diff --git a/system/netlify/functions/index.mjs b/system/netlify/functions/index.mjs
index 554e2a8bcd..18cad743a6 100644
--- a/system/netlify/functions/index.mjs
+++ b/system/netlify/functions/index.mjs
@@ -7,20 +7,22 @@ import { URLSearchParams } from "url";
 import he from "he";
 const { encode } = he;
 import * as num from "../../public/aesthetic.computer/lib/num.mjs";
-import {
-  parse,
-  metadata,
-  inferTitleDesc,
-  updateCode,
-} from "../../public/aesthetic.computer/lib/parse.mjs";
-import { respond } from "../../backend/http.mjs";
-import { handleFromPermahandle } from "../../backend/authorization.mjs";
-import { defaultTemplateStringProcessor as html } from "../../public/aesthetic.computer/lib/helpers.mjs";
-import { networkInterfaces } from "os";
-const dev = process.env.CONTEXT === "dev" || process.env.NETLIFY_DEV === "true";
+import {
+  parse,
+  metadata,
+  inferTitleDesc,
+  updateCode,
+} from "../../public/aesthetic.computer/lib/parse.mjs";
+import { respond } from "../../backend/http.mjs";
+import { handleFromPermahandle } from "../../backend/authorization.mjs";
+import { connect } from "../../backend/database.mjs";
+import { defaultTemplateStringProcessor as html } from "../../public/aesthetic.computer/lib/helpers.mjs";
+import { networkInterfaces } from "os";
+const dev = process.env.CONTEXT === "dev" || process.env.NETLIFY_DEV === "true";
+const BARE_KIDLISP_CODE = /^[0-9A-Za-z]{3,64}$/;
 
 // Fire-and-forget piece hit tracking (don't await, don't block page load)
-async function trackPieceHit(piece, type) {
+async function trackPieceHit(piece, type) {
   try {
     const baseUrl = dev ? "https://localhost:8888" : "https://aesthetic.computer";
     const { got } = await import("got");
@@ -35,7 +37,39 @@ async function trackPieceHit(piece, type) {
     // Silent fail - don't let tracking break page loads
     if (dev) console.log("📊 Hit tracking failed:", e.message);
   }
-}
+}
+
+async function findBareKidlispCode(slug) {
+  if (!BARE_KIDLISP_CODE.test(slug)) return false;
+
+  try {
+    const database = await connect();
+    const record = await database.db.collection("kidlisp").findOne(
+      { code: slug },
+      { projection: { _id: 1 } },
+    );
+    await database.disconnect();
+    return !!record;
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.log(`[kidlisp] Bare /${slug} lookup failed:`, err?.message || err);
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+
+function redirectToKidlispCode(event, code) {
+  const query = new URLSearchParams(event.queryStringParameters || {});
+  const suffix = query.toString() ? `?${query.toString()}` : "";
+  const location = `/$${code}${suffix}`;
+
+  return respond(
+    302,
+    `<a href="${location}">Redirecting to ${location}</a>`,
+    {
+      "Content-Type": "text/html",
+      Location: location,
+    },
+  );
+}
 
 async function fun(event, context) {
   const _startTime = Date.now();
@@ -728,7 +762,7 @@ async function fun(event, context) {
           }
         }
       }
-    } else if (parsed.source) {
+    } else if (parsed.source) {
       // Handle inline kidlisp code that doesn't need file loading
       console.log("[kidlisp] Using inline kidlisp source for metadata");
       
@@ -745,9 +779,14 @@ async function fun(event, context) {
         if (title) {
           meta = { ...meta, title, standaloneTitle: true };
         }
-      }
-    }
-  } catch (err) {
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (statusCode === 404 && !sourceCode && !fromHandle && await findBareKidlispCode(slug)) {
+      console.log(`[kidlisp] Converting bare /${slug} to /$${slug} and redirecting`);
+      return redirectToKidlispCode(event, slug);
+    }
+  } catch (err) {
     // If either module doesn't load, then we can fallback to the main route.
     console.log("🔴 Error loading module:", err, sourceCode);
     return redirect;
diff --git a/system/public/aesthetic.computer/disks/prompt.mjs b/system/public/aesthetic.computer/disks/prompt.mjs
index 21337ef2a5..9a1c99998e 100644
--- a/system/public/aesthetic.computer/disks/prompt.mjs
+++ b/system/public/aesthetic.computer/disks/prompt.mjs
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ const forgetful = true;
 
 const TYPO_REPLY = `
 Use Aesthetic Computer by entering a correct word.\n\nEnter "list" for some available words.\n\nEnter "chat" for help.\n\nText 1-508-728-4043 for tips.\n\n - @jeffrey`.trim();
+const BARE_KIDLISP_CODE = /^[0-9A-Za-z]{3,64}$/;
 
 import { Android, MetaBrowser, iOS } from "../lib/platform.mjs";
 import { validateHandle } from "../lib/text.mjs";
@@ -4140,6 +4141,11 @@ async function halt($, text) {
     } else {
       body = parse(trimmed);
       loaded = await load(body); // Execute the current command.
+
+      // Bare code fallback: let `duv` resolve to `$duv` when no disk named `duv` exists.
+      if (!loaded && BARE_KIDLISP_CODE.test(trimmed) && !trimmed.startsWith("$")) {
+        loaded = await load(parse(`$${trimmed}`));
+      }
     }
 
     // console.log("Loaded:", loaded);