diff --git a/plugins/kanban/dashboard/dist/index.js b/plugins/kanban/dashboard/dist/index.js
index af6ba426c5c5..8ecde8612ed2 100644
--- a/plugins/kanban/dashboard/dist/index.js
+++ b/plugins/kanban/dashboard/dist/index.js
@@ -1888,6 +1888,7 @@
     const [name, setName] = useState("");
     const [description, setDescription] = useState("");
     const [icon, setIcon] = useState("");
+    const [projectDirectory, setProjectDirectory] = useState("");
     const [switchTo, setSwitchTo] = useState(true);
     const [submitting, setSubmitting] = useState(false);
     const [err, setErr] = useState(null);
@@ -1912,6 +1913,7 @@
         name: name.trim() || autoName || undefined,
         description: description.trim() || undefined,
         icon: icon.trim() || undefined,
+        default_workdir: projectDirectory.trim() || undefined,
         switch: switchTo,
       }).catch(function (e) {
         setErr(String(e && e.message ? e.message : e));
@@ -1967,6 +1969,27 @@
               className: "h-8",
             }),
           ),
+          h("div", { className: "flex flex-col gap-1" },
+            h(Label, { className: "text-xs" },
+              tx(t, "projectDirectory", "Project directory"), " ",
+              h("span", { className: "text-muted-foreground" },
+                tx(t, "projectDirectoryHint", "(recommended)"))),
+            h(Input, {
+              value: projectDirectory,
+              onChange: function (e) { setProjectDirectory(e.target.value); },
+              placeholder: tx(t, "projectDirectoryPlaceholder",
+                "Absolute path to the project folder"),
+              title: tx(t, "projectDirectoryHelp",
+                "Git projects use preserved worktrees. Other folders use the directory directly. Leave blank only for temporary work."),
+              className: "h-8",
+              autoCapitalize: "none",
+              autoCorrect: "off",
+              spellCheck: false,
+            }),
+            h("div", { className: "text-xs text-muted-foreground" },
+              tx(t, "projectDirectoryExplanation",
+                "Sets the default location for task files so project output is preserved.")),
+          ),
           h("div", { className: "flex flex-col gap-1" },
             h(Label, { className: "text-xs" }, tx(t, "icon", "Icon"), " ",
               h("span", { className: "text-muted-foreground" },
diff --git a/plugins/kanban/dashboard/plugin_api.py b/plugins/kanban/dashboard/plugin_api.py
index b2fc468de5d0..428f372384d6 100644
--- a/plugins/kanban/dashboard/plugin_api.py
+++ b/plugins/kanban/dashboard/plugin_api.py
@@ -1982,6 +1982,7 @@ class CreateBoardBody(BaseModel):
     description: Optional[str] = None
     icon: Optional[str] = None
     color: Optional[str] = None
+    default_workdir: Optional[str] = None
     switch: bool = False
 
 
@@ -2037,6 +2038,20 @@ def list_boards(include_archived: bool = Query(False)):
 @router.post("/boards")
 def create_board_endpoint(payload: CreateBoardBody):
     """Create a new board. Idempotent — ``slug`` collision returns existing."""
+    default_workdir = None
+    if payload.default_workdir:
+        requested = Path(payload.default_workdir).expanduser()
+        if not requested.is_absolute():
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=400,
+                detail="Project directory must be an absolute path.",
+            )
+        if not requested.is_dir():
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=400,
+                detail="Project directory must be an existing directory.",
+            )
+        default_workdir = str(requested.resolve())
     try:
         meta = kanban_db.create_board(
             payload.slug,
@@ -2044,6 +2059,7 @@ def create_board_endpoint(payload: CreateBoardBody):
             description=payload.description,
             icon=payload.icon,
             color=payload.color,
+            default_workdir=default_workdir,
         )
     except ValueError as exc:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail=str(exc))
@@ -2052,6 +2068,7 @@ def create_board_endpoint(payload: CreateBoardBody):
             kanban_db.set_current_board(meta["slug"])
         except ValueError as exc:
             raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail=str(exc))
+    meta["default_workspace_kind"] = _default_workspace_kind(meta)
     return {"board": meta, "current": kanban_db.get_current_board()}
 
 
diff --git a/tests/plugins/test_kanban_dashboard_plugin.py b/tests/plugins/test_kanban_dashboard_plugin.py
index 1ec04e8dbc07..b7ab24ec2952 100644
--- a/tests/plugins/test_kanban_dashboard_plugin.py
+++ b/tests/plugins/test_kanban_dashboard_plugin.py
@@ -138,6 +138,58 @@ def test_board_list_recommends_persistent_workspace_for_configured_workdir(
     assert boards["disposable"]["default_workspace_kind"] == "scratch"
 
 
+def test_create_board_persists_project_directory(client, tmp_path):
+    """The dashboard board form should anchor future tasks to its project."""
+    project_dir = tmp_path / "project"
+    project_dir.mkdir()
+
+    response = client.post(
+        "/api/plugins/kanban/boards",
+        json={
+            "slug": "project-board",
+            "name": "Project Board",
+            "default_workdir": str(project_dir),
+        },
+    )
+
+    assert response.status_code == 200, response.text
+    board = response.json()["board"]
+    assert board["default_workdir"] == str(project_dir.resolve())
+    assert board["default_workspace_kind"] == "dir"
+    assert kb.read_board_metadata("project-board")["default_workdir"] == str(
+        project_dir.resolve()
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("path", ["relative/project", "~/missing-project"])
+def test_create_board_rejects_invalid_project_directory(client, path):
+    """A board must not persist a path that cannot anchor worker output."""
+    response = client.post(
+        "/api/plugins/kanban/boards",
+        json={"slug": "invalid-project", "default_workdir": path},
+    )
+
+    assert response.status_code == 400
+    assert "project directory" in response.json()["detail"].lower()
+
+
+def test_new_board_dialog_collects_project_directory():
+    """Board creation should expose the setting that controls safe task defaults."""
+    bundle = (
+        Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
+        / "plugins"
+        / "kanban"
+        / "dashboard"
+        / "dist"
+        / "index.js"
+    ).read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+    assert 'const [projectDirectory, setProjectDirectory] = useState("");' in bundle
+    assert "Project directory" in bundle
+    assert "Absolute path to the project folder" in bundle
+    assert "default_workdir: projectDirectory.trim() || undefined" in bundle
+
+
 def test_dashboard_workspace_picker_explains_persistence_contract():
     """Task creation must make scratch deletion visible without a hover."""
     bundle = (