diff --git a/.github/workflows/label-pr-review-state.yml b/.github/workflows/label-pr-review-state.yml
index 80c0a01ac5..48d836420e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/label-pr-review-state.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/label-pr-review-state.yml
@@ -289,7 +289,6 @@ jobs:
                 'coderabbit-changes': 'Address CodeRabbit findings and push an update. Review restarts after CI passes.',
                 coderabbit: 'Required CI passed. Wait for CodeRabbit to approve the latest commit.',
                 'draft-approved': 'CodeRabbit approved the latest commit. Mark the draft ready.',
-                'fork-approved': 'Fork review completed. Native GitHub review protections remain authoritative.',
                 'maintainer-changes': 'Address the maintainer feedback, push an update, and request another review.',
                 maintainer: 'Ready for human maintainer review and approval.',
                 approved: 'The required review sequence passed. Remaining merge requirements apply.',
@@ -676,11 +675,7 @@ jobs:
                 }
                 await reconcileLabels(pr, desiredLabel);
                 if (readyForMaintainer) {
-                  if (isForkPR(pr)) {
-                    await updateReviewGate(pr, 'fork-approved', false);
-                  } else {
-                    await updateReviewGate(pr, phase, true);
-                  }
+                  await updateReviewGate(pr, phase, true);
                 }
               } catch (error) {
                 let invalidationError = null;
diff --git a/src/services/__tests__/pr-review-state-workflow.test.ts b/src/services/__tests__/pr-review-state-workflow.test.ts
index 00122bd9c8..5cc0241db8 100644
--- a/src/services/__tests__/pr-review-state-workflow.test.ts
+++ b/src/services/__tests__/pr-review-state-workflow.test.ts
@@ -1386,11 +1386,10 @@ describe("PR review-state workflow", () => {
 		expect(result.addLabels).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({ labels: ["coderabbit-review-active"] }))
 	})
 
-	it("keeps fork review gates pending after approval", async () => {
+	it("passes fork review gates at the maintainer handoff", async () => {
 		const result = await runWorkflow({
 			eventName: "schedule",
 			fork: true,
-			permissions: { maintainer: "write" },
 			reviews: [
 				{
 					login: "coderabbitai[bot]",
@@ -1398,17 +1397,11 @@ describe("PR review-state workflow", () => {
 					state: "APPROVED",
 					submittedAt: REVIEWED_AT,
 				},
-				{
-					login: "maintainer",
-					type: "User",
-					state: "APPROVED",
-					submittedAt: REVIEWED_AT + 1_000,
-				},
 			],
 		})
 
-		expect(latestGateStatus(result)?.state).toBe("pending")
-		expect(latestGateStatus(result)?.description).toContain("Native GitHub review protections")
+		expect(latestGateStatus(result)?.state).toBe("success")
+		expect(latestGateStatus(result)?.description).toContain("Ready for human maintainer")
 	})
 
 	it("fails closed when branch rules are unavailable", async () => {