docs/HOW_GITEA_MCP_WORKS.md

@@ -125,6 +125,13 @@ by area:
 | Search / Templates | code_search, create_project_from_template |
 | Composite | tbd_ship (trunk-based ship helper) |
 
+**`tbd_ship` merge gate (gitea-mcp#63).** A PR is squash-merged only when ALL of: the head commit's CI is fully green,
+the base branch is not review-protected, and the issue named in `issue` carries **exactly one** `risk/` label, `risk/low`.
+No `issue`, no `risk/` label, several, an unknown value (`risk/lowish`), `risk/medium`, `risk/high`, or an issue that
+cannot be read all fail closed: the PR is opened, `merged:false`, with a `reason` and the `risk` tier in the result.
+Unclassified is not low. Limit: the gate enforces the tier of the issue the caller names; it cannot prove that issue is
+the one the change belongs to, so the link is the caller's claim (the convention in local-dev rule 5 still applies).
+
 Shared tool-layer hygiene (`internal/tools/tool.go`):
 - **Alias normalization** — `repo`↔`name` and `number`↔`index` are reconciled so
   a tool works whichever spelling a caller sends (an explicit canonical wins).

internal/tools/tbd_ship.go

@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ const (
 func (t *TBDShip) Descriptor() registry.ToolDescriptor {
 	return registry.ToolDescriptor{
 		Name:        "tbd_ship",
-		Description: "Trunk-based ship of a single-file change: branch from base, write the file, open a PR, and auto-merge (squash) to base ONLY when the head commit's CI is fully green. Fails closed to PR-only (never merges) when CI is pending, red, or absent, when the base branch requires reviews, or when the merge isn't clean — returning the PR for manual handling with a reason. Set ci_timeout_seconds to poll CI to completion (default 0 = snapshot, which returns pending right after opening the PR). Returns {merged, pr_url, pr_number, ci_status, reason, branch}.",
+		Description: "Trunk-based ship of a single-file change: branch from base, write the file, open a PR, and auto-merge (squash) to base ONLY when the head commit's CI is fully green AND the named issue carries exactly one risk/ label, risk/low. Fails closed to PR-only (never merges) when CI is pending, red, or absent, when no issue is named or its risk/ label is missing, ambiguous, unknown, risk/medium or risk/high, when the issue cannot be read, when the base branch requires reviews, or when the merge isn't clean — returning the PR for manual handling with a reason. Set ci_timeout_seconds to poll CI to completion (default 0 = snapshot, which returns pending right after opening the PR). Returns {merged, pr_url, pr_number, ci_status, risk, reason, branch}.",
 		InputSchema: json.RawMessage(`{
 			"type":"object",
 			"properties":{
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ func (t *TBDShip) Descriptor() registry.ToolDescriptor {
 				"branch":{"type":"string","description":"Short-lived branch name. Default derived: tbd/<slug>-<hash>."},
 				"pr_title":{"type":"string","description":"PR title. Default: the commit message."},
 				"pr_body":{"type":"string"},
+				"issue":{"type":"integer","minimum":1,"description":"Issue number in the same repo whose risk/ label classifies this change. Auto-merge happens only for exactly one label, risk/low; no issue, none, several, an unknown value, risk/medium or risk/high means PR only, never merged (unclassified is not low)."},
 				"delete_branch":{"type":"boolean","description":"Delete the branch after a successful merge. Default true."},
 				"ci_timeout_seconds":{"type":"integer","minimum":0,"maximum":600,"description":"Poll CI up to this long for the head commit's runs to complete. Default 0 (single snapshot)."}
 			},
@@ -68,10 +69,76 @@ type tbdShipArgs struct {
 	Branch       string `json:"branch"`
 	PRTitle      string `json:"pr_title"`
 	PRBody       string `json:"pr_body"`
+	Issue        int    `json:"issue"`
 	DeleteBranch *bool  `json:"delete_branch"`
 	CITimeoutSec int    `json:"ci_timeout_seconds"`
 }
 
