diff --git a/openspec/changes/agent-codex-fix-temp-helper-worktree-cleanup-2026-04-23-11-56/proposal.md b/openspec/changes/agent-codex-fix-temp-helper-worktree-cleanup-2026-04-23-11-56/proposal.md
index 240b883..33282d3 100644
--- a/openspec/changes/agent-codex-fix-temp-helper-worktree-cleanup-2026-04-23-11-56/proposal.md
+++ b/openspec/changes/agent-codex-fix-temp-helper-worktree-cleanup-2026-04-23-11-56/proposal.md
@@ -5,15 +5,18 @@
 - `gx branch finish` creates `__source-probe-*` and `__integrate-*` helper worktrees under `.omx/agent-worktrees` / `.omc/agent-worktrees`, so VS Code surfaces them beside real agent lanes.
 - The finish flow removes temporary integration worktrees but can still leave stale `__agent_integrate_*` refs behind, which stacks up noisy helper branches after repeated doctor/finish runs.
 - Repo-level Git scan ignores currently cover only durable agent worktree roots, so moving helper worktrees into a dedicated internal temp root also needs settings parity.
+- Even after moving helpers under `.tmp-worktrees`, `gx branch finish --via-pr` still creates a throwaway `__integrate-*` worktree before it falls into the PR path. That keeps opening noisy temporary repos in Source Control even when direct integration is intentionally disabled.
 
 ## What changes
 
 - Move temporary finish helpers into `.omx/.tmp-worktrees` and `.omc/.tmp-worktrees` instead of the user-visible agent worktree roots.
 - Delete temporary integration refs directly during finish cleanup and sweep any older stale temp refs in `gx cleanup`.
 - Extend managed VS Code repo-scan ignores and focused regressions for the new temp-helper placement and stale-temp-branch cleanup.
+- Skip creating `__integrate-*` helper worktrees entirely when finish runs in explicit PR-only mode (`--mode pr` / `--via-pr`) and prove it with a focused regression.
 
 ## Scope
 
 - Affected runtime/scripts: `scripts/agent-branch-finish.sh`, `scripts/agent-worktree-prune.sh`
 - Affected template mirrors: `templates/scripts/*`
 - Affected config/test surface: `src/context.js`, `test/finish.test.js`, `test/worktree.test.js`, `test/setup.test.js`
+- Follow-up runtime/scripts in this extension: `scripts/agent-branch-finish.sh`, `templates/scripts/agent-branch-finish.sh`
diff --git a/openspec/changes/agent-codex-fix-temp-helper-worktree-cleanup-2026-04-23-11-56/specs/temp-helper-worktree-cleanup/spec.md b/openspec/changes/agent-codex-fix-temp-helper-worktree-cleanup-2026-04-23-11-56/specs/temp-helper-worktree-cleanup/spec.md
index b06b02c..4fb302f 100644
--- a/openspec/changes/agent-codex-fix-temp-helper-worktree-cleanup-2026-04-23-11-56/specs/temp-helper-worktree-cleanup/spec.md
+++ b/openspec/changes/agent-codex-fix-temp-helper-worktree-cleanup-2026-04-23-11-56/specs/temp-helper-worktree-cleanup/spec.md
@@ -39,3 +39,16 @@ Guardex-managed VS Code repo scan ignores SHALL include `.omx/.tmp-worktrees` an
 - **WHEN** `gx setup` or `gx doctor` refreshes the managed settings
 - **THEN** the existing user-defined entries remain
 - **AND** the resulting ignore list includes `.omx/.tmp-worktrees`, `**/.omx/.tmp-worktrees`, `.omc/.tmp-worktrees`, and `**/.omc/.tmp-worktrees`
+
+### Requirement: explicit PR mode skips temporary integration helpers
+
+`gx branch finish` SHALL skip creating temporary `__integrate-*` worktrees and refs when the operator explicitly selects PR-only finish mode (`--mode pr` or `--via-pr`).
+
+#### Scenario: PR-only finish merges without an integration helper worktree
+
+- **GIVEN** an agent branch is finished with `--mode pr` or `--via-pr`
+- **AND** the source branch already has a normal attached worktree
+- **WHEN** `gx branch finish` prepares the PR flow
+- **THEN** it does not create a temporary `__integrate-*` worktree
+- **AND** it does not create a temporary `__agent_integrate_*` ref
+- **AND** the PR flow still pushes the source branch and opens or merges the PR
diff --git a/openspec/changes/agent-codex-fix-temp-helper-worktree-cleanup-2026-04-23-11-56/tasks.md b/openspec/changes/agent-codex-fix-temp-helper-worktree-cleanup-2026-04-23-11-56/tasks.md
index d859cbe..69f5beb 100644
--- a/openspec/changes/agent-codex-fix-temp-helper-worktree-cleanup-2026-04-23-11-56/tasks.md
+++ b/openspec/changes/agent-codex-fix-temp-helper-worktree-cleanup-2026-04-23-11-56/tasks.md
@@ -7,17 +7,20 @@
 
