diff --git a/.github/scripts/__tests__/sync_pr_lease_contract.test.js b/.github/scripts/__tests__/sync_pr_lease_contract.test.js
index de62e1e68..ca648f6df 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/__tests__/sync_pr_lease_contract.test.js
+++ b/.github/scripts/__tests__/sync_pr_lease_contract.test.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ const {
   parseDeliveryRecord,
   mergeEligibility,
 } = require('../sync_pr_lease_contract');
+const { selectMergeEligibleSyncPr } = require('../sync_pr_merge_contract');
 
 const current = {
   schema: DELIVERY_RECORD_SCHEMA,
@@ -37,3 +38,38 @@ test('an unexpired matching delivery record is merge eligible', () => {
   }).reason, 'lease_expired');
   assert.equal(mergeEligibility(parsed, { now: '2026-08-01T22:00:00Z', desiredTreeHash: 'other' }).reason, 'desired_tree_mismatch');
 });
+
+test('only the newest matching generation is selected for merge', () => {
+  const old = {
+    number: 10,
+    created_at: '2026-08-01T20:00:00Z',
+    head: { ref: 'sync/workflows-old' },
+    body: formatDeliveryRecord({ ...current, generation: 'new', desired_tree_hash: 'tree-new' }),
+  };
+  const newest = {
+    number: 11,
+    created_at: '2026-08-01T21:00:00Z',
+    head: { ref: 'sync/workflows-new' },
+    body: formatDeliveryRecord({ ...current, generation: 'new', desired_tree_hash: 'tree-new' }),
+  };
+
+  const result = selectMergeEligibleSyncPr([old, newest], {
+    syncHash: 'new',
+    now: '2026-08-01T22:00:00Z',
+    planId: 'plan-abc',
+    repository: 'stranske/Ready',
+    desiredTreeHash: 'tree-new',
+  });
+
+  assert.equal(result.active.number, newest.number);
+  assert.deepEqual(result.stale.map((pr) => pr.number), [old.number]);
+  assert.deepEqual(result.eligibility, { eligible: true, reason: 'current_unexpired' });
+});
+
+test('deliberate break: expired or terminal records cannot merge', () => {
+  const now = '2026-08-01T22:00:00Z';
+  assert.equal(mergeEligibility({ ...current, lease_expires_at: '2026-08-01T21:59:59Z' }, { now }).eligible, false);
+  for (const terminal_disposition of ['merged', 'superseded', 'expired', 'blocked']) {
+    assert.equal(mergeEligibility({ ...current, terminal_disposition }, { now }).eligible, false);
+  }
+});
diff --git a/.github/workflows/maint-68-sync-consumer-repos.yml b/.github/workflows/maint-68-sync-consumer-repos.yml
index 1dec44a5e..7287b63f2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/maint-68-sync-consumer-repos.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/maint-68-sync-consumer-repos.yml
@@ -742,24 +742,66 @@ jobs:
 
           branch_name="sync/workflows-${{ needs.prepare.outputs.template_hash }}"
 