+// riskTier is the change's classification under the lane model (local-dev .context/AGENT.md rule 5): only a change
+// whose issue carries exactly one risk/ label, risk/low, may merge on green; everything else is reviewed by a human
+// (gitea-mcp#63). The zero value is deliberately NOT riskLow: a forgotten field must never mean "low".
+type riskTier string
+
+const (
+	riskLow        riskTier = "low"
+	riskMedium     riskTier = "medium"
+	riskHigh       riskTier = "high"
+	riskNone       riskTier = "none"       // no issue named, or the issue has no risk/ label: unclassified is not low
+	riskAmbiguous  riskTier = "ambiguous"  // more than one risk/ label
+	riskUnknown    riskTier = "unknown"    // risk/<something else>
+	riskUnreadable riskTier = "unreadable" // the issue lookup failed
+)
+
+// classifyRisk reads the tier from an issue's labels. Exact, case-sensitive prefix "risk/"; exactly one such label
+// is required, so two labels (even identical ones) are ambiguous rather than "the lower one wins".
+func classifyRisk(labels []gitea.Label) riskTier {
+	var found []string
+	for _, l := range labels {
+		if strings.HasPrefix(l.Name, "risk/") {
+			found = append(found, strings.TrimPrefix(l.Name, "risk/"))
+		}
+	}
+	switch len(found) {
+	case 0:
+		return riskNone
+	case 1:
+	default:
+		return riskAmbiguous
+	}
+	switch found[0] {
+	case "low":
+		return riskLow
+	case "medium":
+		return riskMedium
+	case "high":
+		return riskHigh
+	default:
+		return riskUnknown
+	}
+}
+
+const unclassifiedReason = "no risk/ label on the named issue (or no issue named) — unclassified is not low; PR opened, not merged"
+
+// riskBlockReason explains why a tier other than riskLow blocks the merge.
+func riskBlockReason(r riskTier) string {
+	switch r {
+	case riskMedium, riskHigh:
+		return fmt.Sprintf("the issue is risk/%s — above risk/low a human reviews the change; PR opened, not merged", r)
+	case riskAmbiguous:
+		return "the issue carries more than one risk/ label — ambiguous classification; PR opened, not merged"
+	case riskUnknown:
+		return "the issue carries an unknown risk/ value — PR opened, not merged"
+	case riskUnreadable:
+		return "could not read the issue's labels — fail-closed; PR opened, not merged"
+	case riskLow:
+		return "" // never asked: only a non-low tier needs explaining
+	case riskNone:
+		return unclassifiedReason
+	default: // the zero value and any tier added later: unclassified is not low
+		return unclassifiedReason
+	}
+}
+
 // shipGate is the decision produced by evaluateShipGate.
 type shipGate struct {
 	merge    bool
@@ -101,9 +168,10 @@ func classifyCI(runs []gitea.WorkflowRun) string {
 }
 
 // evaluateShipGate is the load-bearing safety of tbd_ship. It returns merge=true
-// only when CI is fully green AND the base branch is not review-protected. Every
+// only when CI is fully green AND the base branch is not review-protected AND the
-// other state fails closed to PR-only with an explanatory reason (#40).
+// change is classified risk/low. Every other state fails closed to PR-only with an
-func evaluateShipGate(runs []gitea.WorkflowRun, bp *gitea.BranchProtection) shipGate {
+// explanatory reason (#40, gitea-mcp#63).
+func evaluateShipGate(runs []gitea.WorkflowRun, bp *gitea.BranchProtection, risk riskTier) shipGate {
 	ci := classifyCI(runs)
 
 	// Review-protected base can't be auto-merged regardless of CI.
@@ -112,6 +180,11 @@ func evaluateShipGate(runs []gitea.WorkflowRun, bp *gitea.BranchProtection) ship
 			"base branch requires %d approving review(s) — auto-merge disabled; PR opened for manual merge", bp.RequiredApprovals)}
 	}
 
+	// Only risk/low merges on green. Checked before CI so an unclassified change never reads as "waiting for CI".
+	if risk != riskLow {
+		return shipGate{false, ci, riskBlockReason(risk)}
+	}
+
 	switch ci {
 	case "success":
 		return shipGate{true, ci, ""}
@@ -230,7 +303,8 @@ func (t *TBDShip) Call(ctx context.Context, raw json.RawMessage) (json.RawMessag
 
