diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/actions.rs b/hive-c0re/src/actions.rs
index c57e8243..ae214a94 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/actions.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/actions.rs
@@ -196,13 +196,8 @@ pub async fn run_deploy_merge_verify(
     // 3. Ancestry gate: `main` must be reachable from the reviewed head, or the
     // "fast-forward" in prepare_applied_target is really a rewind that drops
     // every commit between the PR's base and where `main` actually is now.
-    let current_main = lifecycle::git_rev_parse(&ctx.applied_dir, "refs/heads/main")
-        .await
-        .map_err(|e| anyhow::anyhow!("read applied/main: {e:#}"))?;
-    if !lifecycle::git_is_ancestor(&ctx.applied_dir, &current_main, reviewed)
-        .await
-        .map_err(|e| anyhow::anyhow!("ancestry check {current_main}..{reviewed}: {e:#}"))?
-    {
+    let (current_main, descends) = applied_main_under(&ctx.applied_dir, reviewed).await?;
+    if !descends {
         bail!(
             "PR #{pr} does not descend from applied/main (main {current_main}, reviewed {reviewed}); \
              merging it would discard commits — rebase the PR onto main and re-review"
@@ -221,6 +216,80 @@ pub async fn run_deploy_merge_verify(
     Ok(())
 }
 
+/// `applied/main`, and whether `target` descends from it. Fast-forwarding
+/// `main` to a `target` that does not is a rewind: it drops every commit on
+/// `main` that `target` lacks.
+async fn applied_main_under(applied_dir: &std::path::Path, target: &str) -> Result<(String, bool)> {
+    let current_main = lifecycle::git_rev_parse(applied_dir, "refs/heads/main")
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| anyhow::anyhow!("read applied/main: {e:#}"))?;
+    let descends = lifecycle::git_is_ancestor(applied_dir, &current_main, target)
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| anyhow::anyhow!("ancestry check {current_main}..{target}: {e:#}"))?;
+    Ok((current_main, descends))
+}
+
+/// What [`advance_applied_to_rev`] did to `applied/main`.
+#[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub(crate) enum RevAdvance {
+    /// `applied/main` already was the rev, so there is nothing to deploy.
+    AlreadyApplied,
+    /// `applied/main` was fast-forwarded to the rev.
+    Advanced,
+}
+
+/// Fast-forward `agent`'s `applied/main` to `rev`, a commit the swarm asks
+/// this hive to deploy, so the next relocking rebuild builds it.
+///
+/// No eval-verify on this path: a config that does not evaluate fails the
+/// rebuild instead, with `applied/main` already at `rev`.
+///
+/// # Errors
+///
+/// Returns an error if the forge fetch fails, if `rev` does not descend from
+/// `applied/main`, or if `main` moved during the fast-forward. `main` does not
+/// move in any of these.
+pub(crate) async fn advance_applied_to_rev(agent: &str, rev: &str) -> Result<RevAdvance> {
+    advance_applied_main(
+        &crate::paths::applied_dir(agent),
+        rev,
+        crate::forge::fetch_forge_main(agent),
+    )
+    .await
+}
+
+/// [`advance_applied_to_rev`] with the forge fetch passed in, so it is
+/// testable against a local repo.
+///
+/// `applied/main` is compared to `rev` twice: before the fetch, so an applied
+/// rev costs no forge round-trip, and after it, because a dashboard deploy of
+/// the same merge fast-forwards `main` itself and may do so meanwhile.
+async fn advance_applied_main<T>(
+    applied_dir: &std::path::Path,
+    rev: &str,
+    fetch: impl std::future::Future<Output = Result<T>>,
+) -> Result<RevAdvance> {
+    let main = lifecycle::git_rev_parse(applied_dir, "refs/heads/main")
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| anyhow::anyhow!("read applied/main: {e:#}"))?;
+    if main == rev {
+        return Ok(RevAdvance::AlreadyApplied);
+    }
+    fetch.await.context("fetch the forge config main")?;
+    let (main, descends) = applied_main_under(applied_dir, rev).await?;
+    if main == rev {
+        return Ok(RevAdvance::AlreadyApplied);
+    }
+    if !descends {
+        bail!(
+            "{rev} does not descend from applied/main ({main}); fast-forwarding to it would \
+             discard commits"
+        );
+    }
+    ff_applied_main(applied_dir, rev, &main).await?;
+    Ok(RevAdvance::Advanced)
+}
+
 /// `DeployApply` node body — the irreversible half. Parks the rollback ref,
 /// fast-forward-merges the PR (THE merge), then opens the deploy.
 ///
@@ -422,6 +491,28 @@ async fn post_merge_failure_to_pr(
     }
 }
 
+/// Post why the merged commit `rev` of `agent`'s config repo was not deployed
+/// onto the PR whose merge produced it. Best-effort, like
+/// [`post_merge_failure_to_pr`]: a failure here is logged only.
+pub(crate) async fn post_rev_deploy_failure_to_pr(agent: &str, rev: &str, err: &anyhow::Error) {
+    let repo = crate::forge::config_repo(agent);
+    let pr = match crate::forge::merged_pr_for_commit(&repo, rev).await {
+        Ok(pr) => pr,
+        Err(e) => {
+            tracing::warn!(%agent, %rev, error = %e, "find the PR that merged a failed deploy's rev failed");
+            return;
+        }
+    };
+    let body = format!(
+        "## ⚠️ config deploy failed\n\n\
+         The merged commit `{rev}` was not deployed:\n\n\
+         ```\n{err:#}\n```"
+    );
+    if let Err(e) = crate::forge::post_pr_comment(&repo, pr, &body).await {
+        tracing::warn!(%agent, %pr, error = ?e, "post rev deploy-failure comment to PR failed");
+    }
+}
+
 /// Return the last `max_bytes` of `s`, snapped to a char boundary, prefixed
 /// with an elision marker when truncated.
 fn tail_bytes(s: &str, max_bytes: usize) -> String {
@@ -672,24 +763,9 @@ async fn prepare_applied_target(
     expected_main: &str,
     node_id: Option<u64>,
 ) -> Result<()> {
-    // Fast-forward applied/main to target + sync the working tree. Meta input
-    // pins `?ref=main`, so this is what makes nix re-lock to the target commit
-    // on the prepare_deploy step below.
-    //
-    // Compare-and-swap, not a bare set: `main` must still be the sha the caller
-    // read before the merge. A plain `update-ref` here moves the branch to
-    // `target` whatever it currently points at, which turns "fast-forward" into
-    // "discard anything that landed in the meantime" — the ancestry gate in
-    // run_deploy_merge_verify only proves the target is safe against the `main`
-    // observed *then*, so this is what makes that proof still true *now*.
