feat(FN-3834): short-circuit no-op merges and auto-finalize review tasks

Merged FN-3834 to add a no-op merge recovery flow to the merger, including a branch-ahead detector, short-circuit logic to exclude no-op merges from the mergeable sweep, and finalization of no-op review tasks — backed by substantial test coverage across merger and self-healing modules.

Fusion-Task-Id: FN-3834

.changeset/FN-3834-merger-noop-shortcircuit.md

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@runfusion/fusion": patch
+---
+
+Fixes a merger/self-healing recovery loop where in-review tasks with zero commits ahead of base were repeatedly re-enqueued forever. Fusion now detects deterministic no-op merge branches, marks them as no-op merge confirmed, and finalizes them to done instead of requeueing.

.changeset/fn-3909-agent-card-buttons.md

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@runfusion/fusion": patch
+---
+
+Restore icon on the agent card "Details" button and only hide action labels in the split sidebar when buttons would not fit.

packages/core/src/types.ts

@@ -1002,6 +1002,8 @@ export interface MergeDetails {
   mergeCommitMessage?: string;
   mergedAt?: string;
   mergeConfirmed?: boolean;
+  noOpMerge?: boolean;
+  noOpReason?: string;
   prNumber?: number;
   mergeTargetBranch?: string;
   mergeTargetSource?: "task-base-branch" | "task-branch-context" | "project-default" | "legacy-main";
@@ -1096,7 +1098,7 @@ export interface TaskBranchContext {
 export interface Task {
   id: string;
   /** Immutable lineage identity used for durable commit/task attribution. */
-  lineageId: string;
+  lineageId?: string;
   title?: string;
   description: string;
   /**
@@ -2577,6 +2579,7 @@ export interface MergeResult extends MergeDetails {
   task: Task;
   branch: string;
   merged: boolean;
+  noOp?: boolean;
   worktreeRemoved: boolean;
   branchDeleted: boolean;
   error?: string;

packages/dashboard/app/components/AgentsView.css

@@ -702,6 +702,8 @@
   gap: var(--space-sm);
   align-items: center;
   flex-wrap: nowrap;
+  container-type: inline-size;
+  container-name: agent-card-actions;
 }
 
 .agent-card-actions .btn {
@@ -718,9 +720,11 @@
   padding: var(--space-xs) var(--space-sm);
 }
 
+@container agent-card-actions (max-width: calc(var(--space-2xl) * 9)) {
   .agents-split-sidebar .agent-card-actions .agent-card-action-label {
     display: none;
   }
+}
 
 .agent-card-details-btn {
   margin-left: auto;

packages/dashboard/app/components/AgentsView.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import "./AgentsView.css";
 import { useState, useEffect, useCallback, useRef, useMemo, useId, lazy, Suspense, type CSSProperties } from "react";
-import { Plus, Play, Pause, Activity, Trash2, RefreshCw, Bot, List, ChevronRight, Filter, Upload, Network, SlidersHorizontal, ZoomIn, ZoomOut, Minimize2 } from "lucide-react";
+import { Plus, Play, Pause, Activity, Trash2, RefreshCw, Bot, List, ChevronRight, Filter, Upload, Network, SlidersHorizontal, ZoomIn, ZoomOut, Minimize2, Info } from "lucide-react";
 import type { Agent, AgentCapability, AgentOnboardingSummary, AgentState, OrgTreeNode } from "../api";
 import { updateAgent, updateAgentState, deleteAgent, startAgentRun, fetchOrgTree, fetchSettings, updateSettings } from "../api";
 
@@ -1445,7 +1445,7 @@ export function AgentsView({ addToast, projectId, onOpenTaskLogs, agentOnboardin
                       title={`View details for ${agent.name}`}
                       aria-label={`View details for ${agent.name}`}
                     >
-                      <ChevronRight size={14} /> <span className="agent-card-action-label">Details</span>
+                      <Info size={14} /> <span className="agent-card-action-label">Details</span>
                     </button>
                     {(agent.state === "idle" || agent.state === "paused") && (
                       <button

packages/dashboard/app/components/__tests__/AgentsView.test.tsx

@@ -658,6 +658,14 @@ describe("AgentsView", () => {
       expect(detailsButton.querySelector("svg")).toBeTruthy();
     });
 
