number in output: {line!r}"