-    lifecycle::git_update_ref_cas(applied_dir, "refs/heads/main", target, expected_main)
-        .await
-        .map_err(|e| {
-            anyhow::anyhow!("ff main {expected_main} -> {target} (concurrent move?): {e:#}")
-        })?;
-    lifecycle::git_read_tree_reset(applied_dir, "refs/heads/main")
-        .await
-        .map_err(|e| anyhow::anyhow!("read-tree to main: {e:#}"))?;
+    // Meta input pins `?ref=main`, so this is what makes nix re-lock to the
+    // target commit on the prepare_deploy step below.
+    ff_applied_main(applied_dir, target, expected_main).await?;
 
     // Phase 1 of the meta two-phase deploy: relock without committing. The
     // staged lock then stays uncommitted across the whole appended rebuild —
@@ -699,6 +775,29 @@ async fn prepare_applied_target(
         .map_err(|e| anyhow::anyhow!("meta prepare_deploy: {e:#}"))
 }
 
+/// Fast-forward `applied/main` to `target` and sync the working tree.
+///
+/// Compare-and-swap, not a bare set: `main` must still be `expected_main`, the
+/// sha the caller's ancestry gate ([`applied_main_under`]) ran against. A plain
+/// `update-ref` moves the branch to `target` whatever it currently points at,
+/// which turns "fast-forward" into "discard anything that landed in the
+/// meantime" — the gate only proves `target` safe against the `main` observed
+/// *then*, so this is what makes that proof still true *now*.
+async fn ff_applied_main(
+    applied_dir: &std::path::Path,
+    target: &str,
+    expected_main: &str,
+) -> Result<()> {
+    lifecycle::git_update_ref_cas(applied_dir, "refs/heads/main", target, expected_main)
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| {
+            anyhow::anyhow!("ff main {expected_main} -> {target} (concurrent move?): {e:#}")
+        })?;
+    lifecycle::git_read_tree_reset(applied_dir, "refs/heads/main")
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| anyhow::anyhow!("read-tree to main: {e:#}"))
+}
+
 /// `FinalizeDeploy` node body — phase 2 of the meta two-phase deploy, run once
 /// the appended rebuild subgraph has built, swapped, and brought the container
 /// back up.
@@ -802,3 +901,105 @@ pub fn deny(coord: &Coordinator, id: i64, note: Option<&str>) -> Result<()> {
     }
     Ok(())
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::{RevAdvance, advance_applied_main};
+    use crate::lifecycle;
+
+    /// A repo with `main` at `b`, child of `a`, and `c`, a sibling of `b` off
+    /// `a`. Returns the dir and the shas `[a, b, c]`.
+    async fn repo() -> (tempfile::TempDir, [String; 3]) {
+        let dir = tempfile::tempdir().expect("tempdir");
+        let path = dir.path();
+        let commit = |msg: &'static str| async move {
+            lifecycle::git(
+                path,
+                &[
+                    "-c",
+                    "user.name=t",
+                    "-c",
+                    "user.email=t@t",
+                    "commit",
+                    "-q",
+                    "--allow-empty",
+                    "-m",
+                    msg,
+                ],
+            )
+            .await
+            .expect("commit");
+            lifecycle::git_rev_parse(path, "HEAD").await.expect("HEAD")
+        };
+        lifecycle::git(path, &["init", "-q", "--initial-branch=main"])
+            .await
+            .expect("init");
+        let a = commit("a").await;
+        let b = commit("b").await;
+        lifecycle::git(path, &["checkout", "-q", "-b", "side", &a])
+            .await
+            .expect("branch");
+        let c = commit("c").await;
+        lifecycle::git(path, &["checkout", "-q", "main"])
+            .await
+            .expect("checkout main");
+        (dir, [a, b, c])
+    }
+
+    async fn main_of(dir: &tempfile::TempDir) -> String {
+        lifecycle::git_rev_parse(dir.path(), "refs/heads/main")
+            .await
+            .expect("main")
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn the_applied_rev_is_a_no_op_without_a_fetch() {
+        let (dir, [_, b, _]) = repo().await;
+        let fetched = std::cell::Cell::new(false);
+        let fetch = async {
+            fetched.set(true);
+            anyhow::Ok(())
+        };
+        let outcome = advance_applied_main(dir.path(), &b, fetch).await;
+        assert_eq!(outcome.expect("no-op"), RevAdvance::AlreadyApplied);
+        assert!(!fetched.get(), "an applied rev must not reach the forge");
+        assert_eq!(main_of(&dir).await, b);
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn a_rev_not_descending_from_main_is_refused_and_main_stays() {
+        let (dir, [_, b, c]) = repo().await;
+        let outcome = advance_applied_main(dir.path(), &c, async { anyhow::Ok(()) }).await;
+        let err = outcome.expect_err("a sibling of main is not a fast-forward");
+        assert!(
+            format!("{err:#}").contains("does not descend from applied/main"),
+            "{err:#}"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(main_of(&dir).await, b);
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn a_descendant_rev_fast_forwards_main() {
+        let (dir, [a, b, _]) = repo().await;
+        lifecycle::git_update_ref(dir.path(), "refs/heads/main", &a)
+            .await
+            .expect("rewind main");
+        let outcome = advance_applied_main(dir.path(), &b, async { anyhow::Ok(()) }).await;
+        assert_eq!(outcome.expect("fast-forward"), RevAdvance::Advanced);
+        assert_eq!(main_of(&dir).await, b);
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn a_failed_fetch_leaves_main_alone() {
+        let (dir, [a, b, _]) = repo().await;
+        lifecycle::git_update_ref(dir.path(), "refs/heads/main", &a)
+            .await
+            .expect("rewind main");
+        let outcome = advance_applied_main(dir.path(), &b, async {
+            Err::<(), _>(anyhow::anyhow!("forge down"))
+        })
+        .await;
+        assert!(outcome.is_err());
+        assert_eq!(main_of(&dir).await, a);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/forge/mod.rs b/hive-c0re/src/forge/mod.rs
index 3e2f7476..dd56c5ce 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/forge/mod.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/forge/mod.rs
@@ -12,10 +12,10 @@ mod repos;
 mod users;
 
 pub use pr_merge::{
-    ForgeMergeError, config_repo, fetch_pr_head_into_applied, merge_config_pr_ff, post_pr_comment,
-    pr_head_sha, pr_is_open,
+    ForgeMergeError, config_repo, fetch_pr_head_into_applied, merge_config_pr_ff,
+    merged_pr_for_commit, post_pr_comment, pr_head_sha, pr_is_open,
 };
-pub use reconcile::{reconcile_config_apply, reconcile_config_status};
+pub use reconcile::{fetch_forge_main, reconcile_config_apply, reconcile_config_status};
 pub use repos::{
     clone_config_into_proposed, ensure_config_repo, ensure_meta_remote, ensure_repo,
     fast_forward_applied_main, fetch_config_main_into_applied, meta_read_access, push_config,
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/forge/pr_merge.rs b/hive-c0re/src/forge/pr_merge.rs
index 62972722..b6eab317 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/forge/pr_merge.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/forge/pr_merge.rs
@@ -218,6 +218,33 @@ pub async fn merge_config_pr_ff(repo: &str, pr: u64, sha: &str) -> Result<(), Fo
     }
 }
 
+/// The number of the merged PR that put commit `sha` on `repo`'s base branch.