+    it("hides split-sidebar action labels only within an agent-card-actions container query", () => {
+      const css = loadAllAppCss();
+
+      expect(css).not.toContain(".agents-split-sidebar .agent-card-actions .agent-card-action-label {\n  display: none;\n}");
+      expect(css).toContain("@container agent-card-actions (max-width: calc(var(--space-2xl) * 9))");
+      expect(css).toContain(".agents-split-sidebar .agent-card-actions .agent-card-action-label {\n    display: none;\n  }");
+    });
+
     it("opens matching detail view when clicking View Details button", async () => {
       render(<AgentsView addToast={mockAddToast} />);
 

packages/engine/src/__tests__/merger.test.ts

@@ -1084,6 +1084,44 @@ describe("aiMergeTask — merge-target branch resolution", () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe("aiMergeTask — no-op short-circuit", () => {
+  it("finalizes to done when branch has zero commits ahead of base", async () => {
+    const store = createMockStore({
+      id: "FN-3834-NOOP",
+      branch: "fusion/fn-3834-noop",
+      mergeDetails: { mergeTargetBranch: "main" },
+      worktree: "/tmp/root/.worktrees/FN-3834-NOOP",
+    });
+
+    mockedExecSync.mockImplementation((cmd: any) => {
+      const cmdStr = String(cmd);
+      if (cmdStr.includes("rev-parse --verify") && cmdStr.includes("fusion/fn-3834-noop")) return Buffer.from("ok");
+      if (cmdStr.includes("rev-parse --verify") && cmdStr.includes("main")) return Buffer.from("ok");
+      if (cmdStr.includes("rev-list --count") && cmdStr.includes("main") && cmdStr.includes("fusion/fn-3834-noop")) return "0\n" as any;
+      if (cmdStr.includes("git merge --squash")) {
+        throw new Error("merge path should not run");
+      }
+      return Buffer.from("");
+    });
+
+    const result = await aiMergeTask(store, "/tmp/root", "FN-3834-NOOP");
+
+    expect(result.merged).toBe(true);
+    expect(result.noOp).toBe(true);
+    expect(store.moveTask).toHaveBeenCalledWith("FN-3834-NOOP", "done");
+    expect(store.updateTask).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      "FN-3834-NOOP",
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        mergeDetails: expect.objectContaining({
+          mergeConfirmed: true,
+          noOpMerge: true,
+          noOpReason: expect.stringContaining("main"),
+        }),
+      }),
+    );
+  });
+});
+
 describe("aiMergeTask — empty squash merge (branch already merged via dep)", () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.clearAllMocks();

packages/engine/src/__tests__/self-healing.test.ts

@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ vi.mock("../logger.js", () => ({
   createLogger: vi.fn((_name: string) => selfHealingLoggerMock),
 }));
 
-import { SelfHealingManager } from "../self-healing.js";
+import { SelfHealingManager, isBranchAheadOfBase } from "../self-healing.js";
 import type { TaskStore, Settings, Task, AgentStore, Agent } from "@fusion/core";
 import { EventEmitter } from "node:events";
 import { execSync } from "node:child_process";
@@ -2360,6 +2360,232 @@ describe("SelfHealingManager", () => {
       managerWithRecovery.stop();
     });
 
