diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index dfa2ac1..46974f5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -62,6 +62,11 @@ Continue work / Address comments, whose workspace is named `PR #<n> (branch) <ti
 On reuse the workspace is fetched and fast-forwarded to the current PR head first; if that is refused
 (local changes, diverged history) the agent still starts and the button shows a ⚠️ warning.
 
+A new PR workspace's local branch is named after the PR's branch (`<head_ref>`). Git allows a branch in one
+worktree only, so when that name is taken (checked out in your clone or in the PR's other workspace, a fork
+branch named like a local one, a leftover branch) the workspace keeps Orca's branch name and the button shows a
+⚠️ warning.
+
 ## Repository page
 
 `Clone in Orca` sits before Watch / Fork / Star on the repo home and its `tree/…` / `blob/…` views (not on
@@ -108,6 +113,8 @@ Clone in Orca only clones and registers the repo: it creates no worktree and sta
 - [ ] Review on an open PR → Orca shows the new workspace, agent receives the prompt, board status In review.
 - [ ] Review again → “(reused)”, a new agent tab in the same workspace.
 - [ ] Checkout only → workspace without agent; HEAD equals the PR head SHA.
+- [ ] Review on a PR whose branch is not checked out locally → the workspace's branch is `<head_ref>`.
+- [ ] Review on a PR whose branch is checked out in your clone → ⚠️ “Local branch kept as …”, the agent still starts.
 - [ ] Continue work → upstream is `origin/<head_ref>`.
 - [ ] Custom prompt → the agent receives the typed text.
 - [ ] Multi-line Custom prompt on a reused workspace → sent as one prompt.
diff --git a/extension/src/content/button.test.ts b/extension/src/content/button.test.ts
index a829bfa..2809014 100644
--- a/extension/src/content/button.test.ts
+++ b/extension/src/content/button.test.ts
@@ -53,6 +53,13 @@ describe('createOrcaButton', () => {
     expect(toast()!.dataset.state).toBe('warning');
   });
 
+  it('shows a warning on a new workspace without marking it reused', async () => {
+    const { q } = mount(vi.fn<Send>().mockResolvedValue({ ...ok, warning: 'Local branch kept as x' }));
+    q<HTMLButtonElement>('.gho-main').click();
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(toastText()).toBe('⚠️ PR #3 Fix — Local branch kept as x'));
+    expect(toast()!.dataset.state).toBe('warning');
+  });
+
   it('explains a reloaded extension when the send rejects', async () => {
     const { q } = mount(vi.fn<Send>().mockRejectedValue(new Error('Extension context invalidated.')));
     q<HTMLButtonElement>('.gho-main').click();
diff --git a/extension/src/content/button.ts b/extension/src/content/button.ts
index a99b18f..0dd731c 100644
--- a/extension/src/content/button.ts
+++ b/extension/src/content/button.ts
@@ -96,8 +96,9 @@ export function createOrcaButton(key: string, send: Send, doc: Document = docume
     controls.forEach((c) => (c.disabled = true));
     showStatus('⏳ Starting in Orca…', 'busy');
     const res = await sendSafely(() => send(action, customPrompt));
-    if (res.ok && res.warning) showStatus(`⚠️ ${res.worktreeName} (reused) — ${res.warning}`, 'warning');
-    else if (res.ok) showStatus(`✅ ${res.worktreeName}${res.reused ? ' (reused)' : ''}`, 'ok');
+    const reused = res.ok && res.reused ? ' (reused)' : '';
+    if (res.ok && res.warning) showStatus(`⚠️ ${res.worktreeName}${reused} — ${res.warning}`, 'warning');
+    else if (res.ok) showStatus(`✅ ${res.worktreeName}${reused}`, 'ok');
     else showStatus(`❌ ${res.message}`, 'error');
     controls.forEach((c) => (c.disabled = false));
     busy = false;
diff --git a/host/src/git.test.ts b/host/src/git.test.ts
index cd2acfb..408debb 100644
--- a/host/src/git.test.ts
+++ b/host/src/git.test.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,22 @@ describe('GitCli', () => {
     expect(run.calls[0].args).toEqual(['-C', '/wt', 'branch', '--set-upstream-to=origin/feat/x']);
   });
 
