diff --git a/internal/store/store.go b/internal/store/store.go
index 7348f23..8d52c91 100644
--- a/internal/store/store.go
+++ b/internal/store/store.go
@@ -54,6 +54,11 @@ func ResolveBoard(flag string) (string, error) {
 	if name == "" {
 		name = os.Getenv("SHEPHERD_BOARD")
 	}
+	// "default" is the label `boards` advertises for the empty-named default
+	// board; accept it back so a name read from that listing round-trips.
+	if name == "default" {
+		return "", nil
+	}
 	if name != "" && !boardRE.MatchString(name) {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("invalid board name %q (use letters, digits, . _ -)", name)
 	}
@@ -185,6 +190,9 @@ func CreateBoard(name string) error {
 	if err := ValidBoard(name); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	if name == "default" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("board %q is reserved for the default board", name)
+	}
 	p := TodoPathFor(name)
 	if fileExists(p) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("board %q already exists", name)
diff --git a/internal/store/store_test.go b/internal/store/store_test.go
index 6f3120b..fefe126 100644
--- a/internal/store/store_test.go
+++ b/internal/store/store_test.go
@@ -282,6 +282,13 @@ func TestResolveBoard(t *testing.T) {
 	if got, err := ResolveBoard(""); err != nil || got != "" {
 		t.Fatalf("empty -> default: %q %v", got, err)
 	}
+	// "default" (the name `boards` advertises) round-trips to the empty board.
+	if got, err := ResolveBoard("default"); err != nil || got != "" {
+		t.Fatalf(`"default" -> empty: %q %v`, got, err)
+	}
+	if err := CreateBoard("default"); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal(`"default" should be reserved`)
+	}
 	if _, err := ResolveBoard("../evil"); err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("traversal via flag not rejected")
 	}