diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/ChecksPanel.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/ChecksPanel.tsx
index 9f54c3c8470..1ffcaa6c2cb 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/ChecksPanel.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/ChecksPanel.tsx
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
 } from 'lucide-react'
 import { useAppStore, type AppState } from '@/store'
 import {
+  getGitHubPRRefreshStateExpiryAt,
   mergePRCommentIntoList,
   prChecksCacheSuffix,
   prCommentsCacheSuffix
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@ import {
   getChecksPanelEmptyStateCopy,
   shouldShowChecksPanelPublishBranchAction
 } from './checks-panel-empty-state'
+import { hasAmbiguousGitHubHostedReviewForChecksPanel } from './checks-panel-ambiguous-github-review'
 import {
   cancelRuntimeGeneratePullRequestFields,
   generateRuntimePullRequestFields,
@@ -372,6 +374,7 @@ export default function ChecksPanel(): React.JSX.Element {
   const prCache = useAppStore((s) => s.prCache)
   const fetchPRForBranch = useAppStore((s) => s.fetchPRForBranch)
   const fetchHostedReviewForBranch = useAppStore((s) => s.fetchHostedReviewForBranch)
+  const expireGitHubPRRefreshState = useAppStore((s) => s.expireGitHubPRRefreshState)
   const getHostedReviewCreationEligibility = useAppStore(
     (s) => s.getHostedReviewCreationEligibility
   )
@@ -559,6 +562,7 @@ export default function ChecksPanel(): React.JSX.Element {
   // Done during render (not useEffect) so the reset takes effect on the same
   // paint as the context change; useEffect would leave one stale render.
   const [prevPanelContextKey, setPrevPanelContextKey] = useState(panelContextKey)
+  const [prRefreshStateNow, setPrRefreshStateNow] = useState(() => Date.now())
   if (panelContextKey !== prevPanelContextKey) {
     setPrevPanelContextKey(panelContextKey)
     setEditingTitle(false)
@@ -572,6 +576,7 @@ export default function ChecksPanel(): React.JSX.Element {
     setIsRefreshing(false)
     setEmptyRefreshing(false)
     setConflictDetailsRefreshing(false)
+    setPrRefreshStateNow(Date.now())
     createPrInFlightRef.current = null
     setIsCreatingPr(false)
     setCreatePrError(null)
@@ -619,10 +624,16 @@ export default function ChecksPanel(): React.JSX.Element {
     refreshContextKeyRef.current = refreshContextKey
     refreshRequestKeyRef.current = null
   }
-  const pr: PRInfo | null = prCacheKey ? (prCache[prCacheKey]?.data ?? null) : null
+  const prCacheEntry = prCacheKey ? prCache[prCacheKey] : undefined
+  const pr: PRInfo | null = prCacheEntry?.data ?? null
   const hostedReview = useAppStore((s) =>
     hostedReviewCacheKey ? (s.hostedReviewCache[hostedReviewCacheKey]?.data ?? null) : null
   )
+  const hasAmbiguousGitHubHostedReview = hasAmbiguousGitHubHostedReviewForChecksPanel({
+    hostedReview,
+    prCacheEntry,
+    prCacheKey
+  })
   // Fetch PR data when the active worktree/branch changes.
   // Why: branch lookup is lossy for fork/deleted-head PRs; reuse a known PR
   // number from metadata or the visible cache whenever we have one.
@@ -640,10 +651,36 @@ export default function ChecksPanel(): React.JSX.Element {
   const isGitLabReviewContext = Boolean(activeGitLabReview || linkedGitLabMR !== null)
   const activeConflictReview = activeReview?.mergeable === 'CONFLICTING' ? activeReview : null
   const prRefreshState = useAppStore((s) =>
-    prCacheKey ? s.prRefreshStates[prCacheKey] : undefined
+    prCacheKey ? s.getEffectiveGitHubPRRefreshState(prCacheKey, prRefreshStateNow) : undefined
   )
   const prNumber = pr?.number ?? null
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const expiryAt = getGitHubPRRefreshStateExpiryAt(prRefreshState)
+    if (!prCacheKey || expiryAt === null) {
+      return
+    }
+    const timeout = window.setTimeout(
+      () => {
+        setPrRefreshStateNow(Date.now())
+        const storeState = useAppStore.getState()
+        const rawState = storeState.prRefreshStates[prCacheKey]
+        if (!rawState) {
+          return
+        }
+        // Why: time alone does not publish Zustand updates; this timeout clears
+        // abandoned active refresh UI without treating expiry as no-PR evidence.
+        storeState.expireGitHubPRRefreshState(prCacheKey, {
+          sequence: storeState.prRefreshSequences[prCacheKey] ?? 0,
+          status: rawState.status,
+          updatedAt: rawState.updatedAt
+        })
+      },
+      Math.max(0, expiryAt - Date.now() + 1)
+    )
+    return () => window.clearTimeout(timeout)
+  }, [prCacheKey, prRefreshState])
+
   // Why: select only timestamps (not whole cache records) so the entry-refresh
   // effect doesn't re-run on every cache mutation. See
   // docs/refresh-on-checks-tab.md.
@@ -1807,13 +1844,29 @@ export default function ChecksPanel(): React.JSX.Element {
         }
         return
       }
-      const refreshedPR = await fetchPRForBranch(repo.path, branch, {
-        force: true,
-        repoId: repo.id,
-        worktreeId: activeWorktreeId ?? undefined,
-        linkedPRNumber: linkedPR,
-        fallbackPRNumber: fallbackGitHubPRNumber
-      })
+      const refreshStoreState = useAppStore.getState()
+      const rawPRRefreshState = refreshStoreState.prRefreshStates[prCacheKey]
+      const startedPRRefreshToken = rawPRRefreshState
+        ? {
+            sequence: refreshStoreState.prRefreshSequences[prCacheKey] ?? 0,
+            status: rawPRRefreshState.status,
+            updatedAt: rawPRRefreshState.updatedAt
+          }
+        : null
+      let refreshedPR: PRInfo | null = null
+      try {
+        refreshedPR = await fetchPRForBranch(repo.path, branch, {
+          force: true,
+          repoId: repo.id,
+          worktreeId: activeWorktreeId ?? undefined,
+          linkedPRNumber: linkedPR,
+          fallbackPRNumber: fallbackGitHubPRNumber
+        })
+      } finally {
+        if (startedPRRefreshToken) {
+          expireGitHubPRRefreshState(prCacheKey, startedPRRefreshToken)
+        }
+      }
       if (!isCurrentRequest()) {
         return
       }
@@ -1941,6 +1994,7 @@ export default function ChecksPanel(): React.JSX.Element {
     fetchPRChecks,
     fetchPRComments,
     fetchHostedReviewForBranch,
+    expireGitHubPRRefreshState,
     isCurrentAsyncResult
   ])
 