+    it("finalizes no-op in-review tasks with zero commits ahead", async () => {
+      const enqueueMerge = vi.fn();
+      const managerWithRecovery = new SelfHealingManager(store, {
+        rootDir: "/tmp/test-project",
+        enqueueMerge,
+      });
+      (store.getSettings as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockResolvedValue({
+        autoMerge: true,
+        globalPause: false,
+        enginePaused: false,
+      });
+      mockedExecSync.mockImplementation((command) => {
+        const cmd = String(command);
+        if (cmd.includes("rev-parse --verify 'fusion/fn-500'")) return "ok" as any;
+        if (cmd.includes("rev-parse --verify 'main'")) return "ok" as any;
+        if (cmd.includes("rev-list --count 'main'..'fusion/fn-500'")) return "0\n" as any;
+        return "" as any;
+      });
+      (store.listTasks as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>)
+        .mockResolvedValueOnce([
+          {
+            id: "FN-500",
+            column: "in-review",
+            paused: false,
+            status: null,
+            worktree: "/tmp/test-project/.worktrees/fn-500",
+            steps: [{ name: "Ship it", status: "done" }],
+            workflowStepResults: [{ id: "ws-1", status: "passed", phase: "pre-merge" }],
+            mergeDetails: undefined,
+            log: [],
+          },
+        ])
+        .mockResolvedValueOnce([
+          {
+            id: "FN-500",
+            column: "in-review",
+            paused: false,
+            status: null,
+            mergeRetries: 0,
+            worktree: "/tmp/test-project/.worktrees/fn-500",
+            steps: [{ name: "Ship it", status: "done" }],
+            workflowStepResults: [{ id: "ws-1", status: "passed", phase: "pre-merge" }],
+            mergeDetails: { mergeConfirmed: true, noOpMerge: true },
+            log: [],
+          },
+        ]);
+
+      const finalized = await managerWithRecovery.finalizeNoOpReviewTasks();
+      const recovered = await managerWithRecovery.recoverMergeableReviewTasks();
+
+      expect(finalized).toBe(1);
+      expect(recovered).toBe(0);
+      expect(store.updateTask).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        "FN-500",
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          mergeDetails: expect.objectContaining({
+            mergeConfirmed: true,
+            noOpMerge: true,
+            noOpReason: expect.stringContaining("main"),
+          }),
+        }),
+      );
+      expect(store.moveTask).toHaveBeenCalledWith("FN-500", "done");
+      expect(store.logEntry).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        "FN-500",
+        expect.stringContaining("Auto-finalized: branch has zero commits ahead of main"),
+      );
+      expect(enqueueMerge).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+      managerWithRecovery.stop();
+    });
+
+    it("does not finalize when branch is ahead by one or more commits", async () => {
+      const managerWithRecovery = new SelfHealingManager(store, {
+        rootDir: "/tmp/test-project",
+      });
+      (store.getSettings as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockResolvedValue({
+        autoMerge: true,
+        globalPause: false,
+        enginePaused: false,
+      });
+      mockedExecSync.mockImplementation((command) => {
+        const cmd = String(command);
+        if (cmd.includes("rev-parse --verify 'fusion/fn-501'")) return "ok" as any;
+        if (cmd.includes("rev-parse --verify 'main'")) return "ok" as any;
+        if (cmd.includes("rev-list --count 'main'..'fusion/fn-501'")) return "3\n" as any;
+        return "" as any;
+      });
+      (store.listTasks as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockResolvedValue([
+        {
+          id: "FN-501",
+          column: "in-review",
+          paused: false,
+          status: null,
+          worktree: "/tmp/test-project/.worktrees/fn-501",
+          steps: [{ name: "Ship it", status: "done" }],
+          workflowStepResults: [{ id: "ws-1", status: "passed", phase: "pre-merge" }],
+          mergeDetails: undefined,
+          log: [],
+        },
+      ]);
+
+      const result = await managerWithRecovery.finalizeNoOpReviewTasks();
+
+      expect(result).toBe(0);
+      expect(store.moveTask).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith("FN-501", "done");
+
+      managerWithRecovery.stop();
+    });
+
+    it("skips finalize pass when autoMerge is disabled", async () => {
+      const managerWithRecovery = new SelfHealingManager(store, {
+        rootDir: "/tmp/test-project",
+      });
+      (store.getSettings as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockResolvedValue({
+        autoMerge: false,
+        globalPause: false,
+        enginePaused: false,
+      });
+
+      const result = await managerWithRecovery.finalizeNoOpReviewTasks();
+
+      expect(result).toBe(0);
