diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e344185..adb34ec 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -38,7 +38,12 @@ issue-comment API. In issue, pull-request, and unread-update conversations, typi
 at least two characters after `@` offers repository-scoped teammate suggestions;
 touch or keyboard selection inserts the login without leaving the draft. Mention
 lookup failure never blocks literal text or comment delivery. Mobile issue capture requires issue
-creation and assignment permission. Once a repository and meaningful title are selected,
+creation and assignment permission. A fresh capture never silently targets the first repository:
+the operator must explicitly choose one, either from the paginated browser or through the bounded
+authenticated repository search. Search results include only visible repository identities, stale
+responses cannot replace a newer query, and search failure leaves the draft and browse fallback
+intact. Saved drafts restore their exact repository even when it is outside the first page. Once a
+repository and meaningful title are selected,
 the New issue sheet checks for similar open issues in that repository. Candidate links keep
 the draft intact; the first create attempt pauses until the operator reviews them or explicitly
 chooses **Create anyway**. This check is advisory and never blocks offline capture or capture
diff --git a/frontend/create-issue-sheet.js b/frontend/create-issue-sheet.js
index 64c6ca8..a1e17fc 100644
--- a/frontend/create-issue-sheet.js
+++ b/frontend/create-issue-sheet.js
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ function createIssueCapture({ fetchJson, storage, createOperationId = newIssueOp
   const sharedStorageKey = 'stackchain.issue-share.v1';
   let pending = null;
   let duplicateRequest = 0;
+  let repositorySearchRequest = 0;
   let duplicateState = {status: 'idle', key: '', candidates: []};
   let acknowledgedDuplicateKey = '';
   const repositoryPageRequests = new Map();
@@ -159,6 +160,25 @@ function createIssueCapture({ fetchJson, storage, createOperationId = newIssueOp
     return request;
   }
 
+  async function searchRepositories(value) {
+    const query = String(value || '').trim().slice(0, 80);
+    const request = ++repositorySearchRequest;
+    if (query.length < 2) return {status: 'idle', items: []};
+    try {
+      const payload = await fetchJson(
+        'api/v1/repositories/search?q=' + encodeURIComponent(query) + '&limit=20'
+      );
+      if (request !== repositorySearchRequest) return {status: 'stale', items: []};
+      return {
+        status: 'ready',
+        items: Array.isArray(payload?.items) ? payload.items : [],
+      };
+    } catch (error) {
+      if (request !== repositorySearchRequest) return {status: 'stale', items: []};
+      return {status: 'failed', items: [], error};
+    }
+  }
+
   function duplicateKey(draft) {
     const repository = String(draft?.repository || '').trim();
     const title = String(draft?.title || '').replace(/\s+/g, ' ').trim();
@@ -230,7 +250,8 @@ function createIssueCapture({ fetchJson, storage, createOperationId = newIssueOp
   }
 
   return {
-    saveDraft, loadDraft, clearDraft, loadLabels, loadMilestones, loadRepositoryPage, findDuplicates,
+    saveDraft, loadDraft, clearDraft, loadLabels, loadMilestones, loadRepositoryPage,
+    searchRepositories, findDuplicates,
     needsDuplicateAcknowledgement, acknowledgeDuplicates, submit,
     stageSharedContent, pendingSharedContent, acceptSharedContent, discardSharedContent,
   };
diff --git a/frontend/dashboard.css b/frontend/dashboard.css
index 49fa492..e622186 100644
--- a/frontend/dashboard.css
+++ b/frontend/dashboard.css
@@ -349,6 +349,12 @@ textarea { resize: vertical; min-height: 120px; }
 .create-issue-form { display:grid; gap:12px; }
 .create-issue-attachment { display:grid; gap:8px; min-width:0; }
 .create-issue-repository-more { min-height:44px; width:100%; }
+.create-issue-repository-picker { min-width:0; display:grid; gap:8px; }
+.create-issue-repository-picker input { min-width:0; min-height:44px; width:100%; padding:8px; border-radius:8px; border:1px solid #1f3a5f; background:#0b1526; color:#e5e7eb; }
+#create-issue-repository-results { display:grid; max-height:min(36dvh,280px); overflow:auto; border:1px solid #2a496e; border-radius:10px; }
+#create-issue-repository-results[hidden] { display:none; }
+.create-issue-repository-result { min-height:44px; min-width:0; padding:10px 12px; overflow-wrap:anywhere; text-align:left; border:0; border-bottom:1px solid #1f3a5f; border-radius:0; background:#10213a; color:#e5e7eb; }
+.create-issue-repository-result:last-child { border-bottom:0; }
 .create-issue-form label { display:grid; gap:6px; }
 .create-issue-form select, .create-issue-form input[type="date"] { min-height:44px; padding:8px; border-radius:8px; border:1px solid #1f3a5f; background:#0b1526; color:#e5e7eb; }
 .create-issue-labels { display:grid; gap:8px; margin:0; padding:0; border:0; }
diff --git a/frontend/dashboard.js b/frontend/dashboard.js
index 9a65365..f68f4db 100644
--- a/frontend/dashboard.js
+++ b/frontend/dashboard.js
@@ -2558,6 +2558,7 @@
   let issueCaptureRepositories = [];
   let nextIssueRepositoryPage = 2;
   let moreIssueRepositoriesAvailable = false;
+  let issueRepositorySearchTimer = null;
 