@@ -3297,7 +3351,8 @@ export default function ChecksPanel(): React.JSX.Element {
       hasUpstream: publishActionRemoteStatus?.hasUpstream,
       hasCurrentBranch: Boolean(branch),
       reviewLabel: emptyReviewLabel,
-      reviewShortLabel: emptyReviewShortLabel
+      reviewShortLabel: emptyReviewShortLabel,
+      hasAmbiguousGitHubHostedReview
     })
     return (
       <div className="px-4 py-6">
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/checks-panel-ambiguous-github-review.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/checks-panel-ambiguous-github-review.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..db51fd6ef33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/checks-panel-ambiguous-github-review.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import { hasAmbiguousGitHubHostedReviewForChecksPanel } from './checks-panel-ambiguous-github-review'
+
+describe('hasAmbiguousGitHubHostedReviewForChecksPanel', () => {
+  it('treats missing PR cache as ambiguous when a GitHub hosted review exists', () => {
+    expect(
+      hasAmbiguousGitHubHostedReviewForChecksPanel({
+        hostedReview: { provider: 'github' },
+        prCacheEntry: undefined,
+        prCacheKey: 'repo::feature'
+      })
+    ).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('treats cached no-PR data as ambiguous when a GitHub hosted review exists', () => {
+    expect(
+      hasAmbiguousGitHubHostedReviewForChecksPanel({
+        hostedReview: { provider: 'github' },
+        prCacheEntry: { data: null },
+        prCacheKey: 'repo::feature'
+      })
+    ).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('does not treat existing PR cache data as ambiguous', () => {
+    expect(
+      hasAmbiguousGitHubHostedReviewForChecksPanel({
+        hostedReview: { provider: 'github' },
+        prCacheEntry: { data: { number: 12 } },
+        prCacheKey: 'repo::feature'
+      })
+    ).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('does not treat non-GitHub hosted reviews as ambiguous', () => {
+    expect(
+      hasAmbiguousGitHubHostedReviewForChecksPanel({
+        hostedReview: { provider: 'gitlab' },
+        prCacheEntry: { data: null },
+        prCacheKey: 'repo::feature'
+      })
+    ).toBe(false)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/checks-panel-ambiguous-github-review.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/checks-panel-ambiguous-github-review.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3444abee022
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/checks-panel-ambiguous-github-review.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+type HostedReviewProviderLike = {
+  provider?: string | null
+}
+
+type PRCacheEntryLike = {
+  data?: unknown
+}
+
+export function hasAmbiguousGitHubHostedReviewForChecksPanel(input: {
+  hostedReview: HostedReviewProviderLike | null | undefined
+  prCacheEntry: PRCacheEntryLike | null | undefined
+  prCacheKey: string
+}): boolean {
+  return (
+    input.hostedReview?.provider === 'github' &&
+    input.prCacheKey !== '' &&
+    input.prCacheEntry?.data == null
+  )
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/checks-panel-empty-state.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/checks-panel-empty-state.test.ts
index d81e46351af..40738435ac6 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/checks-panel-empty-state.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/checks-panel-empty-state.test.ts
@@ -104,6 +104,81 @@ describe('getChecksPanelEmptyStateCopy', () => {
       description: 'Create a merge request to start checks and review.'
     })
   })
+
+  it('uses neutral copy when GitHub hosted-review data exists without PR cache', () => {
+    expect(
+      getChecksPanelEmptyStateCopy({
+        operationLabel: null,
+        prRefreshStatus: undefined,
+        hostedReviewBlockedReason: null,
+        hasUpstream: true,
+        hasAmbiguousGitHubHostedReview: true
+      })
+    ).toEqual({
+      title: 'Pull request status unavailable',
+      description: 'Refresh GitHub status for this branch to load checks and review.'
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('does not show no-PR copy for paused ambiguous GitHub hosted-review data', () => {
+    expect(
+      getChecksPanelEmptyStateCopy({
+        operationLabel: null,
+        prRefreshStatus: 'paused',
+        hostedReviewBlockedReason: null,
+        hasUpstream: true,
+        hasAmbiguousGitHubHostedReview: true
+      }).title
+    ).toBe('Pull request status unavailable')
+  })
+
+  it('keeps refresh errors for ambiguous GitHub hosted-review data', () => {
+    expect(
+      getChecksPanelEmptyStateCopy({
+        operationLabel: null,
+        prRefreshStatus: 'error',
+        hostedReviewBlockedReason: null,
+        hasUpstream: true,
+        hasAmbiguousGitHubHostedReview: true
+      }).title
+    ).toBe('Could not refresh pull request')
+  })
+
+  it('uses neutral copy for ambiguous GitHub hosted-review data before unpublished branch copy', () => {
+    expect(
+      getChecksPanelEmptyStateCopy({
+        operationLabel: null,
+        prRefreshStatus: undefined,
+        hostedReviewBlockedReason: 'no_upstream',
+        hasUpstream: false,
+        hasAmbiguousGitHubHostedReview: true
+      }).title
+    ).toBe('Pull request status unavailable')
+  })
+
+  it('uses neutral copy for ambiguous GitHub hosted-review data before remote fallback publish copy', () => {
+    expect(
+      getChecksPanelEmptyStateCopy({
+        operationLabel: null,
+        prRefreshStatus: undefined,
+        hostedReviewBlockedReason: undefined,
+        hasUpstream: false,
+        hasAmbiguousGitHubHostedReview: true
+      }).title
+    ).toBe('Pull request status unavailable')
+  })
+
+  it('uses neutral copy for ambiguous GitHub hosted-review data before unpushed commit copy', () => {
+    expect(
+      getChecksPanelEmptyStateCopy({
+        operationLabel: null,
+        prRefreshStatus: undefined,
+        hostedReviewBlockedReason: 'needs_push',
+        hasUpstream: true,
+        hasAmbiguousGitHubHostedReview: true
+      }).title
+    ).toBe('Pull request status unavailable')
+  })
 })
 