+///
+/// # Errors
+/// `Other` on absent core token, malformed repo, no such PR, or
+/// transport/API failure.
+pub async fn merged_pr_for_commit(repo: &str, sha: &str) -> Result<u64, ForgeMergeError> {
+    let token = core_token()
+        .ok_or_else(|| ForgeMergeError::Other(anyhow::anyhow!("forge core token absent")))?;
+    let (owner, name) = repo.split_once('/').ok_or_else(|| {
+        ForgeMergeError::Other(anyhow::anyhow!("forge repo `{repo}` is not owner/name"))
+    })?;
+    let client = api(&token).map_err(ForgeMergeError::Other)?;
+    let pull = client
+        .repo_get_commit_pull_request(owner, name, sha)
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| {
+            ForgeMergeError::Other(anyhow::Error::from(e).context("GET pull request of commit"))
+        })?;
+    pull.number
+        .and_then(|n| u64::try_from(n).ok())
+        .ok_or_else(|| {
+            ForgeMergeError::Other(anyhow::anyhow!(
+                "pull request of {sha} in {repo} carries no number"
+            ))
+        })
+}
+
 /// Post a comment to PR (= issue) `pr` on `repo` as the core forge user.
 /// PRs are issues in Forgejo, so the PR number is the issue index. Used to
 /// surface a failed config-approval deploy's build log back onto the PR so
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/forge/reconcile.rs b/hive-c0re/src/forge/reconcile.rs
index d38ff882..3483ed1f 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/forge/reconcile.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/forge/reconcile.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ const FORGE_MAIN_REF: &str = "refs/hyperhive/forge-config-main";
 
 /// Fetch `agent-configs/<agent>` `main` into the applied repo's scratch
 /// ref (read-only, no working-tree change) and return the applied dir.
-async fn fetch_forge_main(agent: &str) -> Result<PathBuf> {
+/// Also how a swarm deploy of a merged commit gets that commit's objects.
+pub async fn fetch_forge_main(agent: &str) -> Result<PathBuf> {
     if !is_present().await {
         anyhow::bail!("forge is not running");
     }
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/forge/repos.rs b/hive-c0re/src/forge/repos.rs
index db766345..d69ab244 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/forge/repos.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/forge/repos.rs
@@ -667,14 +667,14 @@ fn main_branch_protection_option() -> CreateBranchProtectionOption {
 ///   node (`actions::run_deploy_apply`), which fast-forward-*merges* the reviewed
 ///   head through the forge merge API (`Do=fast-forward-only`,
 ///   `head_commit_id` pinned to the reviewed sha).
-/// - **merge is whitelisted to `core`** — only hive-c0re can merge a config PR;
-///   the agent can push feature branches + open PRs but can't land them.
-/// - **the operator's dashboard approval is the gate** — approval happens on
-///   the `MergeConfigPr` card and hive-c0re only merges an approved PR. There's
-///   deliberately no Forgejo `required_approvals` review requirement: the flow
-///   never does an in-forge review, so requiring one would only dead-block the
-///   `core` merge. The dashboard approval + the `core`-only merge whitelist are
-///   the real gate.
+/// - **merge is whitelisted to `core`** — the agent can push feature branches +
+///   open PRs but can't land them. swarm-controller adds the `operators` team
+///   to the whitelist, so an operator can also merge in the forge UI.
+/// - **the operator's dashboard approval is the gate for `core`** — approval
+///   happens on the `MergeConfigPr` card and hive-c0re only merges an approved
+///   PR. There's deliberately no Forgejo `required_approvals` review
+///   requirement: that flow never does an in-forge review, so requiring one
+///   would only dead-block the `core` merge.
 /// - **fast-forward-only** — `main` only ever advances by fast-forward; a raced
 ///   non-ff `main` is refused by the merge API rather than force-moved.
 ///
@@ -736,6 +736,11 @@ async fn apply_config_repo_branch_protection(repo: &str, token: &str) -> Result<
 /// left `None`, so a repo carrying an older push-based or approval-gated rule is
 /// actually *converged* rather than merely re-asserted — a PATCH leaves unset
 /// fields untouched. Every field unrelated to this policy stays `None`.
+///
+/// The approval and merge whitelists' **teams** stay `None` too, and so does
+/// `enable_approvals_whitelist`: swarm-controller puts the `operators` team on
+/// both, so operators can merge config PRs in the forge UI, and this PATCH
+/// runs on every boot.
 fn config_repo_protection_edit() -> EditBranchProtectionOption {
     EditBranchProtectionOption {
         apply_to_admins: None,
@@ -745,7 +750,7 @@ fn config_repo_protection_edit() -> EditBranchProtectionOption {
         block_on_outdated_branch: None,
         block_on_rejected_reviews: None,
         dismiss_stale_approvals: None,
-        enable_approvals_whitelist: Some(false),
+        enable_approvals_whitelist: None,
         enable_merge_whitelist: Some(true),
         enable_push: Some(false),
         enable_push_whitelist: Some(false),
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/swarm_status.rs b/hive-c0re/src/swarm_status.rs
index 23689732..0073207a 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/swarm_status.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/swarm_status.rs
@@ -144,14 +144,14 @@ pub fn spawn(
 /// Listen on the swarm's event subjects and act on what arrives.
 ///
 /// The controller decides *what a forge delivery means* and addresses the
-/// result here; this end does not know a forge exists. Two events today:
+/// result here; this end reads no forge delivery. Two events today:
 /// **the knowledge repository changed**, answered by the pull this daemon
 /// already runs at boot, and **deploy this agent**, answered by the same
 /// rebuild insert the operator's own verb makes.
