diff --git a/codev/projects/bugfix-113-porch-verify-approval-cannot-p/status.yaml b/codev/projects/bugfix-113-porch-verify-approval-cannot-p/status.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..79f2047ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/codev/projects/bugfix-113-porch-verify-approval-cannot-p/status.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+id: bugfix-113
+title: porch-verify-approval-cannot-p
+protocol: bugfix
+phase: pr
+plan_phases: []
+current_plan_phase: null
+gates:
+  pr:
+    status: approved
+    requested_at: '2026-08-24T23:03:47.476Z'
+    approved_at: '2026-08-24T23:19:14.798Z'
+iteration: 1
+build_complete: false
+history: []
+started_at: '2026-08-24T22:29:49.851Z'
+updated_at: '2026-08-24T23:19:14.799Z'
+pr_history:
+  - phase: pr
+    pr_number: 137
+    branch: builder/bugfix-113
+    created_at: '2026-08-24T22:58:03.624Z'
+pr_ready_for_human: false
diff --git a/codev/state/bugfix-113_thread.md b/codev/state/bugfix-113_thread.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..54886b17c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/codev/state/bugfix-113_thread.md
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+# bugfix-113 thread
+
+Investigate (2026-08-24).
+
+Reproduced. `porch check 83` from this worktree fails `pr_exists` in 0.6s. Same command from main passes only because `findStatusPath` hits `.builders/air-106`, whose unrelated merged PR #132 satisfies the check.
+
+Project 83 is still in `review`. `pr` is approved. PR #104 is MERGED. `verify-approval` is pending. The builder never ran `porch done` after the pr gate, so verify was never entered.
+
+`porch approve 83 verify-approval` runs checks for `state.phase` (review), not for the phase that owns the gate. Review's first check is `pr_exists`, which asks `git branch --show-current` in whichever worktree owns the status.yaml. After merge that is almost never `builder/spir-83`.
+
+The issue title's premise is wrong. `pr_exists` already uses `--state all`, so a merged PR matches (#568 / #16 / upstream #1331). The real cause is the `--head` argument: `git branch --show-current` runs in whichever worktree `findStatusPath` returns, and after merge that is almost never the PR head. The search is for the wrong head, not the wrong state. Against `CODEV_BRANCH_NAME=builder/spir-83` the script returns true.
+
+Verify phase has no checks. Scope is small: approve the named gate's phase checks, and if verify-approval is requested while still in review with `pr` already approved, enter verify first so the existing auto-advance can reach `verified`.
+
+Fix: `approve()` enters verify when verify-approval is requested from review with `pr` already approved. Review's `pr_exists` no longer runs. Regression test fails without the block (process.exit from `false` pr_exists) and passes with it.
+
+PR #137: https://github.com/pseudoseed/codev/pull/137
+
+CMAP: gemini skipped (agy exit 1, quota). Substitute opencode=APPROVE. codex=COMMENT (branch trails main by a docs merge, no code change). claude=APPROVE. No REQUEST_CHANGES.
+
+Claude noted a residual: `porch done` / `porch check` still fail review's `pr_exists` after merge when cwd is not the PR head. Left as a follow-up; this bugfix unblocks verify-approval.
diff --git a/packages/codev/src/commands/porch/__tests__/bugfix-113-verify-approval-merged-pr.test.ts b/packages/codev/src/commands/porch/__tests__/bugfix-113-verify-approval-merged-pr.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..eeacc2dd2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/codev/src/commands/porch/__tests__/bugfix-113-verify-approval-merged-pr.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+/**
+ * Regression test for issue #113: porch approve verify-approval cannot pass
+ * after a normal merge because it re-runs review's pr_exists.
+ *
+ * Reproduction:
+ *   1. SPIR project is still in review. The pr gate is already approved.
+ *   2. The PR is merged (closed). That is how you get to verify-approval.
+ *   3. `porch approve <id> verify-approval` runs checks for state.phase
+ *      (review), whose first check is pr_exists.
+ *   4. pr_exists keys off `git branch --show-current` in whichever worktree
+ *      findStatusPath returns. After merge that is almost never the PR head,
+ *      so the check fails and the gate cannot be approved.
+ *
+ * A test that stops at the pr gate cannot catch this.
+ */
+
+import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach, afterEach, vi } from 'vitest';
+import * as fs from 'node:fs';
+import * as path from 'node:path';
+import { tmpdir } from 'node:os';
+import { approve } from '../index.js';
+import { writeState, getStatusPath, readState } from '../state.js';
+import type { ProjectState } from '../types.js';
+
+function createTestDir(): string {
+  const dir = path.join(tmpdir(), `porch-113-${Date.now()}-${Math.random().toString(36).slice(2, 8)}`);
+  fs.mkdirSync(dir, { recursive: true });
+  return dir;
+}
+
+function setupProtocol(testDir: string, protocol: object): void {
+  const protocolDir = path.join(testDir, 'codev', 'protocols', 'spir');
+  fs.mkdirSync(protocolDir, { recursive: true });
+  fs.writeFileSync(path.join(protocolDir, 'protocol.json'), JSON.stringify(protocol, null, 2));
+}
+
+function setupState(testDir: string, state: ProjectState): string {
+  const statusPath = getStatusPath(testDir, state.id, state.title);
+  fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(statusPath), { recursive: true });
+  writeState(statusPath, state);
+  return statusPath;
+}
+
+function makeState(overrides: Partial<ProjectState> = {}): ProjectState {
+  return {
+    id: '83',
+    title: 'merged-pr-project',
+    protocol: 'spir',
+    phase: 'review',
+    plan_phases: [],
+    current_plan_phase: null,
+    gates: {
+      'spec-approval': { status: 'approved', approved_at: new Date().toISOString() },
+      'plan-approval': { status: 'approved', approved_at: new Date().toISOString() },
+      pr: { status: 'approved', approved_at: new Date().toISOString() },
+      'verify-approval': { status: 'pending' },
+    },
+    iteration: 1,
+    build_complete: true,
+    history: [],
+    started_at: new Date().toISOString(),
+    updated_at: new Date().toISOString(),
+    ...overrides,
+  };
+}
+
+// Review's pr_exists is a guaranteed fail. Without the fix, approve
+// verify-approval runs this check and cannot pass. With the fix, approve
+// enters verify first and never runs it.