 - [x] 2.1 Update finish/worktree regressions for `.tmp-worktrees` helper paths and stale temp-ref cleanup.
 - [x] 2.2 Update setup expectations for the expanded repo-scan ignore list.
+- [x] 2.3 Add a PR-mode finish regression proving `--via-pr` skips `__integrate-*` helper creation.
 
 ## 3. Implementation
 
 - [x] 3.1 Move temporary finish helper worktrees into runtime-scoped `.tmp-worktrees` roots.
 - [x] 3.2 Delete temporary integration refs at finish exit and sweep stale helper refs in `gx cleanup`.
 - [x] 3.3 Extend repo scan ignore settings for temporary helper roots.
+- [x] 3.4 Skip temporary integration helper creation in explicit PR-only finish mode.
 
 ## 4. Verification
 
 - [x] 4.1 Run focused tests for finish/prune/setup behavior.
 - [x] 4.2 Run `openspec validate agent-codex-fix-temp-helper-worktree-cleanup-2026-04-23-11-56 --type change --strict`.
+- [x] 4.3 Re-run focused finish regressions covering explicit PR mode after the helper-skip patch.
 
 ## 5. Cleanup
 
diff --git a/scripts/agent-branch-finish.sh b/scripts/agent-branch-finish.sh
index 48e3ff6..88d2604 100755
--- a/scripts/agent-branch-finish.sh
+++ b/scripts/agent-branch-finish.sh
@@ -277,6 +277,10 @@ created_source_probe=0
 source_probe_path=""
 integration_worktree=""
 integration_branch=""
+merge_completed=0
+merge_status="pr"
+direct_push_error=""
+pr_url=""
 
 cleanup() {
   if [[ -n "$integration_worktree" && -d "$integration_worktree" ]]; then
@@ -358,22 +362,6 @@ if [[ "$should_require_sync" -eq 1 ]] && git -C "$repo_root" show-ref --verify -
   fi
 fi
 
-integration_stamp="$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)"
-integration_worktree_base="${temp_worktree_root}/__integrate-${BASE_BRANCH//\//__}-${integration_stamp}"
-integration_branch_base="__agent_integrate_${BASE_BRANCH//\//_}_$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)"
-integration_worktree="$integration_worktree_base"
-integration_branch="$integration_branch_base"
-integration_suffix=1
-while [[ -e "$integration_worktree" ]] || git -C "$repo_root" show-ref --verify --quiet "refs/heads/${integration_branch}"; do
-  integration_worktree="${integration_worktree_base}-${integration_suffix}"
-  integration_branch="${integration_branch_base}_${integration_suffix}"
-  integration_suffix=$((integration_suffix + 1))
-done
-mkdir -p "$(dirname "$integration_worktree")"
-
-git -C "$repo_root" worktree add "$integration_worktree" "$start_ref" >/dev/null
-git -C "$integration_worktree" checkout -b "$integration_branch" >/dev/null
-
 if git -C "$repo_root" show-ref --verify --quiet "refs/remotes/origin/${BASE_BRANCH}"; then
   git -C "$source_worktree" fetch origin "$BASE_BRANCH" --quiet
 
@@ -395,16 +383,37 @@ if git -C "$repo_root" show-ref --verify --quiet "refs/remotes/origin/${BASE_BRA
   git -C "$source_worktree" merge --abort >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
 fi
 
-if ! git -C "$integration_worktree" merge --no-ff --no-edit "$SOURCE_BRANCH"; then
-  echo "[agent-branch-finish] Merge conflict detected while merging '${SOURCE_BRANCH}' into '${BASE_BRANCH}'." >&2
-  git -C "$integration_worktree" merge --abort >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-  exit 1
+should_create_integration_helper=1
+if [[ "$MERGE_MODE" == "pr" && "$PUSH_ENABLED" -eq 1 ]]; then
+  should_create_integration_helper=0
 fi
 