+          # Configure git for push/fetch authentication using credential helper
+          # This avoids exposing token in git remote URL or command output.
+          # Must be configured before any git operations that need auth
+          # (including the early fetch of an existing sync branch).
+          git config user.name "github-actions[bot]"
+          git config user.email "github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com"
+          credential_helper="!f() { echo \"username=x-access-token\"; echo \"password=\$GH_TOKEN\"; }; f"
+          git config credential.helper "$credential_helper"
+
           # Keep an existing generated PR current instead of treating it as a
-          # terminal delivery attempt: rebuild its branch and refresh its lease.
+          # terminal delivery attempt: rebuild its branch and refresh its lease
+          # only when the existing attempt still has a current delivery record.
           existing_pr=$(gh pr list --head "$branch_name" --json number -q '.[0].number' || echo "")
+          existing_head=""
+          existing_base=""
+          existing_tree=""
+          existing_refreshable=false
+          existing_refresh_reason="none"
           if [ -n "$existing_pr" ]; then
-            echo "Refreshing existing sync PR #$existing_pr"
+            echo "Inspecting existing sync PR #$existing_pr for same-generation refresh"
+            # Capture the remote head now so a later force push cannot overwrite
+            # an intervening consumer edit.
+            git fetch origin "$branch_name"
+            existing_head=$(git rev-parse FETCH_HEAD)
+            existing_base=$(git rev-parse "${existing_head}^")
+            existing_tree=$(git rev-parse "${existing_head}^{tree}")
+            existing_body_file=$(mktemp)
+            gh pr view "$existing_pr" --json body -q .body >"$existing_body_file" || true
+            # shellcheck disable=SC2016 # The embedded Node source must remain literal.
+            refresh_check=$(
+              EXISTING_BODY_FILE="$existing_body_file" \
+              DELIVERY_GENERATION="$DELIVERY_GENERATION" \
+              PLAN_ID="$PLAN_ID" \
+              DELIVERY_REPOSITORY="$DELIVERY_REPOSITORY" \
+              node -e '
+                const fs = require("fs");
+                const { parseDeliveryRecord, mergeEligibility } = require("../workflows/.github/scripts/sync_pr_lease_contract");
+                const body = fs.readFileSync(process.env.EXISTING_BODY_FILE || "", "utf8");
+                const record = parseDeliveryRecord(body);
+                if (!record) {
+                  process.stdout.write("false missing_or_invalid");
+                  process.exit(0);
+                }
+                if (record.generation !== (process.env.DELIVERY_GENERATION || "")) {
+                  process.stdout.write("false generation_mismatch");
+                  process.exit(0);
+                }
+                const result = mergeEligibility(record, {
+                  planId: process.env.PLAN_ID || "",
+                  repository: process.env.DELIVERY_REPOSITORY || "",
+                });
+                process.stdout.write(`${result.eligible ? "true" : "false"} ${result.reason}`);
+              '
+            )
+            rm -f "$existing_body_file"
+            existing_refreshable=${refresh_check%% *}
+            existing_refresh_reason=${refresh_check#* }
+            echo "Existing PR #$existing_pr refreshable=${existing_refreshable} reason=${existing_refresh_reason}"
           fi
 
-          # Configure git for push authentication using credential helper
-          # This avoids exposing token in git remote URL or command output
-          # Must be configured before any git operations that need auth
-          git config user.name "github-actions[bot]"
-          git config user.email "github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com"
-            # shellcheck disable=SC2016 # GH_TOKEN expands at runtime
-            credential_helper='!f() { echo "username=x-access-token";'
-            credential_helper+=" echo \"password=${GH_TOKEN}\";"
-            credential_helper+=' }; f'
-            git config credential.helper "$credential_helper"
-
           # Remote branch exists but no PR was found
           # (likely from a failed previous run) - deleting and recreating
           if [ -z "$existing_pr" ] && git ls-remote --exit-code origin "refs/heads/$branch_name" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
@@ -779,7 +821,8 @@ jobs:
             }
           fi
 
-          # Create branch and commit
+          # Create the current-generation branch from the current consumer base.
+          base_sha=$(git rev-parse HEAD)
           git checkout -B "$branch_name"
 
           # Stage ONLY manifest-declared targets, to avoid accidentally committing
@@ -801,23 +844,45 @@ jobs:
             git add --force -A
           fi
 