+      expect(store.listTasks).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+      managerWithRecovery.stop();
+    });
+
+    it("does not finalize no-op tasks when branch inspection errors", async () => {
+      const managerWithRecovery = new SelfHealingManager(store, {
+        rootDir: "/tmp/test-project",
+      });
+      (store.getSettings as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockResolvedValue({
+        autoMerge: true,
+        globalPause: false,
+        enginePaused: false,
+      });
+      mockedExecSync.mockImplementation((command) => {
+        const cmd = String(command);
+        if (cmd.includes("rev-parse --verify 'fusion/fn-502'")) return "ok" as any;
+        if (cmd.includes("rev-parse --verify 'main'")) return "ok" as any;
+        if (cmd.includes("rev-list --count 'main'..'fusion/fn-502'")) {
+          throw new Error("git failed");
+        }
+        return "" as any;
+      });
+      (store.listTasks as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockResolvedValue([
+        {
+          id: "FN-502",
+          column: "in-review",
+          paused: false,
+          status: null,
+          worktree: "/tmp/test-project/.worktrees/fn-502",
+          steps: [{ name: "Ship it", status: "done" }],
+          workflowStepResults: [{ id: "ws-1", status: "passed", phase: "pre-merge" }],
+          mergeDetails: undefined,
+          log: [],
+        },
+      ]);
+
+      const result = await managerWithRecovery.finalizeNoOpReviewTasks();
+
+      expect(result).toBe(0);
+      expect(store.moveTask).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith("FN-502", "done");
+      expect(getSelfHealingLogger().warn).toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+      managerWithRecovery.stop();
+    });
+
+    it("does not re-enqueue tasks marked noOpMerge", async () => {
+      const enqueueMerge = vi.fn();
+      const managerWithRecovery = new SelfHealingManager(store, {
+        rootDir: "/tmp/test-project",
+        enqueueMerge,
+      });
+      (store.getSettings as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockResolvedValue({
+        autoMerge: true,
+        globalPause: false,
+        enginePaused: false,
+      });
+      (store.listTasks as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockResolvedValue([
+        {
+          id: "FN-503",
+          column: "in-review",
+          paused: false,
+          status: null,
+          mergeRetries: 0,
+          worktree: "/tmp/test-project/.worktrees/fn-503",
+          steps: [{ name: "Ship it", status: "done" }],
+          workflowStepResults: [{ id: "ws-1", status: "passed", phase: "pre-merge" }],
+          mergeDetails: { noOpMerge: true },
+          log: [],
+        },
+      ]);
+
+      const result = await managerWithRecovery.recoverMergeableReviewTasks();
+
+      expect(result).toBe(0);
+      expect(enqueueMerge).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(store.logEntry).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        "FN-503",
+        expect.stringContaining("re-enqueued"),
+      );
+
+      managerWithRecovery.stop();
+    });
+
+    it("resolves ahead count via origin fallback", async () => {
+      mockedExecSync.mockImplementation((command) => {
+        const cmd = String(command);
+        if (cmd.includes("rev-parse --verify 'fusion/fn-999'")) return "ok" as any;
+        if (cmd.includes("rev-parse --verify 'release'")) throw new Error("missing local");
+        if (cmd.includes("rev-parse --verify 'origin/release'")) return "ok" as any;
+        if (cmd.includes("rev-list --count 'origin/release'..'fusion/fn-999'")) return "0\n" as any;
+        return "" as any;
+      });
+
+      const result = await isBranchAheadOfBase(
+        { id: "FN-999", branch: "fusion/fn-999" } as Task,
+        "/tmp/test-project",
+        "release",
+      );
+
+      expect(result).toEqual({ aheadCount: 0, baseRef: "origin/release" });
+    });
+
     it("moves stale in-review tasks with incomplete steps back to todo for retry", async () => {
       const managerWithRecovery = new SelfHealingManager(store, {
         rootDir: "/tmp/test-project",
@@ -4324,6 +4550,7 @@ describe("maintenance cycle concurrency", () => {
     makeSlow("recoverStaleIncompleteReviewTasks");
     makeSlow("recoverInterruptedMergingTasks");
     makeSlow("recoverStaleMergingStatus");
+    makeSlow("finalizeNoOpReviewTasks");
     makeSlow("recoverMergeableReviewTasks");
     makeSlow("recoverMergedReviewTasks");
     makeSlow("recoverStuckMergeDeadlocks");
@@ -4352,6 +4579,7 @@ describe("maintenance cycle concurrency", () => {
       "recoverStaleIncompleteReviewTasks",
       "recoverInterruptedMergingTasks",
       "recoverStaleMergingStatus",
+      "finalizeNoOpReviewTasks",
       "recoverMergeableReviewTasks",
       "recoverMergedReviewTasks",
       "recoverStuckMergeDeadlocks",