 describe('shouldShowChecksPanelPublishBranchAction', () => {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/checks-panel-empty-state.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/checks-panel-empty-state.ts
index 0810c0ffeb3..b36495f2714 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/checks-panel-empty-state.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/checks-panel-empty-state.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ type ChecksPanelEmptyStateInput = {
   hasCurrentBranch?: boolean
   reviewLabel?: 'pull request' | 'merge request'
   reviewShortLabel?: 'PR' | 'MR'
+  hasAmbiguousGitHubHostedReview?: boolean
 }
 
 type ChecksPanelEmptyStateCopy = {
@@ -39,6 +40,24 @@ export function getChecksPanelEmptyStateCopy(
   }
 
   const blockedReason = input.hostedReviewBlockedReason
+  if (
+    input.hasAmbiguousGitHubHostedReview === true &&
+    (input.prRefreshStatus === 'paused' ||
+      input.prRefreshStatus === 'skipped' ||
+      input.prRefreshStatus === undefined)
+  ) {
+    return {
+      title: translate(
+        'auto.components.right.sidebar.checks.panel.empty.state.3322603418',
+        'Pull request status unavailable'
+      ),
+      description: translate(
+        'auto.components.right.sidebar.checks.panel.empty.state.b597440265',
+        'Refresh GitHub status for this branch to load checks and review.'
+      )
+    }
+  }
+
   if (
     shouldShowChecksPanelPublishBranchAction({
       hostedReviewBlockedReason: blockedReason,
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json
index 7e004df6698..8118136b07c 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json
+++ b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json
@@ -8911,6 +8911,7 @@
               },
               "empty": {
                 "state": {
+                  "3322603418": "Pull request status unavailable",
                   "5b0cfae9a5": "Create a {{value0}} to start checks and review.",
                   "13e1c7d5ed": "No {{value0}} found",
                   "d372072df1": "GitHub refresh is paused by the current rate-limit budget",
@@ -8925,7 +8926,8 @@
                   "f8543140cc": "Publish this branch before creating a {{value0}}.",
                   "41252bc53f": "Branch not published",
                   "05e4aec17b": "{{value0}} checks will be available after the operation completes",
-                  "d77c513c1e": "{{value0}} in progress"
+                  "d77c513c1e": "{{value0}} in progress",
+                  "b597440265": "Refresh GitHub status for this branch to load checks and review."
                 }
               }
             }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/es.json b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/es.json
index d01aecb6416..f4ac115dc62 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/es.json
+++ b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/es.json
@@ -8911,6 +8911,7 @@
               },
               "empty": {
                 "state": {
+                  "3322603418": "Pull request status unavailable",
                   "5b0cfae9a5": "Cree un {{value0}} para iniciar comprobaciones y revisiones.",
                   "13e1c7d5ed": "No se encontró {{value0}}",
                   "d372072df1": "La actualización de GitHub está pausada por el presupuesto de límite de velocidad actual",
@@ -8925,7 +8926,8 @@
                   "f8543140cc": "Publique esta rama antes de crear un {{value0}}.",
                   "41252bc53f": "Sucursal no publicada",
                   "05e4aec17b": "{{value0}} cheques estarán disponibles una vez completada la operación.",
-                  "d77c513c1e": "{{value0}} en progreso"
+                  "d77c513c1e": "{{value0}} en progreso",
+                  "b597440265": "Refresh GitHub status for this branch to load checks and review."