-merge_completed=1
-merge_status="direct"
-direct_push_error=""
-pr_url=""
+if [[ "$should_create_integration_helper" -eq 1 ]]; then
+  integration_stamp="$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)"
+  integration_worktree_base="${temp_worktree_root}/__integrate-${BASE_BRANCH//\//__}-${integration_stamp}"
+  integration_branch_base="__agent_integrate_${BASE_BRANCH//\//_}_$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)"
+  integration_worktree="$integration_worktree_base"
+  integration_branch="$integration_branch_base"
+  integration_suffix=1
+  while [[ -e "$integration_worktree" ]] || git -C "$repo_root" show-ref --verify --quiet "refs/heads/${integration_branch}"; do
+    integration_worktree="${integration_worktree_base}-${integration_suffix}"
+    integration_branch="${integration_branch_base}_${integration_suffix}"
+    integration_suffix=$((integration_suffix + 1))
+  done
+  mkdir -p "$(dirname "$integration_worktree")"
+
+  git -C "$repo_root" worktree add "$integration_worktree" "$start_ref" >/dev/null
+  git -C "$integration_worktree" checkout -b "$integration_branch" >/dev/null
+
+  if ! git -C "$integration_worktree" merge --no-ff --no-edit "$SOURCE_BRANCH"; then
+    echo "[agent-branch-finish] Merge conflict detected while merging '${SOURCE_BRANCH}' into '${BASE_BRANCH}'." >&2
+    git -C "$integration_worktree" merge --abort >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  merge_completed=1
+  merge_status="direct"
+fi
 
 is_local_branch_delete_error() {
   local output="$1"
diff --git a/templates/scripts/agent-branch-finish.sh b/templates/scripts/agent-branch-finish.sh
index 48e3ff6..88d2604 100755
--- a/templates/scripts/agent-branch-finish.sh
+++ b/templates/scripts/agent-branch-finish.sh
@@ -277,6 +277,10 @@ created_source_probe=0
 source_probe_path=""
 integration_worktree=""
 integration_branch=""
+merge_completed=0
+merge_status="pr"
+direct_push_error=""
+pr_url=""
 
 cleanup() {
   if [[ -n "$integration_worktree" && -d "$integration_worktree" ]]; then
@@ -358,22 +362,6 @@ if [[ "$should_require_sync" -eq 1 ]] && git -C "$repo_root" show-ref --verify -
   fi
 fi
 
-integration_stamp="$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)"
-integration_worktree_base="${temp_worktree_root}/__integrate-${BASE_BRANCH//\//__}-${integration_stamp}"
-integration_branch_base="__agent_integrate_${BASE_BRANCH//\//_}_$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)"
-integration_worktree="$integration_worktree_base"
-integration_branch="$integration_branch_base"
-integration_suffix=1
-while [[ -e "$integration_worktree" ]] || git -C "$repo_root" show-ref --verify --quiet "refs/heads/${integration_branch}"; do
-  integration_worktree="${integration_worktree_base}-${integration_suffix}"
-  integration_branch="${integration_branch_base}_${integration_suffix}"
-  integration_suffix=$((integration_suffix + 1))
-done
-mkdir -p "$(dirname "$integration_worktree")"
-
-git -C "$repo_root" worktree add "$integration_worktree" "$start_ref" >/dev/null
-git -C "$integration_worktree" checkout -b "$integration_branch" >/dev/null
-
 if git -C "$repo_root" show-ref --verify --quiet "refs/remotes/origin/${BASE_BRANCH}"; then
   git -C "$source_worktree" fetch origin "$BASE_BRANCH" --quiet
 
@@ -395,16 +383,37 @@ if git -C "$repo_root" show-ref --verify --quiet "refs/remotes/origin/${BASE_BRA
   git -C "$source_worktree" merge --abort >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
 fi
 
-if ! git -C "$integration_worktree" merge --no-ff --no-edit "$SOURCE_BRANCH"; then
-  echo "[agent-branch-finish] Merge conflict detected while merging '${SOURCE_BRANCH}' into '${BASE_BRANCH}'." >&2
-  git -C "$integration_worktree" merge --abort >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-  exit 1
+should_create_integration_helper=1
+if [[ "$MERGE_MODE" == "pr" && "$PUSH_ENABLED" -eq 1 ]]; then
+  should_create_integration_helper=0
 fi
 