packages/engine/src/merger.ts

@@ -4724,6 +4724,76 @@ export async function aiMergeTask(
     throw new Error(`Cannot merge ${taskId}: ${mergeBlocker}`);
   }
 
+  const branch = task.branch || `fusion/${taskId.toLowerCase()}`;
+  const requestedBaseRef = task.mergeDetails?.mergeTargetBranch || "main";
+  const resolveAheadCount = async (): Promise<{ aheadCount: number; baseRef: string } | null> => {
+    try {
+      await execAsync(`git rev-parse --verify ${quoteArg(branch)}`, { cwd: rootDir, timeout: 30_000 });
+    } catch {
+      return null;
+    }
+
+    let baseRef = requestedBaseRef;
+    try {
+      await execAsync(`git rev-parse --verify ${quoteArg(baseRef)}`, { cwd: rootDir, timeout: 30_000 });
+    } catch {
+      const remoteRef = `origin/${requestedBaseRef}`;
+      try {
+        await execAsync(`git rev-parse --verify ${quoteArg(remoteRef)}`, { cwd: rootDir, timeout: 30_000 });
+        baseRef = remoteRef;
+      } catch {
+        return null;
+      }
+    }
+
+    try {
+      const { stdout } = await execAsync(
+        `git rev-list --count ${quoteArg(baseRef)}..${quoteArg(branch)}`,
+        { cwd: rootDir, timeout: 30_000 },
+      );
+      const aheadCount = Number.parseInt(stdout.trim(), 10);
+      if (!Number.isFinite(aheadCount)) {
+        return null;
+      }
+      return { aheadCount, baseRef };
+    } catch {
+      return null;
+    }
+  };
+
+  const aheadInfo = await resolveAheadCount();
+  if (aheadInfo?.aheadCount === 0) {
+    const noOpReason = `branch has zero commits ahead of ${aheadInfo.baseRef}`;
+    const mergeDetails: MergeDetails = {
+      ...(task.mergeDetails || {}),
+      mergeConfirmed: true,
+      noOpMerge: true,
+      noOpReason,
+      mergedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+      prNumber: task.prInfo?.number,
+      mergeTargetBranch: aheadInfo.baseRef,
+    };
+    await store.updateTask(taskId, { mergeDetails });
+    await store.logEntry(
+      taskId,
+      `Auto-finalized: ${noOpReason}; treating as no-op merge and moving to done`,
+    );
+    await store.moveTask(taskId, "done");
+    return {
+      task,
+      branch,
+      merged: true,
+      noOp: true,
+      worktreeRemoved: false,
+      branchDeleted: false,
+      mergeConfirmed: true,
+      noOpMerge: true,
+      noOpReason,
+      mergedAt: mergeDetails.mergedAt,
+      mergeTargetBranch: aheadInfo.baseRef,
+    };
+  }
+
   // Advisory: announce that rootDir is volatile until this merge finishes.
   // Dashboards / status lines / pre-Edit hooks can read this file to warn
   // devs that edits made now may end up in a race-rescue stash. Not a lock —
@@ -4759,7 +4829,6 @@ export async function aiMergeTask(
   let resultForFinally: MergeResult | undefined;
   try {
 