                 }
               }
             }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/ja.json b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/ja.json
index 138e10813fd..531f739720c 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/ja.json
+++ b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/ja.json
@@ -8911,6 +8911,7 @@
               },
               "empty": {
                 "state": {
+                  "3322603418": "Pull request status unavailable",
                   "5b0cfae9a5": "{{value0}} を作成してチェックとレビューを開始します。",
                   "13e1c7d5ed": "{{value0}} が見つかりませんでした",
                   "d372072df1": "現在のレート制限予算により GitHub の更新が一時停止されています",
@@ -8925,7 +8926,8 @@
                   "f8543140cc": "{{value0}} を作成する前に、このブランチを公開してください。",
                   "41252bc53f": "ブランチは公開されていません",
                   "05e4aec17b": "{{value0}} チェックは操作の完了後に利用可能になります",
-                  "d77c513c1e": "{{value0}} が進行中です"
+                  "d77c513c1e": "{{value0}} が進行中です",
+                  "b597440265": "Refresh GitHub status for this branch to load checks and review."
                 }
               }
             }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/ko.json b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/ko.json
index 64bf5cd45da..35323ea88fc 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/ko.json
+++ b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/ko.json
@@ -8911,6 +8911,7 @@
               },
               "empty": {
                 "state": {
+                  "3322603418": "Pull request status unavailable",
                   "5b0cfae9a5": "체크와 리뷰를 시작하려면 {{value0}}을(를) 만드세요.",
                   "13e1c7d5ed": "{{value0}}을(를) 찾을 수 없습니다.",
                   "d372072df1": "현재 속도 제한 예산으로 인해 GitHub 새로 고침이 일시 중지되었습니다.",
@@ -8925,7 +8926,8 @@
                   "f8543140cc": "{{value0}}을 만들기 전에 이 브랜치를 게시하세요.",
                   "41252bc53f": "게시되지 않은 브랜치",
                   "05e4aec17b": "{{value0}} 검사는 작업이 완료된 후에 사용할 수 있습니다.",
-                  "d77c513c1e": "{{value0}} 진행 중"
+                  "d77c513c1e": "{{value0}} 진행 중",
+                  "b597440265": "Refresh GitHub status for this branch to load checks and review."
                 }
               }
             }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/zh.json b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/zh.json
index 1e46ef2fb90..8a95f561d38 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/zh.json
+++ b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/zh.json
@@ -8911,6 +8911,7 @@
               },
               "empty": {
                 "state": {
+                  "3322603418": "Pull request status unavailable",
                   "5b0cfae9a5": "创建 {{value0}} 以开始检查和评审。",
                   "13e1c7d5ed": "未找到 {{value0}}",
                   "d372072df1": "GitHub 刷新因当前速率限制预算而暂停",
@@ -8925,7 +8926,8 @@
                   "f8543140cc": "在创建 {{value0}} 之前发布此分支。",
                   "41252bc53f": "分支未发布",
                   "05e4aec17b": "{{value0}} 检查将在操作完成后可用",
-                  "d77c513c1e": "{{value0}} 正在进行中"
+                  "d77c513c1e": "{{value0}} 正在进行中",
+                  "b597440265": "Refresh GitHub status for this branch to load checks and review."
                 }
               }
             }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/github-pr-refresh-states-leak.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/github-pr-refresh-states-leak.test.ts
index d9d1a91ecc4..74096867101 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/github-pr-refresh-states-leak.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/github-pr-refresh-states-leak.test.ts
@@ -25,14 +25,15 @@ const MAX_ENTRIES = 2000
 