 ///
-/// Only the deploy event carries a payload, and only the agent name: its
-/// subject already names the hive, so it listens on its own rather than a
-/// swarm-wide feed. Even then it is a trigger, never the config git owns.
+/// Only the deploy event carries a payload: the agent name, and the config
+/// commit to deploy when the swarm names one. Its subject already names the
+/// hive, so it listens on its own rather than a swarm-wide feed.
 ///
 /// # A missed message costs the two events very differently
 ///
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ async fn handle_deploy_request(
             return;
         }
     };
-    let agent = request.agent;
+    let swarm_queue_client::DeployRequest { agent, rev } = request;
 
     // Which of the two meanings this request has is decided here, and the
     // predicate is "does a container exist", not "is one running":
@@ -283,6 +283,15 @@ async fn handle_deploy_request(
         }
     };
 
+    // Only a rebuild applies `rev`. A first deploy ignores it and builds the
+    // `applied` repo it seeds from the forge's `main`, or the one it finds.
+    if known
+        && let Some(rev) = rev.as_deref()
+        && !apply_rev(&agent, rev).await
+    {
+        return;
+    }
+
     let inserted = if known {
         // The same insert the operator's own `rebuild` verb makes, relock and
         // all: "deploy this agent" means here exactly what it already meant, and
@@ -303,6 +312,29 @@ async fn handle_deploy_request(
     }
 }
 
+/// Move `agent`'s `applied/main` to `rev` ahead of its rebuild, and say
+/// whether that rebuild should be queued. A `rev` already applied is taken as
+/// deployed or deploying — a dashboard merge deploys the PR it merges — so
+/// no second rebuild is queued. That also skips a rev put in place by
+/// `hivectl forge reconcile-config`, which does not deploy.
+///
+/// A refusal is commented on the PR that merged `rev`. A failed rebuild is
+/// not: it surfaces where every rebuild failure does, on this hive.
+async fn apply_rev(agent: &str, rev: &str) -> bool {
+    match crate::actions::advance_applied_to_rev(agent, rev).await {
+        Ok(crate::actions::RevAdvance::Advanced) => true,
+        Ok(crate::actions::RevAdvance::AlreadyApplied) => {
+            tracing::info!(%agent, %rev, "swarm events: deploy requested for the applied rev; nothing queued");
+            false
+        }
+        Err(e) => {
+            tracing::warn!(%agent, %rev, error = %format!("{e:#}"), "swarm events: rev not applied; nothing queued");
+            crate::actions::post_rev_deploy_failure_to_pr(agent, rev, &e).await;
+            false
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /// Queue the first deploy of an agent this hive does not have yet: seed its
 /// power intent, then insert the DAG.
 ///
diff --git a/swarm-controller/src/config_pr.rs b/swarm-controller/src/config_pr.rs
index 913b3607..80416259 100644
--- a/swarm-controller/src/config_pr.rs
+++ b/swarm-controller/src/config_pr.rs
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@
 //!   The low-latency path: a PR opening or closing shows up immediately
 //!   instead of waiting up to `POLL_INTERVAL`.
 //!
+//! [`merged`] reads the same delivery for a merge, which the webhook handler
+//! turns into a deploy. The poll has no counterpart: it lists open PRs only,
+//! so a merge whose delivery is lost deploys nothing.
+//!
 //! Per mara's review call: ship both from the start rather than the poll
 //! alone — the eventual swarm-level replacement for `hive-c0re`'s own
 //! poll+webhook pair needs both anyway, so building only half here would be
@@ -36,6 +40,10 @@ use crate::forge::{Client, ConfigPrStatus};
 /// whether it's still open.
 #[derive(Deserialize)]
 pub struct ConfigPrWebhookPayload {
+    /// `"closed"` on both a merge and a close without merging; `merged`
+    /// tells them apart.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    action: String,
     pull_request: WebhookPullRequest,
     repository: WebhookRepository,
 }
@@ -49,6 +57,43 @@ struct WebhookPullRequest {
     /// doesn't matter to it.
     state: String,
     html_url: Option<String>,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    merged: bool,
+    /// The commit the merge left on the base branch.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    merge_commit_sha: Option<String>,
+}
+
+/// A config PR that was just merged: whose config, and the commit to deploy.
+#[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct MergedConfigPr {
+    pub agent: String,
+    pub rev: String,
+}
+
+/// The merge a verified `ConfigPr` delivery reports, if it reports one.
+///
+/// Only the `closed` action counts: Forgejo also sends `merged: true` on
+/// later events about an already-merged PR (a label or an edit), and those
+/// must not deploy it again. A body that does not parse is `None`;
+/// [`ConfigPrCache::apply_webhook_delivery`] already logs it.
+pub fn merged(body: &[u8]) -> Option<MergedConfigPr> {
+    let payload: ConfigPrWebhookPayload = serde_json::from_slice(body).ok()?;
+    if payload.action != "closed" || !payload.pull_request.merged {
+        return None;
+    }
+    let Some(rev) = payload.pull_request.merge_commit_sha else {
+        tracing::warn!(
+            agent = %payload.repository.name,
+            pr = payload.pull_request.number,
+            "config-pr webhook: merged PR carries no merge_commit_sha; nothing deployed"
+        );
+        return None;
+    };
+    Some(MergedConfigPr {
+        agent: payload.repository.name,
+        rev,
+    })
 }
 
 #[derive(Deserialize)]
@@ -247,6 +292,51 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(snapshot["iris"].pr_number, 9);
     }
 
+    fn closed(merged: bool) -> Vec<u8> {
+        serde_json::json!({
+            "action": "closed",
+            "pull_request": {
+                "number": 5,
+                "state": "closed",
+                "html_url": "https://forge.example/pr",
+                "merged": merged,
+                "merge_commit_sha": merged.then_some("abc123"),
+            },
+            "repository": { "name": "damocles" },
+        })
+        .to_string()
+        .into_bytes()
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_merged_delivery_names_the_agent_and_the_merge_commit() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            super::merged(&closed(true)),
+            Some(super::MergedConfigPr {
+                agent: "damocles".to_owned(),
+                rev: "abc123".to_owned(),
+            })
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_closed_unmerged_delivery_is_not_a_merge() {
+        assert_eq!(super::merged(&closed(false)), None);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_merged_pr_on_a_non_close_action_is_not_a_merge() {
+        let mut body: serde_json::Value =
+            serde_json::from_slice(&closed(true)).expect("fixture is json");
+        body["action"] = "label_updated".into();
+        assert_eq!(super::merged(body.to_string().as_bytes()), None);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn an_open_delivery_is_not_a_merge() {
+        assert_eq!(super::merged(&payload("damocles", 5, "open")), None);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn a_malformed_payload_leaves_the_cache_unchanged() {
         let cache = ConfigPrCache::new();
diff --git a/swarm-controller/src/forge/objects.rs b/swarm-controller/src/forge/objects.rs
index 0e83d9d0..8397b604 100644
--- a/swarm-controller/src/forge/objects.rs
+++ b/swarm-controller/src/forge/objects.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 //! The swarm-wide forge objects: the three seeded orgs (plus every mirror's
 //! owner org), the `operators` merge-gate team in `agents` and
-//! `agent-configs`, the operator-declared pull-mirrors, `internal/docs`,
-//! `internal/knowledge` (public, README-seeded) and the `agent-configs` org
-//! avatar.