+  it('renames the worktree branch', async () => {
+    const run = fakeRunner([['git', '']]);
+    expect(await new GitCli(run).renameBranch('/wt', 'feat/x')).toBe(true);
+    expect(run.calls[0].args).toEqual(['-C', '/wt', 'branch', '-m', 'feat/x']);
+  });
+
+  it('returns false when git refuses the rename (name taken)', async () => {
+    const run = fakeRunner([['git', new CommandError('git', '', "fatal: a branch named 'feat/x' already exists", false)]]);
+    expect(await new GitCli(run).renameBranch('/wt', 'feat/x')).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('still throws timeout when the rename is killed', async () => {
+    const run = fakeRunner([['git', new CommandError('git', '', '', true)]]);
+    await expect(new GitCli(run).renameBranch('/wt', 'feat/x')).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: 'timeout' });
+  });
+
   it('maps failures to git_failed with stderr', async () => {
     const run = fakeRunner([['git', new CommandError('git', '', "fatal: couldn't find remote ref pull/12/head", false)]]);
     await expect(new GitCli(run).fetchPrRef('/repo', 12)).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: 'git_failed', message: expect.stringContaining('pull/12/head') });
diff --git a/host/src/git.ts b/host/src/git.ts
index c347a11..9354cac 100644
--- a/host/src/git.ts
+++ b/host/src/git.ts
@@ -30,12 +30,20 @@ export class GitCli implements GitApi {
     await this.git(['-C', worktreePath, 'branch', `--set-upstream-to=origin/${branch}`]);
   }
 
+  async renameBranch(worktreePath: string, name: string): Promise<boolean> {
+    return this.tolerateRefusal(['-C', worktreePath, 'branch', '-m', name]);
+  }
+
   async fastForward(worktreePath: string, ref: string): Promise<boolean> {
+    return this.tolerateRefusal(['-C', worktreePath, 'merge', '--ff-only', ref]);
+  }
+
+  /** true when git succeeds, false when it refuses: not fatal, the caller warns instead. Timeouts still throw. */
+  private async tolerateRefusal(args: string[]): Promise<boolean> {
     try {
-      await this.run('git', ['-C', worktreePath, 'merge', '--ff-only', ref], { timeoutMs: 60_000, env: GIT_ENV });
+      await this.run('git', args, { timeoutMs: 60_000, env: GIT_ENV });
       return true;
     } catch (e) {
-      // A refused merge (dirty tree, diverged history) is not fatal: the caller warns instead.
       if (e instanceof CommandError && !e.timedOut) return false;
       throw toHostError(e, 'git_failed');
     }
diff --git a/host/src/handler.test.ts b/host/src/handler.test.ts
index c7f796d..41696ab 100644
--- a/host/src/handler.test.ts
+++ b/host/src/handler.test.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
 import type { HostRequest, PrMeta } from '../../shared/types';
 import { HostError } from './errors';
-import { handleRequest, hasMarker, workspaceMarker, worktreeName, type Deps } from './handler';
+import { branchKeptWarning, handleRequest, hasMarker, workspaceMarker, worktreeName, type Deps } from './handler';
 import type { WorktreeInfo } from './ports';
 
 const pr: PrMeta = {
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ function makeDeps(overrides: { pr?: Partial<PrMeta>; worktrees?: WorktreeInfo[]
       fetchPrRef: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue('origin/pr/12'),
       fetchBranch: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue('origin/fix/login'),
       setUpstream: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+      renameBranch: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(true),
       fastForward: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(true),
     },
     orca: {
@@ -117,6 +118,27 @@ describe('handleRequest — new workspace', () => {
     expect(deps.orca.setStatus).toHaveBeenCalledWith(created.id, 'in-progress');
   });
 
