diff --git a/scripts/agent_poller.py b/scripts/agent_poller.py
index d246220..b2e5595 100644
--- a/scripts/agent_poller.py
+++ b/scripts/agent_poller.py
@@ -57,7 +57,9 @@ def _req(method, path, data=None):
 
 
 def _req_safe(method, path, data=None):
-    """Like _req but returns None on HTTPError. Safe for probing existence."""
+    """Like _req but returns None on HTTPError instead of crashing.
+    Used for probing issue/PR existence where the caller can handle absence.
+    """
     url = f"{BASE}{path}"
     payload = json.dumps(data).encode("utf-8") if data else None
     req = urllib.request.Request(url, data=payload, method=method)
@@ -103,7 +105,7 @@ def _get_blocking_refs(issue_num: int) -> set[int]:
     # Body
     issue = _req_safe("GET", f"/issues/{issue_num}")
     if issue is None:
-        return refs
+        return refs  # API error → return empty set, keep blocked
     body = issue.get("body", "") or ""
     refs.update(int(m.group(1)) for m in re.finditer(r'#(\d+)', body))
     # Comments
@@ -135,7 +137,7 @@ def blocked_check():
         for blk in blocking_nums:
             blk_issue = _req_safe("GET", f"/issues/{blk}")
             if blk_issue is None:
-                all_resolved = False
+                all_resolved = False  # API error → keep blocked
                 break
             if blk_issue.get("state") != "closed":
                 all_resolved = False
@@ -209,7 +211,7 @@ def _unblock_issues_blocked_by(closed_num):
                 continue
             blk_issue = _req_safe("GET", f"/issues/{blk}")
             if blk_issue is None:
-                all_resolved = False
+                all_resolved = False  # API error → keep blocked
                 break
             if blk_issue.get("state") != "closed":
                 all_resolved = False