+//! `agent-configs`, the merge gate on every `agent-configs` repo's `main`, the
+//! operator-declared pull-mirrors, `internal/docs`, `internal/knowledge`
+//! (public, README-seeded) and the `agent-configs` org avatar.
 //!
 //! Every hive's `hive-c0re` used to ensure these in its boot sweep, but only
 //! the one hive co-located with the forge container ever did (the sweep bails
@@ -24,15 +24,16 @@ use std::sync::Arc;
 use anyhow::{Context, Result};
 use base64::Engine as _;
 use forgejo_api::structs::{
-    ChangeFileOperation, ChangeFileOperationOperation, ChangeFilesOptions, CreateOrgOption,
-    CreateTeamOption, CreateTeamOptionPermission, EditRepoOption, EditTeamOption,
-    EditTeamOptionPermission, MigrateRepoOptions, MigrateRepoOptionsService, Team, TeamPermission,
-    UpdateUserAvatarOption,
+    BranchProtection, ChangeFileOperation, ChangeFileOperationOperation, ChangeFilesOptions,
+    CreateOrgOption, CreateTeamOption, CreateTeamOptionPermission, EditBranchProtectionOption,
+    EditRepoOption, EditTeamOption, EditTeamOptionPermission, MigrateRepoOptions,
+    MigrateRepoOptionsService, Team, TeamPermission, UpdateUserAvatarOption,
 };
 use forgejo_api::{ApiErrorKind, ForgejoError};
 use reqwest::StatusCode;
 use serde::Deserialize;
 
+use super::legacy_tokens::CORE_USER;
 use super::{
     CONFIG_ORG, Client, KNOWLEDGE_ORG, KNOWLEDGE_REPO, OPERATORS_TEAM, base64_encode,
     folds_into_success, is_ambiguous_validation_failure, is_confirmed_conflict,
@@ -177,6 +178,8 @@ pub struct Desired {
     avatar_png: Option<PathBuf>,
     /// Where [`AVATAR_MARKER`] lives.
     state_dir: PathBuf,
+    /// Converge every config repo's `main` rule on [`config_rule_edit`].
+    config_rules: bool,
 }
 
 impl Desired {
@@ -211,6 +214,7 @@ impl Desired {
             mirrors,
             avatar_png,
             state_dir,
+            config_rules: true,
         }
     }
 
@@ -242,6 +246,7 @@ impl Desired {
             mirrors: Vec::new(),
             avatar_png: None,
             state_dir: PathBuf::new(),
+            config_rules: false,
         }
     }
 
@@ -319,6 +324,12 @@ struct Observed {
     teams: BTreeMap<String, Seen<TeamState>>,
     repos: BTreeMap<(String, String), Seen<RepoState>>,
     avatar_set: bool,
+    /// Per config repo, whether its `main` rule already matches
+    /// [`config_rule_edit`]. `Absent` is a repo with no `main` rule.
+    config_rules: BTreeMap<String, Seen<bool>>,
+    /// The config org's repo list could not be read, so `config_rules` is
+    /// empty without meaning every rule matches.
+    config_repos_unread: bool,
 }
 
 impl Observed {
@@ -368,6 +379,10 @@ enum Action {
         org: String,
         id: i64,
     },
+    /// PATCH a config repo's `main` rule to [`config_rule_edit`].
+    ConvergeConfigRule {
+        repo: String,
+    },
     CreateRepo {
         owner: String,
         name: String,
@@ -409,7 +424,7 @@ impl Action {
             | Self::SeedReadme { owner, .. }
             | Self::CreateMirror { owner, .. }
             | Self::SetMirrorInterval { owner, .. } => Some(owner),
-            Self::SetConfigOrgAvatar { .. } => Some(CONFIG_ORG),
+            Self::ConvergeConfigRule { .. } | Self::SetConfigOrgAvatar { .. } => Some(CONFIG_ORG),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -436,6 +451,12 @@ fn plan(desired: &Desired, observed: &Observed) -> Vec<Action> {
             Seen::Present(_) | Seen::Unknown => {}
         }
     }
+    // After the teams: the rule names the config org's `operators` team.
+    for (repo, rule) in &observed.config_rules {
+        if *rule == Seen::Present(false) {
+            actions.push(Action::ConvergeConfigRule { repo: repo.clone() });
+        }
+    }
     for r in &desired.repos {
         let (owner, name) = (r.owner.to_owned(), r.name.to_owned());
         let (create, set_public, seed) = match observed.repo(r.owner, r.name) {
@@ -501,6 +522,50 @@ fn team_matches(t: &Team) -> bool {
         && t.description.as_deref() == Some(OPERATORS_TEAM_DESCRIPTION)
 }
 
+/// The merge gate on every config repo's `main`: the `operators` team approves
+/// and merges, and `core` merges too, for the hive's dashboard approval.
+///
+/// Forgejo replaces each list this sends wholesale and keeps every field left
+/// `None`, `required_approvals` included — the hive's own boot PATCH sets
+/// that one.