 	// CI gate on the PR head commit.
 	runs := t.pollRuns(ctx, args.Owner, args.Repo, pr.Head.Sha, args.CITimeoutSec)
-	gate := evaluateShipGate(runs, bp)
+	risk := t.riskTierOf(ctx, args.Owner, args.Repo, args.Issue)
+	gate := evaluateShipGate(runs, bp, risk)
 
 	result := map[string]any{
 		"merged":    false,
@@ -238,6 +312,7 @@ func (t *TBDShip) Call(ctx context.Context, raw json.RawMessage) (json.RawMessag
 		"pr_url":    pr.HTMLURL,
 		"branch":    branch,
 		"ci_status": gate.ciStatus,
+		"risk":      string(risk),
 	}
 	if !gate.merge {
 		result["reason"] = gate.reason
@@ -261,6 +336,20 @@ func (t *TBDShip) Call(ctx context.Context, raw json.RawMessage) (json.RawMessag
 	return textOK(result)
 }
 
+// riskTierOf classifies the change from the named issue. No issue, or an issue that cannot be read, never yields
+// riskLow. The link between the PR and the issue is the caller's claim: the gate enforces the tier of the issue it
+// is given, it cannot prove that issue is the one the change belongs to (stated limit, gitea-mcp#63).
+func (t *TBDShip) riskTierOf(ctx context.Context, owner, repo string, issue int) riskTier {
+	if issue <= 0 {
+		return riskNone
+	}
+	iss, err := t.c.GetIssue(ctx, owner, repo, issue)
+	if err != nil || iss == nil {
+		return riskUnreadable
+	}
+	return classifyRisk(iss.Labels)
+}
+
 // pollRuns lists the head commit's workflow runs, polling up to timeoutSec for
 // them to reach a terminal state. timeoutSec == 0 is a single snapshot (no
 // sleep). A listing error yields no runs → the gate fails closed.

