diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/meta.rs b/hive-c0re/src/meta.rs
index 30c29589..e75ee4fb 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/meta.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/meta.rs
@@ -148,6 +148,13 @@ pub async fn sync_agents(
     if crate::tool_groups::tool_groups_path().exists() {
         git(&dir, &["add", "tool-groups.json"]).await?;
     }
+    // Stage roles.json when it exists. Written by topology::write_roles /
+    // reconcile_roles on first role assignment or manager default seeding.
+    // Without this, roles.json appears as untracked in the meta repo
+    // (visible in `git status`) which can confuse nix dirty-tree fetches.
+    if crate::topology::roles_path().exists() {
+        git(&dir, &["add", "roles.json"]).await?;
+    }
     nix(&dir, &["flake", "lock"]).await?;
     if std::path::Path::new(&dir).join("flake.lock").exists() {
         git(&dir, &["add", "flake.lock"]).await?;