+fn config_rule_edit() -> EditBranchProtectionOption {
+    EditBranchProtectionOption {
+        apply_to_admins: None,
+        approvals_whitelist_teams: Some(vec![OPERATORS_TEAM.to_owned()]),
+        approvals_whitelist_username: None,
+        block_on_official_review_requests: None,
+        block_on_outdated_branch: None,
+        block_on_rejected_reviews: None,
+        dismiss_stale_approvals: None,
+        enable_approvals_whitelist: Some(true),
+        enable_merge_whitelist: Some(true),
+        enable_push: None,
+        enable_push_whitelist: None,
+        enable_status_check: None,
+        ignore_stale_approvals: None,
+        merge_whitelist_teams: Some(vec![OPERATORS_TEAM.to_owned()]),
+        merge_whitelist_usernames: Some(vec![CORE_USER.to_owned()]),
+        protected_file_patterns: None,
+        push_whitelist_deploy_keys: None,
+        push_whitelist_teams: None,
+        push_whitelist_usernames: None,
+        require_signed_commits: None,
+        required_approvals: None,
+        status_check_contexts: None,
+        unprotected_file_patterns: None,
+    }
+}
+
+/// Whether `rule` already has every field [`config_rule_edit`] sets.
+fn config_rule_matches(rule: &BranchProtection) -> bool {
+    let only = |list: &Option<Vec<String>>, want: &str| matches!(list.as_deref(), Some([entry]) if entry == want);
+    rule.enable_merge_whitelist == Some(true)
+        && only(&rule.merge_whitelist_teams, OPERATORS_TEAM)
+        && only(&rule.merge_whitelist_usernames, CORE_USER)
+        && rule.enable_approvals_whitelist == Some(true)
+        && only(&rule.approvals_whitelist_teams, OPERATORS_TEAM)
+}
+
 /// Whether an error is Forgejo saying 404: the object is absent, as opposed
 /// to a transport, auth or server failure.
 fn is_not_found(e: &ForgejoError) -> bool {
@@ -630,9 +695,34 @@ impl Client {
             observed.repos.insert((owner, name), repo);
         }
         observed.avatar_set = desired.avatar_png.is_some() && desired.avatar_marker().exists();
+        if desired.config_rules && *observed.org(CONFIG_ORG) == Seen::Present(()) {
+            self.observe_config_rules(&mut observed).await;
+        }
         observed
     }
 
+    /// Read every config repo's `main` rule into `observed.config_rules`.
+    async fn observe_config_rules(&self, observed: &mut Observed) {
+        let repos = match self.api.org_list_repos(CONFIG_ORG).all().await {
+            Ok(repos) => repos,
+            Err(e) => {
+                tracing::warn!(error = %e, "swarm forge objects: listing {CONFIG_ORG} repos failed; skipping their branch rules this pass");
+                observed.config_repos_unread = true;
+                return;
+            }
+        };
+        for name in repos.into_iter().filter_map(|r| r.name) {
+            let rule = seen(
+                self.api
+                    .repo_get_branch_protection(CONFIG_ORG, &name, "main")
+                    .await,
+                &format!("branch protection of {CONFIG_ORG}/{name}"),
+                |rule| config_rule_matches(&rule),
+            );
+            observed.config_rules.insert(name, rule);
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Execute `actions` in order. An action whose org failed to be created
     /// this pass is skipped: it would fail anyway, and its org's failure is
     /// the line worth reading.
@@ -666,6 +756,14 @@ impl Client {
             Action::CreateOrg { org } => self.create_org(org).await,
             Action::CreateTeam { org } => self.create_operators_team(org).await,
             Action::ReconcileTeam { org, id } => self.reconcile_operators_team(org, *id).await,
+            Action::ConvergeConfigRule { repo } => {
+                self.api
+                    .repo_edit_branch_protection(CONFIG_ORG, repo, "main", config_rule_edit())
+                    .await
+                    .with_context(|| format!("converge {CONFIG_ORG}/{repo} main branch rule"))?;
+                tracing::info!(%repo, "swarm forge objects: config repo merge gate converged");
+                Ok(())
+            }
             Action::CreateRepo {
                 owner,
                 name,
@@ -939,7 +1037,13 @@ impl Client {
                 .repos
                 .values()
                 .filter(|s| **s == Seen::Unknown)
-                .count();
+                .count()
+            + observed
+                .config_rules
+                .values()
+                .filter(|s| **s == Seen::Unknown)
+                .count()
+            + usize::from(observed.config_repos_unread);
         let actions = plan(desired, &observed);
         let mut outcome = self.apply(desired, &actions).await;
         outcome.failed += unknown;
@@ -1184,6 +1288,60 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn only_a_config_rule_that_does_not_match_is_converged() {
+        let mut o = converged();
+        o.config_rules.insert(s("atlas"), Seen::Present(true));
+        o.config_rules.insert(s("damocles"), Seen::Present(false));
+        o.config_rules.insert(s("iris"), Seen::Absent);
+        o.config_rules.insert(s("argus"), Seen::Unknown);
+        assert_eq!(
+            plan(&desired(), &o),
+            vec![Action::ConvergeConfigRule {
+                repo: s("damocles")
+            }]
+        );
+    }
+
+    fn rule(merge_users: &[&str]) -> BranchProtection {
+        serde_json::from_value(serde_json::json!({
+            "enable_merge_whitelist": true,
+            "merge_whitelist_teams": [OPERATORS_TEAM],
+            "merge_whitelist_usernames": merge_users,
+            "enable_approvals_whitelist": true,
+            "approvals_whitelist_teams": [OPERATORS_TEAM],
+        }))
+        .expect("branch protection json")
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_config_rule_matches_only_with_operators_and_core() {
+        assert!(config_rule_matches(&rule(&[CORE_USER])));
+        assert!(!config_rule_matches(&rule(&[])));
+        assert!(!config_rule_matches(&rule(&[CORE_USER, "mallory"])));
+        let mut core_only = rule(&[CORE_USER]);
+        core_only.merge_whitelist_teams = None;
+        assert!(!config_rule_matches(&core_only));
+        let mut approvals_off = rule(&[CORE_USER]);
+        approvals_off.enable_approvals_whitelist = Some(false);
+        assert!(!config_rule_matches(&approvals_off));
+    }
+
+    /// The edit is what the match checks for, so one PATCH converges a rule.
+    #[test]
+    fn the_config_rule_edit_produces_a_matching_rule() {
+        let edit = config_rule_edit();
+        let applied: BranchProtection = serde_json::from_value(serde_json::json!({
+            "enable_merge_whitelist": edit.enable_merge_whitelist,
+            "merge_whitelist_teams": edit.merge_whitelist_teams,
+            "merge_whitelist_usernames": edit.merge_whitelist_usernames,
+            "enable_approvals_whitelist": edit.enable_approvals_whitelist,
+            "approvals_whitelist_teams": edit.approvals_whitelist_teams,
+        }))
+        .expect("branch protection json");
+        assert!(config_rule_matches(&applied));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn mirror_owners_join_the_seeded_orgs_once() {
         let d = Desired::new(
diff --git a/swarm-controller/src/main.rs b/swarm-controller/src/main.rs
index 52a7739b..7612ef38 100644
--- a/swarm-controller/src/main.rs
+++ b/swarm-controller/src/main.rs
@@ -147,7 +147,13 @@ enum SwarmNodeKind {
     /// `InitAgentConfigRepo`'s doc points at when it says the hive belongs
     /// on the node that sends the deploy message. It names the subject the
     /// message goes to, one per hive, so no other hive is woken by it.