   function appendIssueRepositories(items) {
     const select = qs('#create-issue-repository');
@@ -2576,6 +2577,43 @@
     if (selected) select.value = selected;
   }
 
+  function updateIssueCreateActions() {
+    const hasRepository = Boolean(qs('#create-issue-repository').value);
+    qs('#submit-new-issue').disabled = !hasRepository;
+    qs('#create-and-start-issue').disabled = !hasRepository || !createAndStart.available();
+  }
+
+  function renderIssueRepositoryResults(items) {
+    const results = qs('#create-issue-repository-results');
+    results.replaceChildren();
+    (Array.isArray(items) ? items : []).forEach(item => {
+      const repository = String(item?.full_name || '').trim();
+      if (!repository) return;
+      const button = document.createElement('button');
+      button.type = 'button';
+      button.className = 'create-issue-repository-result';
+      button.setAttribute('role', 'option');
+      button.textContent = repository;
+      button.addEventListener('click', () => selectIssueCaptureRepository(repository));
+      results.appendChild(button);
+    });
+    results.hidden = !results.childElementCount;
+  }
+
+  function selectIssueCaptureRepository(repository) {
+    appendIssueRepositories([{full_name: repository}]);
+    qs('#create-issue-repository').value = repository;
+    qs('#create-issue-repository-search').value = repository;
+    qs('#create-issue-repository-results').hidden = true;
+    qs('#create-issue-repository-status').textContent = 'Selected ' + repository + '.';
+    loadIssueLabels(repository);
+    loadIssueMilestones(repository);
+    saveIssueCaptureDraft();
+    scheduleIssueDuplicateCheck();
+    updateIssueCreateActions();
+    qs('#create-issue-title').focus();
+  }
+
   let duplicateCheckTimer = null;
   function renderIssueDuplicates(state) {
     if (state.status === 'stale') return;
@@ -2703,7 +2741,7 @@
     if (captureDraft.repository && !issueCaptureRepositories.includes(captureDraft.repository)) {
       issueCaptureRepositories.unshift(captureDraft.repository);
     }
-    qs('#create-issue-repository').innerHTML = issueCaptureRepositories.map(repository =>
+    qs('#create-issue-repository').innerHTML = '<option value="">Choose repository</option>' + issueCaptureRepositories.map(repository =>
       '<option value="' + escAttr(repository) + '">' + escapeHtml(repository) + '</option>'
     ).join('');
     if (nextIssueRepositoryPage === 2) {
@@ -2711,6 +2749,9 @@
     }
     qs('#load-more-issue-repositories').hidden = !moreIssueRepositoriesAvailable;
     if (captureDraft.repository) qs('#create-issue-repository').value = captureDraft.repository;
+    else qs('#create-issue-repository').value = '';
+    qs('#create-issue-repository-search').value = captureDraft.repository || '';
+    qs('#create-issue-repository-results').hidden = true;
     qs('#create-issue-title').value = captureDraft.title;
     qs('#create-issue-body').value = captureDraft.body;
     qs('#create-issue-due-date').value = captureDraft.dueDate || '';
@@ -2718,11 +2759,10 @@
     loadIssueMilestones(qs('#create-issue-repository').value, captureDraft.milestoneId);
     scheduleIssueDuplicateCheck();
     qs('#create-issue-status').textContent = issueCaptureRepositories.length ? '' : 'No accessible repositories are available.';
-    qs('#submit-new-issue').disabled = !issueCaptureRepositories.length;
-    qs('#create-and-start-issue').disabled = !issueCaptureRepositories.length || !createAndStart.available();
+    updateIssueCreateActions();
     qs('#create-issue-sheet').classList.add('open');
     creatingIssue = true;
-    qs('#create-issue-title').focus();
+    (captureDraft.repository ? qs('#create-issue-title') : qs('#create-issue-repository-search')).focus();
   }
 
