diff --git a/.mokogitea/workflows/auto-release.yml b/.mokogitea/workflows/auto-release.yml
index f2063cbd..a7563e01 100644
--- a/.mokogitea/workflows/auto-release.yml
+++ b/.mokogitea/workflows/auto-release.yml
@@ -380,13 +380,10 @@ jobs:
           import sys
           version, date = sys.argv[1], sys.argv[2]
           content = open('CHANGELOG.md').read()
-          marker = f'## [{version}]'
-          # Idempotent: only promote when this version header isn't already present,
-          # otherwise re-runs (or same-version builds) create empty duplicate headers.
-          if marker not in content:
-              new = f'## [Unreleased]\n\n{marker} --- {date}'
-              content = content.replace('## [Unreleased]', new, 1)
-              open('CHANGELOG.md', 'w').write(content)
+          old = '## [Unreleased]'
+          new = f'## [Unreleased]\n\n## [{version}] --- {date}'
+          content = content if ('## [' + version + ']') in content else content.replace(old, new, 1)
+          open('CHANGELOG.md', 'w').write(content)
           " "$VERSION" "$DATE"
             git add CHANGELOG.md
             git commit -m "chore: promote changelog [Unreleased] → [${VERSION}]" || true
diff --git a/.mokogitea/workflows/ci-generic.yml b/.mokogitea/workflows/ci-generic.yml
index f7820461..14f81bad 100644
--- a/.mokogitea/workflows/ci-generic.yml
+++ b/.mokogitea/workflows/ci-generic.yml
@@ -131,10 +131,11 @@ jobs:
   test:
     name: Tests
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    needs: lint
-    # Run only when lint succeeded; always() forces evaluation so a skipped
-    # lint (e.g. template repos) skips this job cleanly instead of hanging.
-    if: ${{ always() && needs.lint.result == 'success' }}
+    # Independent job (no `needs: lint`): the Gitea Actions scheduler does not
+    # offer the dependent 2nd job of a needs-chain to runners, so it stalls in
+    # "waiting" and is reaped by ABANDONED_JOB_TIMEOUT. Guard template repos
+    # directly (same condition lint uses) instead of gating on lint's result.
+    if: ${{ !startsWith(github.event.repository.name, 'Template-') }}
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
diff --git a/.mokogitea/workflows/pr-check.yml b/.mokogitea/workflows/pr-check.yml
index 0994da93..c7c2e8f0 100644
--- a/.mokogitea/workflows/pr-check.yml
+++ b/.mokogitea/workflows/pr-check.yml
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Check for merge conflict markers
         run: |
-          CONFLICTS=$(grep -rn '<<<<<<< \|>>>>>>> \|^=======$' --include='*.php' --include='*.xml' --include='*.css' --include='*.js' --include='*.json' --include='*.md' --include='*.yml' --include='*.yaml' --include='*.ini' --include='*.txt' . 2>/dev/null | grep -v '.git/' || true)
+          CONFLICTS=$(grep -rn '<<<<<<< \|>>>>>>> \|^=======$' --exclude-dir='.git' --exclude-dir='.mokogitea' --include='*.php' --include='*.xml' --include='*.css' --include='*.js' --include='*.json' --include='*.md' --include='*.yml' --include='*.yaml' --include='*.ini' --include='*.txt' . 2>/dev/null | grep -v '.git/' || true)
           if [ -n "$CONFLICTS" ]; then
             echo "::error::Merge conflict markers found in source files"
             echo "## Conflict Markers Found" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
diff --git a/.mokogitea/workflows/pre-release.yml b/.mokogitea/workflows/pre-release.yml
index ff376b3e..b212772d 100644
--- a/.mokogitea/workflows/pre-release.yml
+++ b/.mokogitea/workflows/pre-release.yml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 # INGROUP: mokocli.Release
 # REPO: https://git.mokoconsulting.tech/MokoConsulting/Template-Generic
 # PATH: /.mokogitea/workflows/pre-release.yml
-# VERSION: 05.02.00
+# VERSION: 05.02.01
 # BRIEF: Auto pre-release on push to dev/alpha/beta/rc branches
 
 name: "Universal: Pre-Release"
@@ -162,7 +162,13 @@ jobs:
           git add -A
           git diff --cached --quiet || {
             git commit -m "chore(version): pre-release bump to ${VERSION} [skip ci]"
-            git push origin HEAD 2>&1
+            # Push the bump commit, but do NOT fail the release if the target branch
+            # is protected and the release identity is not on the push allowlist.
+            # The build proceeds from the in-tree bumped version regardless; if the
+            # push is rejected, the next run simply re-bumps from the same base.
+            if ! git push origin HEAD 2>&1; then
+              echo "::warning::Version-bump commit could not be pushed (protected branch?). Building from in-tree version ${VERSION} anyway."
+            fi
           }
 
           # Auto-detect element via manifest_element.php
@@ -274,4 +280,4 @@ jobs:
           echo "| Version | \`${VERSION}\` |" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
           echo "| Channel | ${STABILITY} |" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
           echo "| Package | \`${ZIP_NAME}\` |" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
-          echo "| SHA-256 | \`${SHA256:-n/a}\` |" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+          echo "| SHA-256 | \`${SHA256:-n/a}\` |" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
\ No newline at end of file