diff --git a/scripts/agent_loop.py b/scripts/agent_loop.py
index 32cb83d..8d201b5 100755
--- a/scripts/agent_loop.py
+++ b/scripts/agent_loop.py
@@ -263,6 +263,14 @@ def _latest_ci_run_for_pr(pr_number: int) -> dict | None:
     return None
 
 
+def _get_issue_labels(issue: int) -> list[str]:
+    """Return label names for an issue."""
+    data = _tea_get(f"repos/{REPO}/issues/{issue}")
+    if not data:
+        return []
+    return [lbl["name"] for lbl in data.get("labels", [])]
+
+
 def _merge_pr(pr_number: int) -> None:
     """Squash-merge a PR via fgj."""
     _fgj("pr", "merge", str(pr_number), "--repo", REPO, "--merge-method", "squash")
@@ -684,6 +692,9 @@ def _run_loop() -> int:
             continue
 
         if pr_run and pr_run.get("status") == "success":
+            if issue_num and LABEL_QUESTION in _get_issue_labels(issue_num):
+                print(f"Catch-up: PR #{pr_number} — issue #{issue_num} is State/Question, skipping.")
+                continue
             print(f"Catch-up: CI passed on PR #{pr_number} ({pr_url}) — merging.")
             try:
                 _merge_pr(pr_number)
diff --git a/scripts/test_agent_loop.py b/scripts/test_agent_loop.py
index a3d4d07..4750cbd 100644
--- a/scripts/test_agent_loop.py
+++ b/scripts/test_agent_loop.py
@@ -744,5 +744,45 @@ class TestRunLoopResumeCommand(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertNotIn("Resume:", output)
 
 
+
+class TestCatchupSkipsQuestionIssues(unittest.TestCase):
+    """Catch-up must not retry merging a PR whose issue is already State/Question."""
+
+    def _make_pr(self, pr_number=50, branch="issue-10-fix"):
+        return {"number": pr_number, "head": {"ref": branch}}
+
+    def test_skips_merge_when_issue_has_question_label(self):
+        pr = self._make_pr()
+        ci_run = {"id": 999, "status": "success"}
+        with patch("agent_loop._read_state", return_value=None), \
+             patch("agent_loop._open_issue_prs", return_value=[pr]), \
+             patch("agent_loop._latest_ci_run_for_pr", return_value=ci_run), \
+             patch("agent_loop._get_issue_labels", return_value=[agent_loop.LABEL_QUESTION]), \
+             patch("agent_loop._merge_pr") as mock_merge, \
+             patch("agent_loop._comment_issue") as mock_comment, \
+             patch("agent_loop._set_labels") as mock_labels, \
+             patch("agent_loop._latest_main_ci_run", return_value=None), \
+             patch("agent_loop._ready_issues", return_value=[]):
+            result = agent_loop._run_loop()
+        self.assertEqual(result, 0)
+        mock_merge.assert_not_called()
+        mock_comment.assert_not_called()
+        mock_labels.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_proceeds_with_merge_when_issue_lacks_question_label(self):
+        pr = self._make_pr()
+        ci_run = {"id": 999, "status": "success"}
+        with patch("agent_loop._read_state", return_value=None), \
+             patch("agent_loop._open_issue_prs", return_value=[pr]), \
+             patch("agent_loop._latest_ci_run_for_pr", return_value=ci_run), \
+             patch("agent_loop._get_issue_labels", return_value=[agent_loop.LABEL_IN_PROGRESS]), \
+             patch("agent_loop._merge_pr") as mock_merge, \
+             patch("agent_loop._find_pr_for_branch", return_value=None), \
+             patch("agent_loop._close_issue"):
+            result = agent_loop._run_loop()
+        self.assertEqual(result, 0)
+        mock_merge.assert_called_once_with(50)
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()