-    TriggerDeploy { hive: String, agent: String },
+    TriggerDeploy {
+        hive: String,
+        agent: String,
+        /// The config commit to deploy, from a merged config PR. `None` from
+        /// agent creation, where the hive deploys what it seeds.
+        rev: Option<String>,
+    },
 }
 
 impl hive_jobq_wire::WireNode for SwarmNodeKind {
@@ -190,8 +196,10 @@ impl hive_jobq_wire::WireNode for SwarmNodeKind {
                 serde_json::json!({ "agent": agent })
             }
             SwarmNodeKind::MintHiveSenderToken { hive } => serde_json::json!({ "hive": hive }),
-            SwarmNodeKind::TriggerDeploy { hive, agent }
-            | SwarmNodeKind::SetAgentWanted { hive, agent } => {
+            SwarmNodeKind::TriggerDeploy { hive, agent, rev } => {
+                serde_json::json!({ "agent": agent, "hive": hive, "rev": rev })
+            }
+            SwarmNodeKind::SetAgentWanted { hive, agent } => {
                 serde_json::json!({ "agent": agent, "hive": hive })
             }
         }
@@ -355,12 +363,12 @@ async fn run_swarm_node(
             ),
             Some(writer) => declare_new_agent(&writer, &hive, &agent).await,
         },
-        SwarmNodeKind::TriggerDeploy { hive, agent } => match deps.queue {
+        SwarmNodeKind::TriggerDeploy { hive, agent, rev } => match deps.queue {
             None => Outcome::Failed(
                 "no swarm queue is configured on this host, so no hive can be told to deploy"
                     .to_owned(),
             ),
-            Some(client) => publish_deploy(&client, &hive, &agent).await,
+            Some(client) => publish_deploy(&client, &hive, &agent, rev).await,
         },
     };
     (builder, outcome)
@@ -482,6 +490,7 @@ async fn publish_deploy(
     client: &async_nats::Client,
     hive: &str,
     agent: &str,
+    rev: Option<String>,
 ) -> hive_jobq::scheduler::Outcome {
     use hive_jobq::scheduler::Outcome;
 
@@ -489,6 +498,7 @@ async fn publish_deploy(
     let subject = swarm_queue_client::deploy_subject(hive);
     let request = swarm_queue_client::DeployRequest {
         agent: agent.to_owned(),
+        rev,
     };
     let payload = match serde_json::to_vec(&request) {
         Ok(payload) => payload,
@@ -502,7 +512,7 @@ async fn publish_deploy(
             "flushing the deploy event to {subject} failed: {e}"
         ));
     }
-    tracing::info!(%subject, %hive, %agent, "swarm jobq: deploy requested");
+    tracing::info!(%subject, %hive, %agent, rev = ?request.rev, "swarm jobq: deploy requested");
     Outcome::Done
 }
 
@@ -1644,27 +1654,103 @@ async fn declarations_elsewhere(
     hive: &str,
 ) -> Result<Vec<(String, swarm_queue_client::wanted::HiveWanted)>, problem_details::ProblemDetails>
 {
+    read_declarations(state, state.hives.iter().filter(|h| h.name != hive))
+        .await
+        .map_err(|(other, e)| {
+            let detail = format!(
+                "cannot tell whether {agent:?} already exists on hive {other:?}, so it was not \
+                 placed: {e:#}"
+            );
+            error_problem(wanted_error_status(&e), &detail)
+        })
+}
+
+/// The published wanted state of each of `hives` that has one. No queue wired
+/// up reads as nothing declared anywhere. The error names the hive whose read
+/// failed.
+async fn read_declarations<'a>(
+    state: &AppState,
+    hives: impl Iterator<Item = &'a HiveEntry>,
+) -> Result<Vec<(String, swarm_queue_client::wanted::HiveWanted)>, (String, anyhow::Error)> {
     let Some(writer) = state.wanted.as_deref() else {
         return Ok(Vec::new());
     };
     let mut declared = Vec::new();
-    for other in state.hives.iter().filter(|h| h.name != hive) {
-        match writer.view(&other.name).await {
-            Ok(Some(declaration)) => declared.push((other.name.clone(), declaration)),
+    for hive in hives {
+        match writer.view(&hive.name).await {
+            Ok(Some(declaration)) => declared.push((hive.name.clone(), declaration)),
             Ok(None) => {}
-            Err(e) => {
-                let detail = format!(
-                    "cannot tell whether {agent:?} already exists on hive {:?}, so it was not \
-                     placed: {e:#}",
-                    other.name
-                );
-                return Err(error_problem(wanted_error_status(&e), &detail));
-            }
+            Err(e) => return Err((hive.name.clone(), e)),
         }
     }
     Ok(declared)
 }
 
+/// Every hive whose declaration places `agent` there.
+fn claiming_hives(
+    agent: &str,
+    declared: &[(String, swarm_queue_client::wanted::HiveWanted)],
+) -> Vec<String> {
+    declared
+        .iter()
+        .filter(|(_, declaration)| {
+            declaration
+                .agents
+                .get(agent)
+                .is_some_and(|wanted| places_agent(wanted.state))
+        })
+        .map(|(hive, _)| hive.clone())
+        .collect()
+}
+
+/// Queue the deploy of a merged config PR on the one hive that runs its agent.
+///
+/// The hive is found by scanning every hive's wanted state, since nothing
+/// records an agent's hive (see `forge::initial_agent_nix`). Zero claimants or
+/// several deploy nothing: there is no hive to send it to, or no telling which.