internal/tools/tbd_ship_internal_test.go

@@ -20,22 +20,31 @@ func TestEvaluateShipGate(t *testing.T) {
 		name      string
 		runs      []gitea.WorkflowRun
 		bp        *gitea.BranchProtection
+		risk      riskTier
 		wantMerge bool
 		wantCI    string
 	}{
-		{"all green → merge", []gitea.WorkflowRun{run("completed", "success")}, open, true, "success"},
+		{"all green → merge", []gitea.WorkflowRun{run("completed", "success")}, open, riskLow, true, "success"},
-		{"in_progress → no merge", []gitea.WorkflowRun{run("in_progress", "")}, open, false, "pending"},
+		{"in_progress → no merge", []gitea.WorkflowRun{run("in_progress", "")}, open, riskLow, false, "pending"},
-		{"queued → no merge", []gitea.WorkflowRun{run("queued", "")}, open, false, "pending"},
+		{"queued → no merge", []gitea.WorkflowRun{run("queued", "")}, open, riskLow, false, "pending"},
-		{"failed → no merge", []gitea.WorkflowRun{run("completed", "failure")}, open, false, "failed"},
+		{"failed → no merge", []gitea.WorkflowRun{run("completed", "failure")}, open, riskLow, false, "failed"},
-		{"cancelled → no merge (fail-closed)", []gitea.WorkflowRun{run("completed", "cancelled")}, open, false, "failed"},
+		{"cancelled → no merge (fail-closed)", []gitea.WorkflowRun{run("completed", "cancelled")}, open, riskLow, false, "failed"},
-		{"no runs → no merge (no CI gate)", nil, open, false, "none"},
+		{"no runs → no merge (no CI gate)", nil, open, riskLow, false, "none"},
-		{"mixed success+queued → no merge", []gitea.WorkflowRun{run("completed", "success"), run("queued", "")}, open, false, "pending"},
+		{"mixed success+queued → no merge", []gitea.WorkflowRun{run("completed", "success"), run("queued", "")}, open, riskLow, false, "pending"},
-		{"green but protected → no merge", []gitea.WorkflowRun{run("completed", "success")}, protected, false, "success"},
+		{"green but protected → no merge", []gitea.WorkflowRun{run("completed", "success")}, protected, riskLow, false, "success"},
-		{"no runs + protected → no merge", nil, protected, false, "none"},
+		{"no runs + protected → no merge", nil, protected, riskLow, false, "none"},
+		// gitea-mcp#63: the tier is an input. Green CI never overrides it; unclassified is not low.
+		{"green + risk/medium → no merge", []gitea.WorkflowRun{run("completed", "success")}, open, riskMedium, false, "success"},
+		{"green + risk/high → no merge", []gitea.WorkflowRun{run("completed", "success")}, open, riskHigh, false, "success"},
+		{"green + no risk label → no merge", []gitea.WorkflowRun{run("completed", "success")}, open, riskNone, false, "success"},
+		{"green + ambiguous labels → no merge", []gitea.WorkflowRun{run("completed", "success")}, open, riskAmbiguous, false, "success"},
+		{"green + unknown value → no merge", []gitea.WorkflowRun{run("completed", "success")}, open, riskUnknown, false, "success"},
+		{"green + unreadable issue → no merge", []gitea.WorkflowRun{run("completed", "success")}, open, riskUnreadable, false, "success"},
+		{"green + the zero tier → no merge (a forgotten field must not mean low)", []gitea.WorkflowRun{run("completed", "success")}, open, riskTier(""), false, "success"},
 	}
 	for _, tc := range tests {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			g := evaluateShipGate(tc.runs, tc.bp)
+			g := evaluateShipGate(tc.runs, tc.bp, tc.risk)
 			if g.merge != tc.wantMerge {
 				t.Errorf("merge = %v, want %v (reason: %q)", g.merge, tc.wantMerge, g.reason)
 			}
@@ -51,3 +60,41 @@ func TestEvaluateShipGate(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestClassifyRisk(t *testing.T) {
+	l := func(names ...string) []gitea.Label {
+		out := make([]gitea.Label, len(names))
+		for i, n := range names {
+			out[i] = gitea.Label{Name: n}
+		}
+		return out
+	}
+	tests := []struct {
+		name   string
+		labels []gitea.Label
+		want   riskTier
+	}{
+		{"low", l("risk/low"), riskLow},
+		{"medium", l("risk/medium"), riskMedium},
+		{"high", l("risk/high"), riskHigh},
+		{"low among others", l("type/fix", "risk/low", "size/s"), riskLow},
+		{"none", l("type/fix"), riskNone},
+		{"no labels", nil, riskNone},
+		{"two different", l("risk/low", "risk/high"), riskAmbiguous},
+		{"two identical", l("risk/low", "risk/low"), riskAmbiguous},
+		{"unknown value", l("risk/extreme"), riskUnknown},
+		{"empty value", l("risk/"), riskUnknown},
+		{"wrong case", l("Risk/Low"), riskNone},
+		{"value case matters: risk/Low is unknown, not low", l("risk/Low"), riskUnknown},
+		{"trailing space in the value is unknown, not low", l("risk/low "), riskUnknown},
+		{"leading space in the value is unknown, not low", l("risk/ low"), riskUnknown},
+		{"prefix only inside a name", l("not-risk/low"), riskNone},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if got := classifyRisk(tc.labels); got != tc.want {
+				t.Errorf("classifyRisk(%v) = %q, want %q", tc.labels, got, tc.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