   let suppressCreateDraftOnHistoryClose = false;
@@ -3564,8 +3604,34 @@
   qs('#create-issue-repository').addEventListener('change', event => {
     loadIssueLabels(event.target.value);
     loadIssueMilestones(event.target.value);
+    qs('#create-issue-repository-search').value = event.target.value;
     saveIssueCaptureDraft();
     scheduleIssueDuplicateCheck();
+    updateIssueCreateActions();
+  });
+  qs('#create-issue-repository-search').addEventListener('input', event => {
+    clearTimeout(issueRepositorySearchTimer);
+    const query = event.target.value.trim();
+    const results = qs('#create-issue-repository-results');
+    const status = qs('#create-issue-repository-status');
+    if (query.length < 2) {
+      issueCapture.searchRepositories(query);
+      results.hidden = true;
+      status.textContent = query ? 'Enter at least 2 characters to search.' : 'Search or browse to choose a repository.';
+      return;
+    }
+    status.textContent = 'Searching accessible repositories…';
+    issueRepositorySearchTimer = setTimeout(async () => {
+      const state = await issueCapture.searchRepositories(query);
+      if (state.status === 'stale') return;
+      if (state.status === 'failed') {
+        results.hidden = true;
+        status.textContent = 'Repository search failed. Your draft is safe; retry or browse below.';
+        return;
+      }
+      renderIssueRepositoryResults(state.items);
+      status.textContent = state.items.length ? 'Choose a matching repository.' : 'No accessible repositories match.';
+    }, 250);
   });
   qs('#load-more-issue-repositories').addEventListener('click', async event => {
     const button = event.currentTarget;
diff --git a/frontend/index.html b/frontend/index.html
index 84a0164..e3f6023 100644
--- a/frontend/index.html
+++ b/frontend/index.html
@@ -408,9 +408,15 @@
       </div>
     </aside>
     <form class="create-issue-form" id="create-issue-form">
-      <label for="create-issue-repository">Repository
-        <select id="create-issue-repository" required></select>
-      </label>
+      <div class="create-issue-repository-picker">
+        <label for="create-issue-repository-search">Repository search
+          <input id="create-issue-repository-search" type="search" maxlength="80" placeholder="Search accessible repositories" autocomplete="off" />
+        </label>
+        <div id="create-issue-repository-results" role="listbox" aria-label="Repository search results" hidden></div>
+        <label for="create-issue-repository">Selected repository
+          <select id="create-issue-repository" required><option value="">Choose repository</option></select>
+        </label>
+      </div>
       <button class="create-issue-repository-more" id="load-more-issue-repositories" type="button" hidden>Load more repositories</button>
       <div id="create-issue-repository-status" class="small" aria-live="polite"></div>
       <label for="create-issue-title">Title
diff --git a/src/gitea_proxy.py b/src/gitea_proxy.py
index a5be57a..e5d6a94 100644
--- a/src/gitea_proxy.py
+++ b/src/gitea_proxy.py
@@ -301,6 +301,21 @@ async def repos() -> RepositoryItems:
     )
 