+const spirProtocol = {
+  name: 'spir',
+  version: '1.0.0',
+  phases: [
+    {
+      id: 'review',
+      name: 'Review',
+      type: 'once',
+      checks: {
+        pr_exists: {
+          command: 'false',
+          description: 'Would fail after merge when the current branch is not the PR head',
+        },
+      },
+      gate: 'pr',
+      next: 'verify',
+    },
+    {
+      id: 'verify',
+      name: 'Verify',
+      type: 'once',
+      gate: 'verify-approval',
+      next: null,
+    },
+  ],
+};
+
+describe('bugfix #113 — verify-approval after merged PR', () => {
+  let testDir: string;
+  let exitSpy: ReturnType<typeof vi.spyOn>;
+  let logSpy: ReturnType<typeof vi.spyOn>;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    testDir = createTestDir();
+    setupProtocol(testDir, spirProtocol);
+    exitSpy = vi.spyOn(process, 'exit').mockImplementation((code?: number) => {
+      throw new Error(`process.exit(${code})`);
+    });
+    logSpy = vi.spyOn(console, 'log').mockImplementation(() => {});
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    fs.rmSync(testDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    exitSpy.mockRestore();
+    logSpy.mockRestore();
+  });
+
+  it('approve verify-approval succeeds after pr is approved even when pr_exists would fail', async () => {
+    const statusPath = setupState(testDir, makeState());
+
+    await approve(testDir, '83', 'verify-approval', true);
+
+    const updated = readState(statusPath);
+    expect(updated.gates['verify-approval'].status).toBe('approved');
+    expect(updated.gates['verify-approval'].approved_at).toBeDefined();
+    expect(updated.phase).toBe('verified');
+  });
+
+  it('approve verify-approval refuses when the pr gate is not approved', async () => {
+    const statusPath = setupState(testDir, makeState({
+      gates: {
+        'spec-approval': { status: 'approved', approved_at: new Date().toISOString() },
+        'plan-approval': { status: 'approved', approved_at: new Date().toISOString() },
+        pr: { status: 'pending' },
+        'verify-approval': { status: 'pending' },
+      },
+    }));
+
+    await expect(approve(testDir, '83', 'verify-approval', true)).rejects.toThrow(
+      /pr gate must be approved first/,
+    );
+
+    const updated = readState(statusPath);
+    expect(updated.gates['verify-approval'].status).toBe('pending');
+    expect(updated.phase).toBe('review');
+  });
+
+  it('approve verify-approval still works when already in verify', async () => {
+    const statusPath = setupState(testDir, makeState({ phase: 'verify' }));
+
+    await approve(testDir, '83', 'verify-approval', true);
+
+    const updated = readState(statusPath);
+    expect(updated.gates['verify-approval'].status).toBe('approved');
+    expect(updated.phase).toBe('verified');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/codev/src/commands/porch/index.ts b/packages/codev/src/commands/porch/index.ts
index 4d8f67c91..f8d5351eb 100644
--- a/packages/codev/src/commands/porch/index.ts
+++ b/packages/codev/src/commands/porch/index.ts
@@ -874,6 +874,27 @@ export async function approve(
 
   // Run phase checks before approving
   const protocol = loadProtocol(workspaceRoot, state.protocol);
+
+  // Issue #113: verify-approval is the post-merge gate. After a normal merge
+  // the project is still in review (porch done after the pr gate is a separate
+  // step). Approving this gate must not re-run review's pr_exists — that check
+  // keys off git branch --show-current in whichever worktree findStatusPath
+  // returns, which after merge is almost never the PR head. Enter verify first
+  // so the checks below are the verify phase's (none) and the existing
+  // auto-advance can reach verified.
+  if (gateName === 'verify-approval' && state.phase !== 'verify') {
+    if (state.phase === 'review' && state.gates['pr']?.status === 'approved') {
+      state.phase = 'verify';
+      state.build_complete = true;
+      await writeStateAndCommit(statusPath, state, `chore(porch): ${state.id} verify phase-transition (verify-approval)`);
+    } else {
+      throw new Error(
+        `Cannot approve verify-approval from phase '${state.phase}'. ` +
+        `The pr gate must be approved first.`,
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
   const overrides = loadCheckOverrides(workspaceRoot, state.protocol);
   const phaseConfig = getPhaseConfig(protocol, state.phase);
   const phaseCheckNames = phaseConfig?.checks ?? [];