+async fn queue_merged_config_deploy(state: &AppState, merged: config_pr::MergedConfigPr) {
+    let config_pr::MergedConfigPr { agent, rev } = merged;
+    let declared = match read_declarations(state, state.hives.iter()).await {
+        Ok(declared) => declared,
+        Err((hive, e)) => {
+            tracing::warn!(
+                %agent, %rev, %hive, error = %format!("{e:#}"),
+                "config-pr merge: cannot read where the agent is placed; nothing deployed"
+            );
+            return;
+        }
+    };
+    let claimants = claiming_hives(&agent, &declared);
+    let [hive] = claimants.as_slice() else {
+        tracing::warn!(
+            %agent, %rev, ?claimants,
+            "config-pr merge: not exactly one hive places this agent; nothing deployed"
+        );
+        return;
+    };
+    let hive = hive.clone();
+    let inserted = state
+        .jobq
+        .lock()
+        .unwrap_or_else(std::sync::PoisonError::into_inner)
+        .insert_job(None, |b| {
+            vec![
+                b.node(SwarmNodeKind::TriggerDeploy {
+                    hive: hive.clone(),
+                    agent: agent.clone(),
+                    rev: Some(rev.clone()),
+                })
+                .guid(),
+            ]
+        });
+    match inserted {
+        Ok(_) => tracing::info!(%agent, %rev, %hive, "config-pr merge: deploy queued"),
+        Err(e) => {
+            tracing::warn!(%agent, %rev, %hive, error = %e, "config-pr merge: queueing the deploy failed");
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /// [`queued_placements`] of the swarm's own queue, as it is now.
 fn queued_placements_now(state: &AppState) -> Vec<(String, String)> {
     queued_placements(
@@ -1917,6 +2003,7 @@ fn declare_agent_job(
         .node(SwarmNodeKind::TriggerDeploy {
             hive: hive.to_owned(),
             agent: agent.to_owned(),
+            rev: None,
         })
         .after_ok(init_config)
         .after_any(mint_identity)
@@ -3349,6 +3436,31 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(super::placed_elsewhere("atlas", "pr1ma", &declared, &queued).is_empty());
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn the_hive_placing_an_agent_claims_it_and_no_other_does() {
+        use swarm_queue_client::wanted::AgentState;
+        let declared = [
+            declaring("pr1ma", "atlas", AgentState::Paused),
+            declaring("sec0nd", "argus", AgentState::Up),
+            declaring("th1rd", "atlas", AgentState::Destroyed),
+        ];
+        assert_eq!(super::claiming_hives("atlas", &declared), ["pr1ma"]);
+        assert!(super::claiming_hives("iris", &declared).is_empty());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn two_hives_placing_one_agent_both_claim_it() {
+        use swarm_queue_client::wanted::AgentState;
+        let declared = [
+            declaring("pr1ma", "atlas", AgentState::Up),
+            declaring("sec0nd", "atlas", AgentState::Up),
+        ];
+        assert_eq!(
+            super::claiming_hives("atlas", &declared),
+            ["pr1ma", "sec0nd"]
+        );
+    }
+
     /// `refuse_placement` of `agent` on `pr1ma`, with `admin` reserved,
     /// `roster` as the roster read, and `declared` as every hive's wanted
     /// state, `pr1ma`'s included.
diff --git a/swarm-controller/src/webhook.rs b/swarm-controller/src/webhook.rs
index a0202d00..e9e9e9b6 100644
--- a/swarm-controller/src/webhook.rs
+++ b/swarm-controller/src/webhook.rs
@@ -318,7 +318,8 @@ pub(super) fn verify(
 /// delivery announces the change to every hive (see
 /// [`announce_knowledge_change`]); a `ConfigPr` delivery updates
 /// `crate::config_pr::ConfigPrCache` immediately (see that module's doc
-/// comment for why both this and a periodic poll write the same cache).
+/// comment for why both this and a periodic poll write the same cache), and a
+/// merge queues a deploy of the merged commit on the agent's hive.
 ///
 /// Returns 200 on an accepted delivery so Forgejo does not retry. A refused
 /// one answers 401 (bad signature) or 503 (this daemon has no secret), and
@@ -380,6 +381,9 @@ pub(super) async fn post_webhook_forge(
             if let Some(cache) = state.config_prs.as_ref() {
                 cache.apply_webhook_delivery(&body);
             }
+            if let Some(merged) = crate::config_pr::merged(&body) {
+                super::queue_merged_config_deploy(&state, merged).await;
+            }
         }
         DeliveryKind::VcsActivity => {
             if let Some(activity) = crate::vcs_metrics::parse_push(&body) {
diff --git a/swarm-queue-client/src/lib.rs b/swarm-queue-client/src/lib.rs
index 009fb7bf..4ad9d858 100644
--- a/swarm-queue-client/src/lib.rs
+++ b/swarm-queue-client/src/lib.rs
@@ -223,17 +223,23 @@ const DEPLOY_SUBJECT_PREFIX: &str = "$SWARM.deploy";
 
 /// What a [`deploy_subject`] message carries.
 ///
-/// Only the agent: the subject already names the hive, and repeating it here
-/// would be two places stating one fact, free to disagree.
+/// No hive: the subject already names it, and repeating it here would be two
+/// places stating one fact, free to disagree.
 ///
-/// ⚠️ **A trigger, not the config.** The hive already tracks the agent's
-/// config repo; putting desired state on the wire would make this message a
-/// second source of truth for something git already owns, and a hive that
-/// missed a message would then be wrong rather than merely late.
+/// With [`Self::rev`] set it names the commit of the agent's config repo to
+/// deploy. The config itself stays in git: the hive fetches that commit from
+/// the forge, so a hive that misses a message is behind, never wrong.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize)]
 pub struct DeployRequest {
     /// The agent to rebuild, as the swarm knows it.
     pub agent: String,
+    /// The commit on the agent's config repo `main` to deploy. `None`
+    /// rebuilds whatever the hive already has applied.
+    ///
+    /// `serde(default)` so a payload without the field still decodes: the
+    /// controller and the hives are deployed independently.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub rev: Option<String>,
 }
 
 /// The hive-notices stream, shared by the hive that publishes and
@@ -1053,6 +1059,26 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn a_deploy_request_without_a_rev_decodes() {
+        let request: super::DeployRequest =
+            serde_json::from_str(r#"{"agent":"damocles"}"#).expect("a rev-less payload decodes");
+        assert_eq!(
+            request,
+            super::DeployRequest {
+                agent: "damocles".to_owned(),
+                rev: None,
+            }
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_deploy_request_carries_its_rev() {
+        let request: super::DeployRequest =
+            serde_json::from_str(r#"{"agent":"damocles","rev":"abc123"}"#).expect("decodes");
+        assert_eq!(request.rev.as_deref(), Some("abc123"));
+    }
+
     /// The bug behind the log store's 401: a client REGISTERED for
     /// `authelia.bearer.authz` still receives a token carrying no scope
     /// unless the request asks, and authelia's authz endpoint refuses that.