 
+async def search_repositories(query: str, limit: int = 20) -> list[dict]:
+    """Search repositories visible to the authenticated Gitea user."""
+    response = await _get_client().get(
+        "/api/v1/repos/search",
+        headers=_auth(),
+        params={"q": query.strip(), "limit": limit, "page": 1},
+    )
+    response.raise_for_status()
+    payload = response.json()
+    items = payload.get("data") if isinstance(payload, dict) else None
+    if not isinstance(items, list):
+        raise ValueError("Gitea repository search response was not a list")
+    return [item for item in items if isinstance(item, dict)]
+
+
 async def repository_access(repository: str) -> dict | None:
     """Return a repository only when the authenticated user can access it."""
     response = await _get_client().get(
diff --git a/src/main.py b/src/main.py
index 33bb2ab..3ee5679 100644
--- a/src/main.py
+++ b/src/main.py
@@ -1644,6 +1644,35 @@ async def context() -> JSONResponse:
     return JSONResponse(_context_payload(user_data, repo_data, issues_data, prs_data))
 
 
+@app.get("/api/v1/repositories/search")
+async def repository_search(
+    q: str = Query(min_length=2, max_length=80),
+    limit: int = Query(default=20, ge=1, le=20),
+) -> JSONResponse:
+    """Return minimal repository identities matching a bounded visible-repo search."""
+    query = q.strip()
+    if len(query) < 2:
+        return JSONResponse({"error": "Enter at least 2 search characters."}, status_code=400)
+    try:
+        matches = await asyncio.wait_for(
+            gitea_proxy.search_repositories(query, limit),
+            timeout=ISSUE_ACTION_TIMEOUT_SECONDS,
+        )
+    except Exception:
+        return JSONResponse(
+            {"error": "Repository search is temporarily unavailable. Please retry."},
+            status_code=503,
+            headers={"Retry-After": "1"},
+        )
+    items = [
+        {"id": item["id"], "name": item["name"], "full_name": item["full_name"]}
+        for item in matches
+        if isinstance(item, dict)
+        and all(field in item for field in ("id", "name", "full_name"))
+    ]
+    return JSONResponse({"items": items}, headers={"Cache-Control": "no-store"})
+
+
 @app.get("/api/v1/repositories")
 async def repository_page(
     page: int = Query(default=1, ge=1, le=1000),
diff --git a/tests/test_issue_api.py b/tests/test_issue_api.py
index f2bce99..fcdda96 100644
--- a/tests/test_issue_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_issue_api.py
@@ -430,6 +430,62 @@ async def test_repository_page_reports_more_results_and_targeted_access_uses_rep
     ]
 
 
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_repository_search_finds_visible_repositories_without_loading_pages():
+    requests = []
+
+    def handler(request: httpx.Request) -> httpx.Response:
+        requests.append((request.url.path, dict(request.url.params)))
+        return httpx.Response(200, json={
+            "ok": True,
+            "data": [
+                {"id": 151, "name": "mobile", "full_name": "stackchain/mobile", "private": True},
+                "invalid",
+            ],
+        })
+
+    gitea_proxy.start_client(transport=httpx.MockTransport(handler))
+    try:
+        result = await gitea_proxy.search_repositories("  mobile  ", limit=20)
+    finally:
+        await gitea_proxy.stop_client()
+
+    assert result == [{
+        "id": 151, "name": "mobile", "full_name": "stackchain/mobile", "private": True,
+    }]
+    assert requests == [(
+        "/api/v1/repos/search", {"q": "mobile", "limit": "20", "page": "1"},
+    )]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_repository_search_endpoint_returns_minimal_visible_matches(monkeypatch):
+    calls = []
+
+    async def search(query, limit):
+        calls.append((query, limit))
+        return [{
+            "id": 151,
+            "name": "mobile",
+            "full_name": "stackchain/mobile",
+            "html_url": "https://forge.example/stackchain/mobile",
+            "description": "secret context that the picker does not need",
+            "private": True,
+        }]
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(main.gitea_proxy, "search_repositories", search)
+    transport = httpx.ASGITransport(app=main.app)
+    async with httpx.AsyncClient(transport=transport, base_url="http://test") as client:
+        response = await client.get("/api/v1/repositories/search?q=%20mobile%20&limit=20")
+
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    assert response.headers["cache-control"] == "no-store"
+    assert response.json() == {"items": [{
+        "id": 151, "name": "mobile", "full_name": "stackchain/mobile",
+    }]}
+    assert calls == [("mobile", 20)]
+
+
 @pytest.mark.anyio
 async def test_repository_page_endpoint_and_issue_creation_support_later_repository(monkeypatch):
     access_calls = []
diff --git a/tests/test_my_work.py b/tests/test_my_work.py
index bf3b26a..5d7139f 100644
--- a/tests/test_my_work.py
+++ b/tests/test_my_work.py
@@ -2397,6 +2397,23 @@ async def test_mobile_issue_capture_can_load_more_repositories_without_leaving_f
     assert '.create-issue-repository-more { min-height:44px;' in html
 