internal/tools/tbd_ship_test.go

@@ -26,11 +26,21 @@ func shipFake(t *testing.T, runsJSON string, merged, deleted *atomic.Bool) *http
 // shipFakeOpts adds protection (requiredApprovals>0 → protected) and a merge
 // status code, so tests can drive the review-protected and conflict paths.
 func shipFakeOpts(t *testing.T, runsJSON string, requiredApprovals, mergeStatus int, merged, deleted *atomic.Bool) *httptest.Server {
+	t.Helper()
+	return shipFakeFull(t, runsJSON, requiredApprovals, mergeStatus, `[{"id":1,"name":"risk/low"}]`, http.StatusOK, merged, deleted)
+}
+
+// shipFakeFull also serves the issue whose risk/ label classifies the change (gitea-mcp#63): issueLabels is the
+// labels JSON array, issueStatus the HTTP status of the issue lookup.
+func shipFakeFull(t *testing.T, runsJSON string, requiredApprovals, mergeStatus int, issueLabels string, issueStatus int, merged, deleted *atomic.Bool) *httptest.Server {
 	t.Helper()
 	return httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		p := r.URL.Path
 		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
 		switch {
+		case r.Method == http.MethodGet && strings.Contains(p, "/issues/42"):
+			w.WriteHeader(issueStatus)
+			_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"number":42,"title":"t","state":"open","labels":` + issueLabels + `}`))
 		case r.Method == http.MethodGet && strings.Contains(p, "/branch_protections/"):
 			if requiredApprovals > 0 {
 				_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"required_approvals":` + itoa(requiredApprovals) + `}`))
@@ -83,7 +93,7 @@ func TestTBDShip_GreenCI_Merges(t *testing.T) {
 	srv := shipFake(t, `[{"id":1,"status":"completed","conclusion":"success","head_sha":"abc"}]`, &merged, &deleted)
 	defer srv.Close()
 
-	res := callShip(t, srv.URL, `{"owner":"mathias","repo":"myrepo","path":"docs/x.md","content":"hi","message":"add x"}`)
+	res := callShip(t, srv.URL, `{"owner":"mathias","repo":"myrepo","path":"docs/x.md","content":"hi","message":"add x","issue":42}`)
 
 	assert.Equal(t, true, res["merged"])
 	assert.Equal(t, "success", res["ci_status"])
@@ -98,7 +108,7 @@ func TestTBDShip_NoCI_FailsClosed(t *testing.T) {
 	srv := shipFake(t, `[]`, &merged, &deleted)
 	defer srv.Close()
 
-	res := callShip(t, srv.URL, `{"owner":"mathias","repo":"myrepo","path":"docs/x.md","content":"hi","message":"add x"}`)
+	res := callShip(t, srv.URL, `{"owner":"mathias","repo":"myrepo","path":"docs/x.md","content":"hi","message":"add x","issue":42}`)
 
 	assert.Equal(t, false, res["merged"])
 	assert.Equal(t, "none", res["ci_status"])
@@ -113,7 +123,7 @@ func TestTBDShip_RedCI_FailsClosed(t *testing.T) {
 	srv := shipFake(t, `[{"id":1,"status":"completed","conclusion":"failure","head_sha":"abc"}]`, &merged, &deleted)
 	defer srv.Close()
 
-	res := callShip(t, srv.URL, `{"owner":"mathias","repo":"myrepo","path":"docs/x.md","content":"hi","message":"add x"}`)
+	res := callShip(t, srv.URL, `{"owner":"mathias","repo":"myrepo","path":"docs/x.md","content":"hi","message":"add x","issue":42}`)
 
 	assert.Equal(t, false, res["merged"])
 	assert.Equal(t, "failed", res["ci_status"])
@@ -128,7 +138,7 @@ func TestTBDShip_ReviewProtected_FailsClosed(t *testing.T) {
 	srv := shipFakeOpts(t, `[{"id":1,"status":"completed","conclusion":"success","head_sha":"abc"}]`, 1, http.StatusOK, &merged, &deleted)
 	defer srv.Close()
 
-	res := callShip(t, srv.URL, `{"owner":"mathias","repo":"myrepo","path":"docs/x.md","content":"hi","message":"add x"}`)
+	res := callShip(t, srv.URL, `{"owner":"mathias","repo":"myrepo","path":"docs/x.md","content":"hi","message":"add x","issue":42}`)
 
 	assert.Equal(t, false, res["merged"])
 	assert.NotEmpty(t, res["reason"])
@@ -142,7 +152,7 @@ func TestTBDShip_MergeConflict_FailsClosed(t *testing.T) {
 	srv := shipFakeOpts(t, `[{"id":1,"status":"completed","conclusion":"success","head_sha":"abc"}]`, 0, http.StatusConflict, &merged, &deleted)
 	defer srv.Close()
 
