diff --git a/commands/gsd/add-backlog.md b/commands/gsd/add-backlog.md
index ef7b389f7..0ea4de97d 100644
--- a/commands/gsd/add-backlog.md
+++ b/commands/gsd/add-backlog.md
@@ -27,14 +27,10 @@ the normal phase sequence and accumulate context over time.
    ```
    If no 999.x phases exist, start at 999.1.
 
-3. **Create the phase directory:**
-   ```bash
-   SLUG=$(node "$HOME/.claude/get-shit-done/bin/gsd-tools.cjs" generate-slug "$ARGUMENTS" --raw)
-   mkdir -p ".planning/phases/${NEXT}-${SLUG}"
-   touch ".planning/phases/${NEXT}-${SLUG}/.gitkeep"
-   ```
-
-4. **Add to ROADMAP.md** under a `## Backlog` section. If the section doesn't exist, create it at the end:
+3. **Add to ROADMAP.md** under a `## Backlog` section. If the section doesn't exist, create it at the end.
+   Write the ROADMAP entry BEFORE creating the directory — this ensures directory existence is always
+   a reliable indicator that the phase is already registered, which prevents false duplicate detection
+   in any hook that checks for existing 999.x directories (#2280):
 
    ```markdown
    ## Backlog
@@ -49,6 +45,13 @@ the normal phase sequence and accumulate context over time.
    - [ ] TBD (promote with /gsd-review-backlog when ready)
    ```
 
+4. **Create the phase directory:**
+   ```bash
+   SLUG=$(node "$HOME/.claude/get-shit-done/bin/gsd-tools.cjs" generate-slug "$ARGUMENTS" --raw)
+   mkdir -p ".planning/phases/${NEXT}-${SLUG}"
+   touch ".planning/phases/${NEXT}-${SLUG}/.gitkeep"
+   ```
+
 5. **Commit:**
    ```bash
    node "$HOME/.claude/get-shit-done/bin/gsd-tools.cjs" commit "docs: add backlog item ${NEXT} — ${ARGUMENTS}" --files .planning/ROADMAP.md ".planning/phases/${NEXT}-${SLUG}/.gitkeep"