 // prRefreshStates entry shapes (the module's PRRefreshState type is not exported).
 type SeedState = {
-  status: 'in-flight' | 'error'
+  status: 'queued' | 'in-flight' | 'paused' | 'skipped' | 'error'
   reason: GitHubPRRefreshReason
   updatedAt: number
+  pausedUntil?: number
   message?: string
 }
 
 function inFlightState(): SeedState {
-  return { status: 'in-flight', reason: 'visible', updatedAt: 0 }
+  return { status: 'in-flight', reason: 'visible', updatedAt: Date.now() }
 }
 
 function errorState(): SeedState {
@@ -150,4 +151,263 @@ describe('prRefreshStates stays bounded (leak regression)', () => {
     expect(states['seed-1']).toBeUndefined()
     expect(states['newcomer']).toBeDefined()
   })
+
+  it('hides expired active states through the effective reader without mutating during read', () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    vi.setSystemTime(1_000_000)
+    try {
+      const store = createTestStore()
+      store.setState({
+        prRefreshStates: {
+          stale: { status: 'in-flight', reason: 'visible', updatedAt: 1_000_000 - 121_000 },
+          fresh: { status: 'in-flight', reason: 'visible', updatedAt: 1_000_000 - 10_000 }
+        }
+      })
+
+      expect(store.getState().getEffectiveGitHubPRRefreshState('stale', 1_000_000)).toBeUndefined()
+      expect(store.getState().getEffectiveGitHubPRRefreshState('fresh', 1_000_000)).toMatchObject({
+        status: 'in-flight'
+      })
+      expect(store.getState().prRefreshStates.stale).toBeDefined()
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers()
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('expires paused states after pausedUntil grace and rejects missing pause timestamps', () => {
+    const store = createTestStore()
+    store.setState({
+      prRefreshStates: {
+        currentPause: {
+          status: 'paused',
+          reason: 'visible',
+          updatedAt: 1_000,
+          pausedUntil: 2_000
+        },
+        missingPause: { status: 'paused', reason: 'visible', updatedAt: 1_000 }
+      }
+    })
+
+    expect(store.getState().getEffectiveGitHubPRRefreshState('currentPause', 2_004)).toMatchObject({
+      status: 'paused'
+    })
+    expect(store.getState().getEffectiveGitHubPRRefreshState('currentPause', 7_001)).toBeUndefined()
+    expect(store.getState().getEffectiveGitHubPRRefreshState('missingPause', 1_500)).toBeUndefined()
+  })
+
+  it('prunes expired active states on refreshAll without writing a PR miss', () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    vi.setSystemTime(1_000_000)
+    try {
+      const store = createTestStore()
+      store.setState({
+        prRefreshStates: {
+          stale: { status: 'queued', reason: 'visible', updatedAt: 1_000_000 - 121_000 },
+          settled: { status: 'error', reason: 'visible', updatedAt: 1, message: 'boom' }
+        },
+        prCache: {
+          stale: { data: null, fetchedAt: 1 }
+        },
+        repos: [],
+        worktreesByRepo: {}
+      } as unknown as Partial<AppState>)
+
+      store.getState().refreshAllGitHub()
+
+      expect(store.getState().prRefreshStates.stale).toBeUndefined()
+      expect(store.getState().prRefreshStates.settled).toBeDefined()
+      expect(store.getState().prCache.stale).toEqual({ data: null, fetchedAt: 1 })
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers()
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('manual expiry does not remove a newer active state for the same cache key', () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    vi.setSystemTime(1_000_000)
+    try {
+      const store = createTestStore()
+      const token = {
+        sequence: 1,
+        status: 'in-flight' as const,
+        updatedAt: 1_000_000 - 121_000
+      }
+      store.setState({
+        prRefreshSequences: { branch: 2 },
+        prRefreshStates: {
+          branch: { status: 'in-flight', reason: 'manual', updatedAt: 1_000_000 }
+        }
+      })
+
+      store.getState().expireGitHubPRRefreshState('branch', token, 1_000_000)
+
+      expect(store.getState().prRefreshStates.branch).toMatchObject({
+        status: 'in-flight',
+        updatedAt: 1_000_000
+      })
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers()
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('manual expiry does not notify subscribers when the token no longer matches', () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    vi.setSystemTime(1_000_000)
+    try {
+      const store = createTestStore()
+      const subscriber = vi.fn()
+      const unsubscribe = store.subscribe(subscriber)
+      store.setState({
+        prRefreshSequences: { branch: 2 },
+        prRefreshStates: {
+          branch: { status: 'in-flight', reason: 'manual', updatedAt: 1_000_000 }
+        }
+      })
+      subscriber.mockClear()
+
+      store.getState().expireGitHubPRRefreshState(
+        'branch',
+        {
+          sequence: 1,
+          status: 'in-flight',
+          updatedAt: 1_000_000 - 121_000