-  const branch = task.branch || `fusion/${taskId.toLowerCase()}`;
   const sourceIssueRef = buildSourceIssueRef(task.sourceIssue);
   const worktreePath = task.worktree;
   const result: MergeResult = {
@@ -7224,7 +7293,7 @@ async function runAiAgentForCommit(params: AiAgentParams): Promise<{ success: bo
     } else {
       // The agent committed. Idempotently ensure canonical task trailers are
       // present on HEAD for durable lineage attribution and fallback recovery.
-      await ensureTaskTrailersOnHead(rootDir, task);
+      await ensureTaskTrailersOnHead(rootDir, { id: taskId });
     }
 
     return { success: true };

packages/engine/src/self-healing.ts

@@ -160,6 +160,62 @@ function shellQuote(value: string): string {
   return `'${value.replace(/'/g, "'\\''")}'`;
 }
 
+export async function isBranchAheadOfBase(
+  task: Task,
+  rootDir: string,
+  preferredBaseRef?: string,
+): Promise<{ aheadCount: number; baseRef: string } | null> {
+  const branchName = task.branch || `fusion/${task.id.toLowerCase()}`;
+
+  try {
+    await execAsync(`git rev-parse --verify ${shellQuote(branchName)}`, {
+      cwd: rootDir,
+      timeout: 30_000,
+    });
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  const requestedBaseRef = preferredBaseRef || task.mergeDetails?.mergeTargetBranch || "main";
+  let resolvedBaseRef = requestedBaseRef;
+
+  try {
+    await execAsync(`git rev-parse --verify ${shellQuote(requestedBaseRef)}`, {
+      cwd: rootDir,
+      timeout: 30_000,
+    });
+  } catch {
+    const remoteRef = `origin/${requestedBaseRef}`;
+    try {
+      await execAsync(`git rev-parse --verify ${shellQuote(remoteRef)}`, {
+        cwd: rootDir,
+        timeout: 30_000,
+      });
+      resolvedBaseRef = remoteRef;
+    } catch {
+      return null;
+    }
+  }
+
+  try {
+    const { stdout } = await execAsync(
+      `git rev-list --count ${shellQuote(resolvedBaseRef)}..${shellQuote(branchName)}`,
+      { cwd: rootDir, timeout: 30_000 },
+    );
+    const aheadCount = Number.parseInt(stdout.trim(), 10);
+    if (!Number.isFinite(aheadCount)) {
+      return null;
+    }
+    return { aheadCount, baseRef: resolvedBaseRef };
+  } catch (err: unknown) {
+    const errorMessage = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+    log.warn(
+      `Failed to compare ${branchName} against ${resolvedBaseRef} for ${task.id}: ${errorMessage}`,
+    );
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
 function parseShortstat(output: string): Pick<LandedTaskCommit, "filesChanged" | "insertions" | "deletions"> {
   const normalized = output.trim().replace(/\n/g, " ");
   const filesMatch = normalized.match(/(\d+) files? changed/);
@@ -878,6 +934,7 @@ export class SelfHealingManager {
           { name: "recover-interrupted-merging", fn: () => this.recoverInterruptedMergingTasks() },
           { name: "recover-done-merge-metadata", fn: () => this.recoverDoneTaskMergeMetadata() },
           { name: "recover-stale-merging-status", fn: () => this.recoverStaleMergingStatus() },
+          { name: "finalize-noop-review", fn: () => this.finalizeNoOpReviewTasks() },
           { name: "recover-mergeable-review", fn: () => this.recoverMergeableReviewTasks() },
           { name: "recover-merged-review", fn: () => this.recoverMergedReviewTasks() },
           { name: "recover-already-merged-review", fn: () => this.recoverAlreadyMergedReviewTasks() },
@@ -1193,6 +1250,65 @@ export class SelfHealingManager {
     }
   }
 
