diff --git a/.github/workflows/auto-approve.yaml b/.github/workflows/auto-approve.yaml
index f8303b0d..e674965d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/auto-approve.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/auto-approve.yaml
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ permissions:
 jobs:
   auto-approve:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    if: endsWith(github.actor, '[bot]')
+    # panicboat-ci-bot can't approve its own PRs; GitHub rejects that with 422.
+    if: endsWith(github.actor, '[bot]') && github.event.pull_request.user.login != 'panicboat-ci-bot[bot]'
     steps:
       - name: Generate GitHub App token
         id: app-token