-	res := callShip(t, srv.URL, `{"owner":"mathias","repo":"myrepo","path":"docs/x.md","content":"hi","message":"add x"}`)
+	res := callShip(t, srv.URL, `{"owner":"mathias","repo":"myrepo","path":"docs/x.md","content":"hi","message":"add x","issue":42}`)
 
 	assert.Equal(t, false, res["merged"])
 	assert.NotEmpty(t, res["reason"])
@@ -160,6 +170,8 @@ func TestTBDShip_Resume_ExistingBranchAndPR(t *testing.T) {
 		p := r.URL.Path
 		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
 		switch {
+		case r.Method == http.MethodGet && strings.Contains(p, "/issues/42"):
+			_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"number":42,"title":"t","state":"open","labels":[{"id":1,"name":"risk/low"}]}`))
 		case r.Method == http.MethodGet && strings.Contains(p, "/branch_protections/"):
 			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNotFound)
 			_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"message":"not found"}`))
@@ -196,7 +208,7 @@ func TestTBDShip_Resume_ExistingBranchAndPR(t *testing.T) {
 	}))
 	defer srv.Close()
 
-	res := callShip(t, srv.URL, `{"owner":"mathias","repo":"myrepo","path":"docs/x.md","content":"hi","message":"add x","branch":"`+branch+`"}`)
+	res := callShip(t, srv.URL, `{"owner":"mathias","repo":"myrepo","path":"docs/x.md","content":"hi","message":"add x","issue":42,"branch":"`+branch+`"}`)
 
 	assert.Equal(t, true, res["merged"], "resume must merge when CI is green")
 	assert.Equal(t, float64(7), res["pr_number"], "must reuse the existing PR #7")
@@ -204,6 +216,103 @@ func TestTBDShip_Resume_ExistingBranchAndPR(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.True(t, merged.Load())
 }
 