+  it('names the local branch after the PR head branch, for every action', async () => {
+    for (const action of ['review', 'checkout', 'continue', 'address-comments'] as const) {
+      const deps = makeDeps();
+      const res = await handleRequest({ ...review, action }, deps);
+      expect(deps.git.renameBranch).toHaveBeenCalledWith(created.path, 'fix/login');
+      expect(res).not.toHaveProperty('warning');
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('renames the branch before setting its upstream', async () => {
+    await handleRequest({ ...review, action: 'continue' }, deps);
+    expect(deps.git.renameBranch.mock.invocationCallOrder[0]).toBeLessThan(deps.git.setUpstream.mock.invocationCallOrder[0]);
+  });
+
+  it('keeps Orca\'s branch name with a warning when the PR branch name is taken', async () => {
+    deps.git.renameBranch.mockResolvedValue(false);
+    const res = await handleRequest(review, deps);
+    expect(res).toMatchObject({ ok: true, reused: false, warning: branchKeptWarning('x', 'fix/login') });
+    expect(deps.orca.setStatus).toHaveBeenCalledWith(created.id, 'in-review');
+  });
+
   it('runs repo setup hooks for same-repo PRs', async () => {
     await handleRequest(review, deps);
     expect(deps.orca.createWorktree.mock.calls[0][0]).not.toHaveProperty('setup');
diff --git a/host/src/handler.ts b/host/src/handler.ts
index 1f752c0..f0acb96 100644
--- a/host/src/handler.ts
+++ b/host/src/handler.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@ const MAX_NAME = 80;
 export const STALE_WARNING =
   "Workspace not updated (local changes or diverged history): the agent works on an older version of the PR";
 
+export function branchKeptWarning(current: string, wanted: string): string {
+  return `Local branch kept as ${current}: ${wanted} already exists`;
+}
+
 /** Actions that work on the PR's real branch (fetch origin/<headRef>, upstream set, can push). */
 export function isBranchAction(action: Action): boolean {
   return action === 'continue' || action === 'address-comments';
@@ -106,10 +110,13 @@ async function run(req: HostRequest, { orca, git, gh }: Deps): Promise<HostRespo
     // Fork PRs: never run the repo's setup hooks on code from an outside contributor.
     ...(pr.isCrossRepository ? { setup: 'skip' as const } : {}),
   });
+  // Orca names the branch after the workspace; give it the PR's branch name (taken when checked out elsewhere).
+  const renamed = await git.renameBranch(wt.path, pr.headRefName);
   await orca.linkPr(wt.id, pr.number, pushBranch);
   if (onBranch) await git.setUpstream(wt.path, pr.headRefName);
   if (status) await orca.setStatus(wt.id, status);
-  return { ok: true, worktreeName: wt.displayName, worktreePath: wt.path, reused: false };
+  const res: HostResponse = { ok: true, worktreeName: wt.displayName, worktreePath: wt.path, reused: false };
+  return renamed ? res : { ...res, warning: branchKeptWarning(wt.branch.replace(/^refs\/heads\//, ''), pr.headRefName) };
 }
 
 export async function handleRequest(req: HostMessage, deps: Deps): Promise<HostResponse> {
diff --git a/host/src/ports.ts b/host/src/ports.ts
index 6246600..a4f0a50 100644
--- a/host/src/ports.ts
+++ b/host/src/ports.ts
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ export interface GitApi {
   /** Fetches origin/<branch>; returns the base ref `origin/<branch>`. */
   fetchBranch(repoPath: string, branch: string): Promise<string>;
   setUpstream(worktreePath: string, branch: string): Promise<void>;
+  /** `branch -m <name>` in the worktree: true when done, false when git refuses (name already taken). */
+  renameBranch(worktreePath: string, name: string): Promise<boolean>;
   /** `merge --ff-only <ref>` in the worktree: true when done or already up to date, false when git refuses. */
   fastForward(worktreePath: string, ref: string): Promise<boolean>;
 }