+        },
+        1_000_000
+      )
+
+      expect(subscriber).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+      unsubscribe()
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers()
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('manual expiry does not notify subscribers for an active state that is still fresh', () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    vi.setSystemTime(1_000_000)
+    try {
+      const store = createTestStore()
+      const subscriber = vi.fn()
+      store.setState({
+        prRefreshSequences: { branch: 1 },
+        prRefreshStates: {
+          branch: { status: 'in-flight', reason: 'manual', updatedAt: 1_000_000 }
+        }
+      })
+      const unsubscribe = store.subscribe(subscriber)
+
+      store.getState().expireGitHubPRRefreshState(
+        'branch',
+        {
+          sequence: 1,
+          status: 'in-flight',
+          updatedAt: 1_000_000
+        },
+        1_000_000
+      )
+
+      expect(subscriber).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+      unsubscribe()
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers()
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('manual expiry notifies subscribers when it removes the captured stale active state', () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    vi.setSystemTime(1_000_000)
+    try {
+      const store = createTestStore()
+      const subscriber = vi.fn()
+      store.setState({
+        prRefreshSequences: { branch: 1 },
+        prRefreshStates: {
+          branch: { status: 'in-flight', reason: 'manual', updatedAt: 1_000_000 - 121_000 }
+        }
+      })
+      const unsubscribe = store.subscribe(subscriber)
+
+      store.getState().expireGitHubPRRefreshState(
+        'branch',
+        {
+          sequence: 1,
+          status: 'in-flight',
+          updatedAt: 1_000_000 - 121_000
+        },
+        1_000_000
+      )
+
+      expect(subscriber).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+      expect(store.getState().prRefreshStates.branch).toBeUndefined()
+      unsubscribe()
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers()
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('expires the stale active state captured by a rejected forced PR refresh', async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    vi.setSystemTime(1_000_000)
+    try {
+      const store = createTestStore()
+      const repoPath = '/repo'
+      const branch = 'feature/rejected-refresh'
+      const cacheKey = `${repoPath}::${branch}`
+      mockApi.gh.refreshPRNow.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('stale repo path'))
+      store.setState({
+        prRefreshSequences: { [cacheKey]: 1 },
+        prRefreshStates: {
+          [cacheKey]: { status: 'in-flight', reason: 'manual', updatedAt: 1_000_000 - 121_000 }
+        }
+      })
+
+      await expect(
+        store.getState().fetchPRForBranch(repoPath, branch, { force: true })
+      ).resolves.toBeNull()
+
+      expect(store.getState().prRefreshStates[cacheKey]).toBeUndefined()
+      expect(store.getState().prCache[cacheKey]).toBeUndefined()
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers()
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('accepts a late terminal outcome after the active status timed out', () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    vi.setSystemTime(1_000_000)
+    try {
+      const store = createTestStore()
+      const repoPath = '/repo'
+      const branch = 'feature/late-outcome'
+      const cacheKey = `${repoPath}::${branch}`
+
+      store.getState().applyGitHubPRRefreshEvent(statusEvent(cacheKey, 1))
+      vi.setSystemTime(1_000_000 + 121_000)
+      expect(store.getState().getEffectiveGitHubPRRefreshState(cacheKey)).toBeUndefined()
+
+      store.getState().applyGitHubPRRefreshEvent({
+        sequence: 1,
+        reason: 'visible',
+        aliases: [{ cacheKey, repoPath, branch }],
+        outcome: {
+          kind: 'found',
+          pr: {
+            number: 12,
+            title: 'Late PR',
+            state: 'open',
+            url: 'https://github.com/acme/orca/pull/12',
+            checksStatus: 'pending',
+            updatedAt: '2026-03-28T00:00:00Z',
+            mergeable: 'UNKNOWN'
+          },
+          fetchedAt: 1_000_000 + 121_000
+        }
+      })
+
+      expect(store.getState().prCache[cacheKey]?.data).toMatchObject({ title: 'Late PR' })
+      expect(store.getState().prRefreshStates[cacheKey]).toBeUndefined()
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers()
+    }
+  })
 })
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/github.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/github.ts
index 9062068f222..947cc15e1c4 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/github.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/github.ts
@@ -629,7 +629,7 @@ type RepoScopedFetchOptions = FetchOptions & {
   repoId?: string
 }
 
