diff --git a/scripts/agent_poller.py b/scripts/agent_poller.py
index c9443cf..d54c1e8 100644
--- a/scripts/agent_poller.py
+++ b/scripts/agent_poller.py
@@ -33,7 +33,10 @@ def _req(method, path, data=None):
     req.add_header("Content-Type", "application/json")
     try:
         with urllib.request.urlopen(req) as resp:
-            return json.loads(resp.read())
+            raw = resp.read()
+            if not raw:
+                return {}  # Gitea merge returns 200 with empty body
+            return json.loads(raw)
     except urllib.error.HTTPError as e:
         body = e.read().decode()
         print(f"API Error {e.code}: {body}", file=sys.stderr)
@@ -153,7 +156,11 @@ def merge_pr(pr_num):
         sys.exit(1)
 
     result = _req("POST", f"/pulls/{pr_num}/merge", {"Do": "merge"})
-    if result.get("merged"):
+    # Verify merge success by re-checking PR state
+    pr_after = _req("GET", f"/pulls/{pr_num}")
+    if pr_after.get("merged"):
+        print(f"PR #{pr_num} merged successfully")
+    elif result.get("merged"):
         print(f"PR #{pr_num} merged successfully")
     else:
         print(f"Merge result: {result.get('message', 'unknown')}")