 
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_mobile_issue_capture_requires_explicit_searchable_repository_selection():
+    html = await dashboard()
+
+    assert 'id="create-issue-repository-search" type="search" maxlength="80"' in html
+    assert 'placeholder="Search accessible repositories"' in html
+    assert 'id="create-issue-repository-results" role="listbox"' in html
+    assert '<option value="">Choose repository</option>' in html
+    assert "issueCapture.searchRepositories(query)" in html
+    assert "if (query.length < 2) {\n      issueCapture.searchRepositories(query);" in html
+    assert "renderIssueRepositoryResults(state.items)" in html
+    assert "selectIssueCaptureRepository(repository)" in html
+    assert "const hasRepository = Boolean(qs('#create-issue-repository').value);" in html
+    assert '.create-issue-repository-result { min-height:44px;' in html
+    assert '.create-issue-repository-picker { min-width:0;' in html
+
+
 @pytest.mark.anyio
 async def test_mobile_assigned_issue_sheet_exposes_touch_sized_content_editor():
     html = await dashboard()
@@ -2545,6 +2562,53 @@ capture.loadRepositoryPage(2).catch(() => {{
     }
 
 
+def test_issue_capture_repository_search_ignores_late_results_and_preserves_draft():
+    script = f"""
+const createIssueCapture = require({json.dumps(str(CREATE_ISSUE_SHEET))});
+const values = new Map();
+const storage = {{
+  getItem:key => values.get(key) || null,
+  setItem:(key,value) => values.set(key,value),
+  removeItem:key => values.delete(key),
+}};
+const pending = {{}};
+const calls = [];
+const capture = createIssueCapture({{
+  storage,
+  fetchJson: url => {{
+    calls.push(url);
+    return new Promise(resolve => {{ pending[url] = resolve; }});
+  }},
+}});
+capture.saveDraft({{repository:'stackchain/api', title:'Keep me', body:'Context', labelIds:[3]}});
+const first = capture.searchRepositories('mob');
+const second = capture.searchRepositories('mobile');
+pending['api/v1/repositories/search?q=mobile&limit=20']({{items:[{{full_name:'stackchain/mobile'}}]}});
+second.then(secondResult => {{
+  pending['api/v1/repositories/search?q=mob&limit=20']({{items:[{{full_name:'stackchain/obsolete'}}]}});
+  first.then(firstResult => process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify({{
+    calls, firstResult, secondResult, draft:capture.loadDraft()
+  }})));
+}});
+"""
+    result = subprocess.run(
+        ["node", "-e", script], check=True, capture_output=True, text=True
+    )
+    output = json.loads(result.stdout)
+
+    assert output == {
+        "calls": [
+            "api/v1/repositories/search?q=mob&limit=20",
+            "api/v1/repositories/search?q=mobile&limit=20",
+        ],
+        "firstResult": {"status": "stale", "items": []},
+        "secondResult": {"status": "ready", "items": [{"full_name": "stackchain/mobile"}]},
+        "draft": {
+            "repository": "stackchain/api", "title": "Keep me", "body": "Context", "labelIds": [3],
+        },
+    }
+
+
 def test_issue_capture_reuses_its_persisted_idempotency_key_after_reload():
     script = f"""
 const createIssueCapture = require({json.dumps(str(CREATE_ISSUE_SHEET))});