diff --git a/.changeset/noble-wasps-greet.md b/.changeset/noble-wasps-greet.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c89e3b5ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/noble-wasps-greet.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+type: Fixed
+pr: 2234
+---
+**`phase complete` no longer false-reports REQ-IDs as missing when the traceability table leads with a status column** — the parser required the REQ-ID in the first column, so a table shaped `| ☐ | REQ-01 | …` matched zero rows and every body REQ-ID was reported missing. It now matches REQ-IDs in any column. (#2203)
diff --git a/src/phase.cts b/src/phase.cts
index 57f23c655..97dec6580 100644
--- a/src/phase.cts
+++ b/src/phase.cts
@@ -1672,7 +1672,11 @@ function cmdPhaseComplete(cwd: string, phaseNum: string, raw: boolean): void {
             ? reqContent.slice(traceabilityHeadingMatch.index)
             : '';
           const tableReqIds = new Set<string>();
-          const tableRowPat = /^\|\s*([A-Z][A-Z0-9]*-\d+)\s*\|/gm;
+          // #2203: match REQ-IDs in any pipe-delimited cell (not just the first
+          // column) so a traceability table that leads with a status column (e.g.
+          // | ☐ | REQ-01 | …) is parsed correctly instead of reporting every row
+          // as missing.
+          const tableRowPat = /\|\s*([A-Z][A-Z0-9]*-\d+)\s*\|/g;
           let tableMatch: RegExpExecArray | null;
           while ((tableMatch = tableRowPat.exec(traceabilitySection)) !== null) {
             tableReqIds.add(tableMatch[1]);