diff --git a/src/main/runtime/runtime-local-git-worktree-create.ts b/src/main/runtime/runtime-local-git-worktree-create.ts
index 9e5d4cdfac3..8977efb0dda 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/runtime-local-git-worktree-create.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/runtime-local-git-worktree-create.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,54 @@ import {
 } from '../worktree-name-retirement'
 import type { WorktreeCreateTimingRecorder } from '../worktree-create-timing'
 
+export type RuntimeLocalBaseRefRefresh = {
+  /** Awaits the deferred refresh started before naming, if any. */
+  finish: () => Promise<void>
+}
+
+// Why: the deferred refresh can change neither the base nor the name, so start it before naming
+// and await it before the add, as the desktop create does; naming's PR lookup overlaps it.
+export function startRuntimeLocalBaseRefRefresh(args: {
+  repoPath: string
+  base: RuntimeLocalWorktreeCreateBase
+  localWorktreeGitOptions: LocalGitExecOptions
+  refreshRemoteTrackingBase: (
+    repoPath: string,
+    base: RemoteTrackingBase,
+    options?: LocalGitExecOptions
+  ) => Promise<RemoteFetchResult>
+  fetchRemote: (repoPath: string, remote: string, options?: LocalGitExecOptions) => Promise<void>
+  timing: WorktreeCreateTimingRecorder
+}): RuntimeLocalBaseRefRefresh {
+  const { remoteTrackingBase, deferredRefresh } = args.base
+  if (remoteTrackingBase && deferredRefresh === 'tracking_ref') {
+    const refresh = args.refreshRemoteTrackingBase(
+      args.repoPath,
+      remoteTrackingBase,
+      args.localWorktreeGitOptions
+    )
+    // Why: naming can throw before finish() awaits the refresh.
+    void refresh.catch(() => undefined)
+    return {
+      finish: async () => {
+        await args.timing.time('refresh_base_ref', () => refresh)
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  if (deferredRefresh === 'origin') {
+    const originFetch = args.fetchRemote(args.repoPath, 'origin', args.localWorktreeGitOptions)
+    void originFetch.catch(() => undefined)
+    return {
+      finish: async () => {
+        try {
+          await args.timing.time('refresh_base_ref', () => originFetch)
+        } catch {}
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return { finish: async () => {} }
+}
+
 export async function createRuntimeLocalGitWorktree(args: {
   request: RuntimeManagedWorktreeCreateArgs
   repo: Repo
@@ -43,12 +91,7 @@ export async function createRuntimeLocalGitWorktree(args: {
   effectiveSanitizedName?: string
   checkoutExistingBranch: boolean
   localWorktreeGitOptions: LocalGitExecOptions
-  refreshRemoteTrackingBase: (
-    repoPath: string,
-    base: RemoteTrackingBase,
-    options?: LocalGitExecOptions
-  ) => Promise<RemoteFetchResult>
-  fetchRemote: (repoPath: string, remote: string, options?: LocalGitExecOptions) => Promise<void>
+  baseRefRefresh: RuntimeLocalBaseRefRefresh
   rearm: PreparationRearmHolder
   timing: WorktreeCreateTimingRecorder
 }): Promise<{
@@ -57,22 +100,8 @@ export async function createRuntimeLocalGitWorktree(args: {
   created: GitWorktreeInfo
   addResult: AddWorktreeResult
 }> {
-  const { baseBranch, remoteTrackingBase, deferredRefresh } = args.base
-  if (remoteTrackingBase && deferredRefresh === 'tracking_ref') {
-    await args.timing.time('refresh_base_ref', () =>
-      args.refreshRemoteTrackingBase(
-        args.repo.path,
-        remoteTrackingBase,
-        args.localWorktreeGitOptions
-      )
-    )
-  } else if (deferredRefresh === 'origin') {
-    try {
-      await args.timing.time('refresh_base_ref', () =>
-        args.fetchRemote(args.repo.path, 'origin', args.localWorktreeGitOptions)
-      )
-    } catch {}
-  }
+  const { baseBranch, remoteTrackingBase } = args.base
+  await args.baseRefRefresh.finish()
   const sparseDirectories = args.request.sparseCheckout
     ? normalizeSparseDirectories(args.request.sparseCheckout.directories)
     : []
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/runtime-local-worktree-create.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/runtime-local-worktree-create.test.ts
index b6de7eb4f76..0bef4694b4d 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/runtime-local-worktree-create.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/runtime-local-worktree-create.test.ts
@@ -140,8 +140,10 @@ function createWorktree(
     createdWithAgent: undefined,
     resolveRemoteTrackingBase: mocks.remoteBase,
     hasRemoteTrackingRef: mocks.hasRemoteRef,
-    refreshRemoteTrackingBase: mocks.refresh,
-    fetchRemote: mocks.fetch,
+    // Why: a vi.fn marks the promise it returns as handled; a fresh promise keeps
+    // an unawaited fetch rejection visible to the unhandled-rejection checks.
