diff --git a/.github/workflows/api-parity-audit.yml b/.github/workflows/api-parity-audit.yml
index 28f10c6..425d71d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/api-parity-audit.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/api-parity-audit.yml
@@ -5,6 +5,11 @@ name: Weekly API parity PR
 # when the public API and first-class CLI command surface change. It does not
 # claim to regenerate hand-written command UX from OpenAPI.
 #
+# It never resets the branch of an open rolling PR that carries commits from
+# anyone but the bot: reconciliation pushed onto the PR is left alone and the
+# run comments on the PR instead. Once that PR is merged or closed, the next run
+# rebuilds the branch from main.
+#
 # Prerequisite:
 #   REGEN_PR_TOKEN: a token with Contents and Pull requests write access to this
 #   repository. The organization does not allow GITHUB_TOKEN to create PRs.
@@ -18,6 +23,8 @@ on:
 permissions:
   contents: read
   issues: write
+  # Lists the open rolling PR to comment on when hand commits are present.
+  pull-requests: read
 
 concurrency:
   group: weekly-api-parity-pr
@@ -208,7 +215,78 @@ jobs:
           --write-markdown api-coverage-report.md
           --allow-drift
 
+      - name: Check the rolling branch for hand commits
+        id: rolling_branch
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+          BRANCH: chore/weekly-api-parity
+          BOT_COMMITTER: 41898282+github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+
+          # create-pull-request rebuilds the branch from main and force-pushes,
+          # which would discard reconciliation someone pushed onto the PR.
+          refs="$(
+            gh api "repos/${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}/git/matching-refs/heads/${BRANCH}" \
+              --jq "map(select(.ref == \"refs/heads/${BRANCH}\")) | length"
+          )"
+          if [ "$refs" = "0" ]; then
+            echo "hand_commits=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+            exit 0
+          fi
+
+          # A squash merge never makes the branch's commits ancestors of main,
+          # so a merged or closed rolling PR leaves "hand commits" behind
+          # forever. Only an open PR has reconciliation left to protect.
+          open_prs="$(
+            gh api "repos/${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}/pulls?head=${GITHUB_REPOSITORY_OWNER}:${BRANCH}&state=open" \
+              --jq "length"
+          )"
+          if [ "$open_prs" = "0" ]; then
+            echo "hand_commits=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+            exit 0
+          fi
+
+          hand_commits="$(
+            gh api "repos/${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}/compare/main...${BRANCH}" \
+              --jq "[.commits[] | select(.commit.committer.email != \"${BOT_COMMITTER}\")] | length"
+          )"
+          if [ "$hand_commits" = "0" ]; then
+            echo "hand_commits=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          else
+            echo "::notice::${BRANCH} has ${hand_commits} commit(s) not made by the bot; leaving it unchanged."
+            echo "hand_commits=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          fi
+
+      - name: Comment instead of resetting a hand-reconciled PR
+        if: steps.rolling_branch.outputs.hand_commits == 'true'
+        uses: actions/github-script@v7
+        with:
+          script: |
+            const runUrl = `${context.serverUrl}/${context.repo.owner}/${context.repo.repo}/actions/runs/${context.runId}`;
+            const { data: pulls } = await github.rest.pulls.list({
+              owner: context.repo.owner,
+              repo: context.repo.repo,
+              head: `${context.repo.owner}:chore/weekly-api-parity`,
+              state: 'open',
+            });
+            const body = [
+              'The weekly refresh left this branch unchanged because it has commits not made by the bot.',
+              'Merge this PR, or rebase it onto `main` and regenerate `api-coverage-report.md`, so the next run can pick up new API changes.',
+              '',
+              `Run: ${runUrl}`,
+            ].join('\n');
+            for (const pull of pulls) {
+              await github.rest.issues.createComment({
+                owner: context.repo.owner,
+                repo: context.repo.repo,
+                issue_number: pull.number,
+                body,
+              });
+            }
+
       - name: Open or update the parity PR
+        if: steps.rolling_branch.outputs.hand_commits != 'true'
         uses: peter-evans/create-pull-request@v7
         with:
           token: ${{ secrets.REGEN_PR_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 67f940e..40b9567 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -365,8 +365,12 @@ A repository-owned GitHub workflow runs every Monday and refreshes the
 deterministic `api-coverage-report.md`. When coverage changes, it opens or
 updates one rolling PR on `chore/weekly-api-parity`; the PR's CI remains blocked
 until the command implementation or an explicitly reviewed manifest exception
-reconciles the drift. A GitHub issue is used only if the automation itself
-fails before it can create or update that PR.
+reconciles the drift. Push reconciliation commits onto the rolling PR. While
+that PR is open, the next weekly run leaves a branch with commits not made by
+the bot unchanged and comments on the PR instead of resetting it, so merge or
+rebase that PR to let later runs pick up new API changes. Once the PR is merged
+or closed, the next run rebuilds the branch from `main`. A GitHub issue is used
+only if the automation itself fails before it can create or update that PR.
 
 The schedule is Monday 2:00 AM PST (10:00 UTC; 3:00 AM during daylight saving
 time). GitHub Actions schedules can start later during busy periods. The audit