-merge_completed=1
-merge_status="direct"
-direct_push_error=""
-pr_url=""
+if [[ "$should_create_integration_helper" -eq 1 ]]; then
+  integration_stamp="$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)"
+  integration_worktree_base="${temp_worktree_root}/__integrate-${BASE_BRANCH//\//__}-${integration_stamp}"
+  integration_branch_base="__agent_integrate_${BASE_BRANCH//\//_}_$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)"
+  integration_worktree="$integration_worktree_base"
+  integration_branch="$integration_branch_base"
+  integration_suffix=1
+  while [[ -e "$integration_worktree" ]] || git -C "$repo_root" show-ref --verify --quiet "refs/heads/${integration_branch}"; do
+    integration_worktree="${integration_worktree_base}-${integration_suffix}"
+    integration_branch="${integration_branch_base}_${integration_suffix}"
+    integration_suffix=$((integration_suffix + 1))
+  done
+  mkdir -p "$(dirname "$integration_worktree")"
+
+  git -C "$repo_root" worktree add "$integration_worktree" "$start_ref" >/dev/null
+  git -C "$integration_worktree" checkout -b "$integration_branch" >/dev/null
+
+  if ! git -C "$integration_worktree" merge --no-ff --no-edit "$SOURCE_BRANCH"; then
+    echo "[agent-branch-finish] Merge conflict detected while merging '${SOURCE_BRANCH}' into '${BASE_BRANCH}'." >&2
+    git -C "$integration_worktree" merge --abort >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  merge_completed=1
+  merge_status="direct"
+fi
 
 is_local_branch_delete_error() {
   local output="$1"
diff --git a/test/finish.test.js b/test/finish.test.js
index 37a600c..09fb408 100644
--- a/test/finish.test.js
+++ b/test/finish.test.js
@@ -386,6 +386,79 @@ exit 1
 });
 
 
+test('agent-branch-finish pr mode skips temporary integration helper creation', () => {
+  const repoDir = initRepo();
+  seedCommit(repoDir);
+  attachOriginRemote(repoDir);
+
+  let result = runNode(['setup', '--target', repoDir, '--no-global-install'], repoDir);
+  assert.equal(result.status, 0, result.stderr || result.stdout);
+  result = runCmd('git', ['add', '.'], repoDir);
+  assert.equal(result.status, 0, result.stderr);
+  result = runCmd('git', ['commit', '-m', 'apply gx setup'], repoDir, {
+    ALLOW_COMMIT_ON_PROTECTED_BRANCH: '1',
+  });
+  assert.equal(result.status, 0, result.stderr);
+  result = runCmd('git', ['push', 'origin', 'dev'], repoDir);
+  assert.equal(result.status, 0, result.stderr);
+
+  result = runCmd('git', ['checkout', '-b', 'agent/test-pr-skip-integrate-helper'], repoDir);
+  assert.equal(result.status, 0, result.stderr);
+  commitFile(repoDir, 'agent-pr-skip-integrate.txt', 'agent change\n', 'agent change');
+
+  const { fakePath: fakeGhPath } = createFakeGhScript(`
+if [[ "$1" == "pr" && "$2" == "create" ]]; then
+  exit 0
+fi
+if [[ "$1" == "pr" && "$2" == "view" ]]; then
+  if [[ " $* " == *" --json url "* ]]; then
+    echo "https://example.test/pr/skip-integrate"
+    exit 0
+  fi
+  echo "unexpected gh pr view args: $*" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+if [[ "$1" == "pr" && "$2" == "merge" ]]; then
+  exit 0
+fi
+echo "unexpected gh args: $*" >&2
+exit 1
+`);
+  const realGit = runCmd('bash', ['-lc', 'command -v git'], repoDir);
+  assert.equal(realGit.status, 0, realGit.stderr || realGit.stdout);
+  const realGitPath = realGit.stdout.trim();
+  const { fakeBin } = createFakeBin('git', `
+real_git="${realGitPath}"
+if [[ "$1" == "-C" && "$3" == "worktree" && "$4" == "add" ]]; then
+  case "$5" in
+    *"/.omx/.tmp-worktrees/__integrate-"*|*"/.omc/.tmp-worktrees/__integrate-"*)
+      echo "unexpected integration helper worktree in PR mode: $5" >&2
+      exit 99
+      ;;
+  esac
+fi
+"$real_git" "$@"
+`);
+
+  const finish = runBranchFinish(
+    ['--branch', 'agent/test-pr-skip-integrate-helper', '--mode', 'pr', '--cleanup'],
+    repoDir,
+    {
+      GUARDEX_GH_BIN: fakeGhPath,
+      PATH: `${fakeBin}:${process.env.PATH || ''}`,
+    },
+  );
+  assert.equal(finish.status, 0, finish.stderr || finish.stdout);
+  assert.match(
+    finish.stdout,
+    /Merged 'agent\/test-pr-skip-integrate-helper' into 'dev' via pr flow and cleaned source branch\/worktree\./,
+  );
+
+  result = runCmd('git', ['branch', '--list', '__agent_integrate_dev_*'], repoDir);
+  assert.equal(result.stdout.trim(), '', 'temporary integrate branches should not be created in PR mode');
+});
+
+
 test('agent-branch-finish cleanup succeeds when remote delete reports an already-removed branch', () => {
   const repoDir = initRepo();
   seedCommit(repoDir);