+    refreshRemoteTrackingBase: async (...refreshArgs) => await mocks.refresh(...refreshArgs),
+    fetchRemote: async (...fetchArgs) => await mocks.fetch(...fetchArgs),
     onWorktreeMetadataPersisted: () => undefined,
     rearm,
     timing
@@ -403,6 +405,135 @@ describe('runtime create Git priority', () => {
   })
 })
 
+describe('runtime create PR conflict probe', () => {
+  const remoteTrackingBase = {
+    remote: 'origin',
+    branch: 'main',
+    base: 'origin/main',
+    ref: 'refs/remotes/origin/main'
+  }
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    mocks.branchName.mockImplementation(async (_path, _override, name: string) => name)
+  })
+
+  it('runs the first name PR lookup while the base fetch is still in flight', async () => {
+    mocks.remoteBase.mockResolvedValue(remoteTrackingBase)
+    let finishFetch!: () => void
+    mocks.refresh.mockReturnValue(
+      new Promise((resolve) => {
+        finishFetch = () => resolve({ ok: true })
+      })
+    )
+    let fetchPendingAtLookup = false
+    mocks.githubPr.mockImplementation(async () => {
+      fetchPendingAtLookup = mocks.refresh.mock.calls.length === 1
+      finishFetch?.()
+      return null
+    })
+
+    await createWorktree()
+
+    expect(fetchPendingAtLookup).toBe(true)
+    expect(mocks.githubPr).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/repo', 'app', {})
+    expect(mocks.consume).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        branch: 'app',
+        options: expect.objectContaining({ remoteTrackingBase })
+      })
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('suffixes past a PR on the first name', async () => {
+    mocks.githubPr.mockResolvedValueOnce({ number: 7, state: 'closed' }).mockResolvedValue(null)
+
+    await createWorktree()
+
+    expect(mocks.githubPr.mock.calls.map(([, branch]) => branch)).toEqual(['app', 'app-2'])
+    expect(mocks.consume).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({ branch: 'app-2' }))
+  })
+
+  it.each([undefined, 'Ubuntu'])(
+    'probes the next name for a PR once the first name collides, routed for %s',
+    async (wslDistro) => {
+      const routing = wslDistro ? { wslDistro } : {}
+      mocks.routing.mockReturnValue(routing)
+      mocks.branchConflict.mockResolvedValueOnce('local').mockResolvedValue(null)
+
+      await createWorktree()
+
+      expect(mocks.githubPr).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+      expect(mocks.githubPr).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/repo', 'app-2', routing)
+    }
+  )
+
+  it('skips a later name that already has a PR', async () => {
+    mocks.branchConflict.mockResolvedValueOnce('local').mockResolvedValue(null)
+    mocks.githubPr.mockResolvedValueOnce({ number: 7, state: 'closed' }).mockResolvedValue(null)
+
+    await createWorktree()
+
+    expect(mocks.githubPr.mock.calls.map(([, branch]) => branch)).toEqual(['app-2', 'app-3'])
+    expect(mocks.consume).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({ branch: 'app-3' }))
+  })
+
+  it('reports the naming failure when the started base fetch also fails', async () => {
+    mocks.remoteBase.mockResolvedValue(remoteTrackingBase)
+    mocks.refresh.mockRejectedValue(new Error('offline'))
+    mocks.branchConflict.mockResolvedValue('local')
+    const unhandled = vi.fn()
+    process.on('unhandledRejection', unhandled)
+    try {
+      await expect(createWorktree()).rejects.toThrow('Branch "app-')
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setImmediate(resolve))
+      expect(mocks.refresh).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+      expect(unhandled).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+      expect(mocks.consume).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    } finally {
+      process.off('unhandledRejection', unhandled)
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('runs the first name PR lookup while the origin fetch is still in flight', async () => {
+    mocks.hasBase.mockResolvedValue(false)
+    let finishFetch!: () => void
+    mocks.fetch.mockReturnValue(
+      new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+        finishFetch = resolve
+      })
+    )
+    let fetchPendingAtLookup = false
+    mocks.githubPr.mockImplementation(async () => {
+      fetchPendingAtLookup = mocks.fetch.mock.calls.length === 1
+      finishFetch?.()
+      return null
+    })
+
+    await createWorktree()
+
+    expect(fetchPendingAtLookup).toBe(true)
+    expect(mocks.fetch).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/repo', 'origin', {})
+    expect(mocks.consume).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({ branch: 'app' }))
+  })
+