-type PRRefreshState = {
+export type PRRefreshState = {
   status: 'queued' | 'in-flight' | 'paused' | 'skipped' | 'error'
   reason: GitHubPRRefreshReason
   updatedAt: number
@@ -637,6 +637,15 @@ type PRRefreshState = {
   message?: string
 }
 
+type PRRefreshStateClearToken = {
+  sequence: number
+  status: PRRefreshState['status']
+  updatedAt: number
+}
+
+const PR_REFRESH_ACTIVE_STALE_MS = 120_000
+const PR_REFRESH_PAUSED_GRACE_MS = 5_000
+
 function bypassesGitHubPRRefreshFreshness(reason: GitHubPRRefreshReason): boolean {
   return reason === 'manual' || reason === 'active' || reason === 'post-push'
 }
@@ -1464,6 +1473,64 @@ function capPrRefreshSequences(
 // realistic usage never reaches. Evicted entries self-heal on the next refresh event.
 const MAX_PR_REFRESH_STATE_ENTRIES = 2000
 const SETTLED_PR_REFRESH_STATUSES = new Set<PRRefreshState['status']>(['error', 'skipped'])
+const ACTIVE_PR_REFRESH_STATUSES = new Set<PRRefreshState['status']>([
+  'queued',
+  'in-flight',
+  'paused'
+])
+
+function isPRRefreshStateExpired(state: PRRefreshState, now: number): boolean {
+  const expiryAt = getGitHubPRRefreshStateExpiryAt(state)
+  return expiryAt !== null && now > expiryAt
+}
+
+export function getGitHubPRRefreshStateExpiryAt(state: PRRefreshState | undefined): number | null {
+  if (!state) {
+    return null
+  }
+  if (state.status === 'queued' || state.status === 'in-flight') {
+    return Number.isFinite(state.updatedAt) ? state.updatedAt + PR_REFRESH_ACTIVE_STALE_MS : 0
+  }
+  if (state.status === 'paused') {
+    return Number.isFinite(state.pausedUntil)
+      ? (state.pausedUntil ?? 0) + PR_REFRESH_PAUSED_GRACE_MS
+      : 0
+  }
+  return null
+}
+
+function isExpiredActivePRRefreshState(state: PRRefreshState, now: number): boolean {
+  return ACTIVE_PR_REFRESH_STATUSES.has(state.status) && isPRRefreshStateExpired(state, now)
+}
+
+export function getEffectiveGitHubPRRefreshState(
+  states: Record<string, PRRefreshState>,
+  cacheKey: string,
+  now = Date.now()
+): PRRefreshState | undefined {
+  const state = states[cacheKey]
+  if (!state || isExpiredActivePRRefreshState(state, now)) {
+    return undefined
+  }
+  return state
+}
+
+function pruneExpiredPRRefreshStates(
+  states: Record<string, PRRefreshState>,
+  now = Date.now()
+): Record<string, PRRefreshState> {
+  let next: Record<string, PRRefreshState> | null = null
+  for (const [cacheKey, state] of Object.entries(states)) {
+    if (!isExpiredActivePRRefreshState(state, now)) {
+      continue
+    }
+    if (!next) {
+      next = { ...states }
+    }
+    delete next[cacheKey]
+  }
+  return next ?? states
+}
 
 function capPrRefreshStates(
   states: Record<string, PRRefreshState>,
@@ -1614,6 +1681,12 @@ export type GitHubSlice = {
   reportVisibleGitHubPRRefreshCandidates: (worktreeIds: string[], generation: number) => void
   bumpGitHubPRVisibleRefreshGeneration: () => void
   applyGitHubPRRefreshEvent: (event: GitHubPRRefreshEvent) => void
+  getEffectiveGitHubPRRefreshState: (cacheKey: string, now?: number) => PRRefreshState | undefined
+  expireGitHubPRRefreshState: (
+    cacheKey: string,
+    token: PRRefreshStateClearToken,
+    now?: number
+  ) => void
   /**
    * Why: returns cached work items immediately (null if none) and fires a
    * background refresh when stale. Callers can render the cached list while
@@ -1806,6 +1879,40 @@ export const createGitHubSlice: StateCreator<AppState, [], [], GitHubSlice> = (s
   workItemsInvalidationNonce: 0,
   projectViewCache: {},
 
