diff --git a/GiteaPR.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj b/GiteaPR.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
index fdacf7b..ce3525a 100644
--- a/GiteaPR.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
+++ b/GiteaPR.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@
 			buildSettings = {
 				ASSETCATALOG_COMPILER_APPICON_NAME = AppIcon;
 				CODE_SIGN_STYLE = Automatic;
-				CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION = 16;
+				CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION = 17;
 				DEVELOPMENT_TEAM = "";
 				GENERATE_INFOPLIST_FILE = YES;
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_CFBundleDisplayName = "GiteaPR";
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@
 					"$(inherited)",
 					"@executable_path/Frameworks",
 				);
-				MARKETING_VERSION = 2.5;
+				MARKETING_VERSION = 2.6;
 				PRODUCT_BUNDLE_IDENTIFIER = com.bueso.giteapr;
 				PRODUCT_NAME = "$(TARGET_NAME)";
 				SWIFT_EMIT_LOC_STRINGS = YES;
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@
 			buildSettings = {
 				ASSETCATALOG_COMPILER_APPICON_NAME = AppIcon;
 				CODE_SIGN_STYLE = Automatic;
-				CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION = 16;
+				CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION = 17;
 				DEVELOPMENT_TEAM = "";
 				GENERATE_INFOPLIST_FILE = YES;
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_CFBundleDisplayName = "GiteaPR";
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@
 					"$(inherited)",
 					"@executable_path/Frameworks",
 				);
-				MARKETING_VERSION = 2.5;
+				MARKETING_VERSION = 2.6;
 				PRODUCT_BUNDLE_IDENTIFIER = com.bueso.giteapr;
 				PRODUCT_NAME = "$(TARGET_NAME)";
 				SWIFT_EMIT_LOC_STRINGS = YES;
diff --git a/GiteaPR/Detail/PRDetailViewModel.swift b/GiteaPR/Detail/PRDetailViewModel.swift
index 8fb605e..186293b 100644
--- a/GiteaPR/Detail/PRDetailViewModel.swift
+++ b/GiteaPR/Detail/PRDetailViewModel.swift
@@ -144,6 +144,23 @@ final class PRDetailViewModel: ObservableObject {
             pr = try? await client.pullRequest(owner: owner, repo: repo.name,
                                                number: prNumber)
             return true
+        } catch APIError.mergeConflict {
+            // Branch is behind main (or conflicts). Update it and retry once.
+            busyMessage = "Updating branch…"
+            do {
+                try await client.updateBranch(owner: owner, repo: repo.name,
+                                              number: prNumber)
+                busyMessage = "Merging…"
+                try await client.merge(owner: owner, repo: repo.name,
+                                       number: prNumber, method: method,
+                                       deleteBranchAfterMerge: SettingsStore.shared.deleteBranchAfterMerge)
+                pr = try? await client.pullRequest(owner: owner, repo: repo.name,
+                                                   number: prNumber)
+                return true
+            } catch {
+                errorMessage = error.localizedDescription
+                return false
+            }
         } catch {
             errorMessage = error.localizedDescription
             return false
diff --git a/GiteaPR/Networking/APIError.swift b/GiteaPR/Networking/APIError.swift
index 873ba53..56b3b0c 100644
--- a/GiteaPR/Networking/APIError.swift
+++ b/GiteaPR/Networking/APIError.swift
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ enum APIError: LocalizedError, Equatable {
     case decoding(String)
     case unauthorized
     case notFound
+    case mergeConflict
 
     var errorDescription: String? {
         switch self {
@@ -18,6 +19,9 @@ enum APIError: LocalizedError, Equatable {
             if code == 401 || code == 403 {
                 return "Authentication failed. Check your token."
             }
+            if code == 409 {
+                return "This branch is out of date or conflicts with the base branch. Update the branch and try again."
+            }
             return message?.isEmpty == false
                 ? "Server error (\(code)): \(message!)"
                 : "Server error (\(code))."
@@ -27,6 +31,8 @@ enum APIError: LocalizedError, Equatable {
             return "Authentication failed. Check your token."
         case .notFound:
             return "Not found."
+        case .mergeConflict:
+            return "This branch is out of date or conflicts with the base branch. Update the branch and try again."
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/GiteaPR/Networking/GiteaClient.swift b/GiteaPR/Networking/GiteaClient.swift
index 715fe19..0eb5199 100644
--- a/GiteaPR/Networking/GiteaClient.swift
+++ b/GiteaPR/Networking/GiteaClient.swift
@@ -93,6 +93,9 @@ struct GiteaClient {
         case 404:
             await LogStore.shared.log(.error, "\(method) \(path) → 404 not found")
             throw APIError.notFound
+        case 409:
+            await LogStore.shared.log(.warn, "\(method) \(path) → 409 conflict")
+            throw APIError.mergeConflict
         default:
             let message = (try? Self.decoder.decode([String: String].self,
                                                      from: data))?["message"]
@@ -230,6 +233,14 @@ struct GiteaClient {
                               method: "DELETE")
     }
 
+    /// Merge the base branch into the head branch (`POST /pulls/{index}/update`).
+    /// When a PR is behind `main` (e.g. conflicts), the merge returns 409; this
+    /// rebases/syncs the head onto the base so it can then be merged.
+    func updateBranch(owner: String, repo: String, number: Int) async throws {
+        _ = try await request("repos/\(owner)/\(repo)/pulls/\(number)/update",
+                              method: "POST")
+    }
+
     func setState(owner: String, repo: String, number: Int,
                   state: String) async throws {
         struct Body: Encodable { let state: String }