+  it('reports the naming failure when the started origin fetch also fails', async () => {
+    mocks.hasBase.mockResolvedValue(false)
+    mocks.fetch.mockRejectedValue(new Error('offline'))
+    mocks.branchConflict.mockResolvedValue('local')
+    const unhandled = vi.fn()
+    process.on('unhandledRejection', unhandled)
+    try {
+      await expect(createWorktree()).rejects.toThrow('Branch "app-')
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setImmediate(resolve))
+      expect(mocks.fetch).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+      expect(unhandled).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+      expect(mocks.consume).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    } finally {
+      process.off('unhandledRejection', unhandled)
+    }
+  })
+})
+
 describe('runtime create base without a tracking ref', () => {
   const originMain = {
     remote: 'origin',
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/runtime-local-worktree-create.ts b/src/main/runtime/runtime-local-worktree-create.ts
index 6e50b3ce309..f16f7caf669 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/runtime-local-worktree-create.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/runtime-local-worktree-create.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,10 @@ import type { RemoteFetchResult, RemoteTrackingBase } from './runtime-remote-fet
 import type { HostedReviewExecutionOptions } from '../source-control/hosted-review-git-options'
 import { hasLocalWorktreeBaseRef } from '../git/worktree-base-ref-probe'
 import { resolveRuntimeLocalWorktreeCreateCandidate } from './runtime-local-worktree-create-candidate'
-import { createRuntimeLocalGitWorktree } from './runtime-local-git-worktree-create'
+import {
+  createRuntimeLocalGitWorktree,
+  startRuntimeLocalBaseRefRefresh
+} from './runtime-local-git-worktree-create'
 import { resolveRuntimeLocalWorktreeCreateBase } from './runtime-local-worktree-create-base'
 import { materializeRuntimeLocalWorktree } from './runtime-local-worktree-materialization'
 import { resolveRuntimeSetupDecision } from './runtime-local-worktree-setup'
@@ -124,6 +127,14 @@ async function performRuntimeLocalWorktreeCreate<T>(args: RuntimeLocalWorktreeCr
     refreshRemoteTrackingBase: args.refreshRemoteTrackingBase,
     timing: args.timing
   })
+  const baseRefRefresh = startRuntimeLocalBaseRefRefresh({
+    repoPath: repo.path,
+    base,
+    localWorktreeGitOptions: worktreeGitOptions,
+    refreshRemoteTrackingBase: args.refreshRemoteTrackingBase,
+    fetchRemote: args.fetchRemote,
+    timing: args.timing
+  })
   const candidate = await args.timing.time('resolve_name', () =>
     resolveRuntimeLocalWorktreeCreateCandidate({
       request,
@@ -150,8 +161,7 @@ async function performRuntimeLocalWorktreeCreate<T>(args: RuntimeLocalWorktreeCr
     effectiveSanitizedName: candidate.effectiveSanitizedName,
     checkoutExistingBranch: candidate.checkoutExistingBranch,
     localWorktreeGitOptions: worktreeGitOptions,
-    refreshRemoteTrackingBase: args.refreshRemoteTrackingBase,
-    fetchRemote: args.fetchRemote,
+    baseRefRefresh,
     rearm: args.rearm,
     timing: args.timing
   })
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/runtime-worktree-create-git.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/runtime-worktree-create-git.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8fe1027b2bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/runtime/runtime-worktree-create-git.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import type * as GitHubClient from '../github/client'
+
+const getPRForBranchMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn())
+
+vi.mock('../github/client', async (importOriginal) => ({
+  ...(await importOriginal<typeof GitHubClient>()),
+  getPRForBranch: getPRForBranchMock
+}))
+
+import { getLocalGitHubPrForBranch } from './runtime-worktree-create-git'
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  getPRForBranchMock.mockReset()
+  getPRForBranchMock.mockResolvedValue(null)
+})
+
+describe('getLocalGitHubPrForBranch', () => {
+  it('routes the PR lookup through the WSL distro', async () => {
+    await getLocalGitHubPrForBranch('/repo', 'app', { wslDistro: 'Ubuntu' })
+
+    expect(getPRForBranchMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/repo', 'app', null, null, null, {
+      localGitExecOptions: { wslDistro: 'Ubuntu' }
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('uses the plain lookup without project git options', async () => {
+    await getLocalGitHubPrForBranch('/repo', 'app', {})
+
+    expect(getPRForBranchMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/repo', 'app')
+  })
+})