diff --git a/.codex/skills/babysit-pr/SKILL.md b/.codex/skills/babysit-pr/SKILL.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9ae3e615f01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.codex/skills/babysit-pr/SKILL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+---
+name: babysit-pr
+description: Watch a pull request through checks and review follow-ups without treating readiness as merge intent.
+---
+
+# Babysit PR
+
+Use this skill when asked to watch, babysit, or keep an eye on a GitHub pull
+request. It is a coordination entry point for the repo's PR workflow metadata,
+not an automatic merge command.
+
+## Workflow
+
+1. Read `.github/github.json`, especially `prWorkflow`, `importantWorkflows`,
+   `githubSignals`, and `cleanup`.
+2. Identify the PR and branch with `gh pr view --json` and check whether it is
+   draft, mergeable, blocked, behind, or waiting on review.
+3. Watch required checks with `gh pr checks --watch` or, for a known workflow,
+   the repo's configured wait command.
+4. If checks fail, inspect the failing job and report the smallest actionable
+   fix. Do not mark the PR ready.
+5. If checks pass, look for fresh review comments, auto-review findings, and
+   branch drift. Apply or report genuine findings before declaring readiness.
+6. Report readiness separately from merge intent. This repo's metadata says a
+   ready PR still needs explicit user approval before merging.
+7. After an approved merge, verify the post-merge GitHub signals configured in
+   `.github/github.json` when available, then clean only safe local artifacts.
+
+## Commands
+
+Useful commands:
+
+```sh
+gh pr view <pr> --json state,isDraft,mergeStateStatus,reviewDecision,url
+gh pr checks <pr> --watch
+gh pr view <pr> --comments
+```
+
+Use `./build-fast.sh` as the local validation gate for code changes in this
+repository unless the user explicitly asks for a different check.
diff --git a/code-rs/core/src/review_coord.rs b/code-rs/core/src/review_coord.rs
index 0de401b6378..b5cd21d48b1 100644
--- a/code-rs/core/src/review_coord.rs
+++ b/code-rs/core/src/review_coord.rs
@@ -161,6 +161,10 @@ pub fn read_lock_info(scope: Option<&Path>) -> Option<ReviewLockInfo> {
     serde_json::from_str(&buf).ok()
 }
 
+fn lock_file_exists(scope: Option<&Path>) -> bool {
+    lock_path(scope).map(|path| path.exists()).unwrap_or(false)
+}
+
 #[cfg(unix)]
 fn pid_alive(pid: u32) -> bool {
     // Safety: kill with signal 0 performs permission/aliveness check only
@@ -187,7 +191,15 @@ fn pid_alive(_pid: u32) -> bool {
 pub fn clear_stale_lock_if_dead(scope: Option<&Path>) -> std::io::Result<bool> {
     let info = match read_lock_info(scope) {
         Some(i) => i,
-        None => return Ok(false),
+        None => {
+            if lock_file_exists(scope) {
+                if let Ok(path) = lock_path(scope) {
+                    let _ = fs::remove_file(path);
+                    return Ok(true);
+                }
+            }
+            return Ok(false);
+        }
     };
     if pid_alive(info.pid) {
         return Ok(false);
@@ -289,6 +301,21 @@ mod tests {
         drop(guard);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    #[serial]
+    fn malformed_lock_is_cleared_as_stale() {
+        let dir = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        set_code_home(dir.path());
+        let cwd = dir.path();
+        let path = lock_path(Some(cwd)).unwrap();
+        fs::write(&path, b"not json").unwrap();
+
+        assert!(clear_stale_lock_if_dead(Some(cwd)).unwrap());
+        assert!(!path.exists());
+        let guard = try_acquire_lock("after-malformed", cwd).unwrap();
+        assert!(guard.is_some());
+    }
+
     #[test]
     #[serial]
     fn lock_contention_across_components() {