+  async finalizeNoOpReviewTasks(): Promise<number> {
+    try {
+      const settings = await this.store.getSettings();
+      if (!settings.autoMerge) return 0;
+      if (settings.globalPause || settings.enginePaused) return 0;
+
+      const tasks = await this.store.listTasks({ column: "in-review", slim: true });
+      const candidates = tasks.filter((t) =>
+        t.column === "in-review" &&
+        !t.paused &&
+        Boolean(t.worktree) &&
+        t.mergeDetails?.mergeConfirmed !== true &&
+        t.status !== "merging" &&
+        t.status !== "merging-pr" &&
+        t.status !== "awaiting-user-review" &&
+        t.status !== "failed" &&
+        getTaskMergeBlocker(t) === undefined,
+      );
+
+      if (candidates.length === 0) return 0;
+
+      let recovered = 0;
+      for (const task of candidates) {
+        const ahead = await this.isBranchAheadOfBase(task, task.mergeDetails?.mergeTargetBranch || "main");
+        if (!ahead || ahead.aheadCount !== 0) {
+          continue;
+        }
+
+        const noOpReason = `branch has zero commits ahead of ${ahead.baseRef}`;
+        // Reaching in-review means executor/spec gates already passed. If there
+        // are no commits ahead of base, treat this as a successful no-op merge.
+        const mergeDetails: MergeDetails = {
+          ...(task.mergeDetails || {}),
+          mergeConfirmed: true,
+          noOpMerge: true,
+          noOpReason,
+          mergedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+        };
+
+        await this.store.updateTask(task.id, { mergeDetails });
+        await this.store.logEntry(
+          task.id,
+          `Auto-finalized: ${noOpReason}; treating as no-op merge and moving to done`,
+        );
+        await this.store.moveTask(task.id, "done");
+        recovered++;
+      }
+
+      if (recovered > 0) {
+        log.log(`Recovered ${recovered} no-op review task(s) → done`);
+      }
+      return recovered;
+    } catch (err: unknown) {
+      const errorMessage = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+      log.error(`No-op review finalization failed: ${errorMessage}`);
+      return 0;
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * Recover `in-review` tasks that are fully mergeable but never had
    * `mergeTask()` invoked.
@@ -1223,11 +1339,13 @@ export class SelfHealingManager {
         t.status !== "merging-pr" &&
         Boolean(t.worktree) &&
         t.mergeDetails?.mergeConfirmed !== true &&
+        t.mergeDetails?.noOpMerge !== true &&
         !hasTerminalInvalidDoneTransition(t) &&
         // Mirror ProjectEngine.canMergeTask retry gate. If retries are already
         // exhausted, re-enqueueing here is a no-op and each recovery log write
         // refreshes updatedAt, preventing cooldown-based retries from ever
-        // becoming eligible.
+        // becoming eligible. Also skip tasks explicitly tagged as no-op merges
+        // in case updateTask(moveTask) is briefly out-of-order during recovery.
         (t.mergeRetries ?? 0) < MAX_AUTO_MERGE_RETRIES &&
         getTaskMergeBlocker(t) === undefined,
       );
@@ -2422,6 +2540,13 @@ export class SelfHealingManager {
     }
   }
 
+  private async isBranchAheadOfBase(
+    task: Task,
+    baseRef?: string,
+  ): Promise<{ aheadCount: number; baseRef: string } | null> {
+    return isBranchAheadOfBase(task, this.options.rootDir, baseRef);
+  }
+
   private async hasRecoverableGitWork(task: Task): Promise<boolean> {
     if (task.worktree && existsSync(task.worktree)) {
       try {