-          if git diff --cached --quiet; then
+          desired_tree_hash=$(git write-tree)
+          matching_existing=false
+          if [ -n "$existing_pr" ] \
+            && [ "$existing_refreshable" = "true" ] \
+            && [ "$existing_base" = "$base_sha" ] \
+            && [ "$existing_tree" = "$desired_tree_hash" ]; then
+            matching_existing=true
+            echo "Existing PR #$existing_pr already matches this base and desired tree with a current lease; refreshing only its lease"
+          elif [ -n "$existing_pr" ] \
+            && [ "$existing_base" = "$base_sha" ] \
+            && [ "$existing_tree" = "$desired_tree_hash" ] \
+            && [ "$existing_refreshable" != "true" ]; then
+            echo "Existing PR #$existing_pr matches base/tree but is not refreshable (${existing_refresh_reason}); leaving it for Maint 71 disposition."
+            echo "status=existing_pr_not_refreshable" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+            exit 0
+          fi
+
+          if git diff --cached --quiet && [ "$matching_existing" != "true" ]; then
             echo "No changes to commit after sync; skipping PR creation."
             echo "status=no_committed_changes" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
             exit 0
           fi
 
-          git commit -m "chore: sync workflow templates from Workflows repo
+          if [ "$matching_existing" != "true" ]; then
+            git commit -m "chore: sync workflow templates from Workflows repo
 
-          Automated sync from stranske/Workflows
-          Template hash: ${{ needs.prepare.outputs.template_hash }}
+            Automated sync from stranske/Workflows
+            Template hash: ${{ needs.prepare.outputs.template_hash }}
 
-          Changes synced from sync-manifest.yml"
+            Changes synced from sync-manifest.yml"
 
-          git push --quiet -u origin "$branch_name"
+            if [ -n "$existing_pr" ]; then
+              git push --quiet --force-with-lease="refs/heads/$branch_name:$existing_head" -u origin "$branch_name"
+            else
+              git push --quiet -u origin "$branch_name"
+            fi
+          fi
 
           # Create PR
-          desired_tree_hash=$(git rev-parse 'HEAD^{tree}')
           lease_expires_at=$(date -u -d '+72 hours' +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ)
           sync_marker=$(jq -nc \
             --arg schema "workflows-consumer-sync-pr/v1" \
diff --git a/tests/workflows/test_sync_manifest_delivery.py b/tests/workflows/test_sync_manifest_delivery.py
index 86dd33c10..1f4cd242f 100644
--- a/tests/workflows/test_sync_manifest_delivery.py
+++ b/tests/workflows/test_sync_manifest_delivery.py
@@ -245,3 +245,39 @@ def test_maint_71_emits_canary_evidence_with_review_debt() -> None:
     assert "active_review_thread_count" in source
     assert "required_check_state" in source
     assert "plan_id" in source
+
+
+def test_maint68_refreshes_only_a_same_base_and_tree_delivery_attempt() -> None:
+    """A current generation reuses its PR; a changed base/tree must be replaced safely."""
+    source = SYNC_WORKFLOW_PATH.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+    credential_idx = source.index('git config credential.helper "$credential_helper"')
+    fetch_idx = source.index('git fetch origin "$branch_name"')
+    assert credential_idx < fetch_idx
+
+    assert 'git fetch origin "$branch_name"' in source
+    assert 'existing_base=$(git rev-parse "${existing_head}^")' in source
+    assert 'existing_tree=$(git rev-parse "${existing_head}^{tree}")' in source
+    assert "desired_tree_hash=$(git write-tree)" in source
+    assert "existing_refreshable=false" in source
+    assert "parseDeliveryRecord" in source
+    assert "mergeEligibility" in source
+    assert "status=existing_pr_not_refreshable" in source
+    assert '[ "$existing_refreshable" = "true" ]' in source
+    assert '[ "$existing_base" = "$base_sha" ]' in source
+    assert '[ "$existing_tree" = "$desired_tree_hash" ]' in source
+    assert "matching_existing=true" in source
+    commit_push_guard = source.index('if [ "$matching_existing" != "true" ]; then')
+    assert (
+        source.index(
+            'git commit -m "chore: sync workflow templates from Workflows repo', commit_push_guard
+        )
+        > commit_push_guard
+    )
+    assert (
+        source.index(
+            'git push --quiet --force-with-lease="refs/heads/$branch_name:$existing_head"',
+            commit_push_guard,
+        )
+        > commit_push_guard
+    )