+// ---- gitea-mcp#63: the risk tier is an input to the gate. Only exactly one risk/low label merges. ----
+const (
+	shipGreen = `[{"id":1,"status":"completed","conclusion":"success","head_sha":"abc"}]`
+	shipArgs  = `{"owner":"mathias","repo":"myrepo","path":"docs/x.md","content":"hi","message":"add x","issue":42}`
+)
+
+func TestTBDShip_RiskTier_OnlyLowMerges(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name         string
+		labels       string
+		wantMerged   bool
+		wantInReason string
+	}{
+		{"risk/low merges", `[{"id":1,"name":"risk/low"}]`, true, ""},
+		{"risk/low among other labels merges", `[{"id":2,"name":"type/fix"},{"id":1,"name":"risk/low"},{"id":3,"name":"size/s"}]`, true, ""},
+		{"risk/medium does not merge", `[{"id":1,"name":"risk/medium"}]`, false, "risk/medium"},
+		{"risk/high does not merge", `[{"id":1,"name":"risk/high"}]`, false, "risk/high"},
+		{"no risk label is unclassified, not low", `[{"id":2,"name":"type/fix"}]`, false, "no risk/"},
+		{"no labels at all", `[]`, false, "no risk/"},
+		{"two risk labels are ambiguous", `[{"id":1,"name":"risk/low"},{"id":2,"name":"risk/high"}]`, false, "more than one"},
+		{"two identical risk/low labels are still ambiguous", `[{"id":1,"name":"risk/low"},{"id":2,"name":"risk/low"}]`, false, "more than one"},
+		{"an unknown risk value does not merge", `[{"id":1,"name":"risk/lowish"}]`, false, "unknown"},
+		{"an empty risk value does not merge", `[{"id":1,"name":"risk/"}]`, false, "unknown"},
+		{"labels are case-sensitive: RISK/LOW is not risk/low", `[{"id":1,"name":"RISK/LOW"}]`, false, "no risk/"},
+		{"a label that merely contains risk/low does not count", `[{"id":1,"name":"not-risk/low"}]`, false, "no risk/"},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			var merged, deleted atomic.Bool
+			srv := shipFakeFull(t, shipGreen, 0, http.StatusOK, tc.labels, http.StatusOK, &merged, &deleted)
+			defer srv.Close()
+
+			res := callShip(t, srv.URL, shipArgs)
+
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.wantMerged, res["merged"])
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.wantMerged, merged.Load(), "the merge endpoint is called iff the tier allows it")
+			assert.Equal(t, "success", res["ci_status"], "CI was green: the tier alone decided")
+			assert.Equal(t, float64(7), res["pr_number"], "the PR is opened either way")
+			if !tc.wantMerged {
+				assert.Contains(t, res["reason"], tc.wantInReason)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// No issue named → nothing classifies the change → no merge, even on green CI.
+func TestTBDShip_NoIssue_Unclassified_NoMerge(t *testing.T) {
+	var merged, deleted atomic.Bool
+	srv := shipFake(t, shipGreen, &merged, &deleted)
+	defer srv.Close()
+
+	res := callShip(t, srv.URL, `{"owner":"mathias","repo":"myrepo","path":"docs/x.md","content":"hi","message":"add x"}`)
+
+	assert.Equal(t, false, res["merged"])
+	assert.Contains(t, res["reason"], "issue")
+	assert.False(t, merged.Load(), "an unclassified change must not merge")
+	assert.Equal(t, float64(7), res["pr_number"])
+}
+
+// The issue lookup failing is not a reason to merge: fail closed, PR left open.
+func TestTBDShip_IssueLookupFails_FailsClosed(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, status := range []int{http.StatusInternalServerError, http.StatusNotFound, http.StatusForbidden} {
+		var merged, deleted atomic.Bool
+		srv := shipFakeFull(t, shipGreen, 0, http.StatusOK, `[{"id":1,"name":"risk/low"}]`, status, &merged, &deleted)
+
+		res := callShip(t, srv.URL, shipArgs)
+		srv.Close()
+
+		assert.Equal(t, false, res["merged"], "status %d", status)
+		assert.NotEmpty(t, res["reason"], "status %d", status)
+		assert.False(t, merged.Load(), "status %d: an unreadable issue must not merge", status)
+	}
+}
+
+// risk/low is necessary, not sufficient: red CI still blocks it, and a review-protected base still blocks it.
+func TestTBDShip_RiskLow_DoesNotOverrideTheOtherGates(t *testing.T) {
+	var merged, deleted atomic.Bool
+	red := shipFakeFull(t, `[{"id":1,"status":"completed","conclusion":"failure","head_sha":"abc"}]`, 0, http.StatusOK, `[{"id":1,"name":"risk/low"}]`, http.StatusOK, &merged, &deleted)
+	defer red.Close()
+	assert.Equal(t, false, callShip(t, red.URL, shipArgs)["merged"])
+	assert.False(t, merged.Load())
+
+	prot := shipFakeFull(t, shipGreen, 1, http.StatusOK, `[{"id":1,"name":"risk/low"}]`, http.StatusOK, &merged, &deleted)
+	defer prot.Close()
+	assert.Equal(t, false, callShip(t, prot.URL, shipArgs)["merged"])
+	assert.False(t, merged.Load())
+}
+
+// The decision is visible to the caller.
+func TestTBDShip_ReportsTheRiskTier(t *testing.T) {
+	var merged, deleted atomic.Bool
+	srv := shipFakeFull(t, shipGreen, 0, http.StatusOK, `[{"id":1,"name":"risk/medium"}]`, http.StatusOK, &merged, &deleted)
+	defer srv.Close()
+
+	assert.Equal(t, "medium", callShip(t, srv.URL, shipArgs)["risk"])
+}
+
 func TestTBDShip_AllowlistRejects(t *testing.T) {
 	tool := tools.NewTBDShip(gitea.NewClient("http://unused", ""), allowlist.New([]string{"mathias"}))
 	_, err := tool.Call(context.Background(), json.RawMessage(`{"owner":"evil","repo":"r","path":"p","content":"c","message":"m"}`))