+  getEffectiveGitHubPRRefreshState: (cacheKey, now) =>
+    getEffectiveGitHubPRRefreshState(get().prRefreshStates, cacheKey, now),
+
+  expireGitHubPRRefreshState: (cacheKey, token, now = Date.now()) => {
+    const currentState = get()
+    const currentRefreshState = currentState.prRefreshStates[cacheKey]
+    if (
+      !currentRefreshState ||
+      !ACTIVE_PR_REFRESH_STATUSES.has(currentRefreshState.status) ||
+      !isExpiredActivePRRefreshState(currentRefreshState, now) ||
+      (currentState.prRefreshSequences[cacheKey] ?? 0) !== token.sequence ||
+      currentRefreshState.status !== token.status ||
+      currentRefreshState.updatedAt !== token.updatedAt
+    ) {
+      return
+    }
+    set((s) => {
+      const state = s.prRefreshStates[cacheKey]
+      if (
+        !state ||
+        !ACTIVE_PR_REFRESH_STATUSES.has(state.status) ||
+        !isExpiredActivePRRefreshState(state, now) ||
+        (s.prRefreshSequences[cacheKey] ?? 0) !== token.sequence ||
+        state.status !== token.status ||
+        state.updatedAt !== token.updatedAt
+      ) {
+        return s
+      }
+      const nextStates = { ...s.prRefreshStates }
+      delete nextStates[cacheKey]
+      return { prRefreshStates: nextStates }
+    })
+  },
+
   fetchProjectViewTable: async (args, options) => {
     const target = getActiveRuntimeTarget(get().settings)
     const sourceScope = projectViewSourceScope(get().settings)
@@ -2709,6 +2816,14 @@ export const createGitHubSlice: StateCreator<AppState, [], [], GitHubSlice> = (s
     const generation = (prRequestGenerations.get(cacheKey) ?? 0) + 1
     const requestStartedAt = Date.now()
     const requestStartedHostedReviewEntry = get().hostedReviewCache[hostedReviewCacheKey]
+    const requestStartedPRRefreshState = get().prRefreshStates[cacheKey]
+    const requestStartedPRRefreshToken = requestStartedPRRefreshState
+      ? {
+          sequence: get().prRefreshSequences[cacheKey] ?? 0,
+          status: requestStartedPRRefreshState.status,
+          updatedAt: requestStartedPRRefreshState.updatedAt
+        }
+      : null
     prRequestGenerations.set(cacheKey, generation)
 
     const request = (async () => {
@@ -2828,6 +2943,9 @@ export const createGitHubSlice: StateCreator<AppState, [], [], GitHubSlice> = (s
             prRequestGenerations.delete(cacheKey)
           }
         }
+        if (requestStartedPRRefreshToken) {
+          get().expireGitHubPRRefreshState(cacheKey, requestStartedPRRefreshToken)
+        }
       }
     })()
 
@@ -3511,10 +3629,11 @@ export const createGitHubSlice: StateCreator<AppState, [], [], GitHubSlice> = (s
   applyGitHubPRRefreshEvent: (event) => {
     set((s) => {
       const nextSequences = { ...s.prRefreshSequences }
-      const nextStates = { ...s.prRefreshStates }
+      const prunedStates = pruneExpiredPRRefreshStates(s.prRefreshStates)
+      const nextStates = { ...prunedStates }
       let nextPRCache = s.prCache
       let nextHostedReviewCache = s.hostedReviewCache ?? {}
-      let changed = false
+      let changed = prunedStates !== s.prRefreshStates
 
       for (const alias of event.aliases) {
         const aliasExecutionHostId = getRefreshAliasExecutionHostId(alias)
@@ -3706,7 +3825,8 @@ export const createGitHubSlice: StateCreator<AppState, [], [], GitHubSlice> = (s
       issueCache: evictStaleEntries(s.issueCache),
       checksCache: evictStaleEntries(s.checksCache),
       workItemsCache: evictStaleEntries(s.workItemsCache),
-      projectViewCache: evictStaleEntries(s.projectViewCache)
+      projectViewCache: evictStaleEntries(s.projectViewCache),
+      prRefreshStates: pruneExpiredPRRefreshStates(s.prRefreshStates)
     }))
 
     // Why: prRequestGenerations tracks only live inflight fetches and is