diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/sync-beta.yml b/.gitea/workflows/sync-beta.yml
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+name: Sync Beta from Master
+
+# Merges master into beta after every push to master so beta never falls
+# behind.  Uses RELEASE_TOKEN (admin user) which can push to protected
+# branches, same as the CHANGELOG commit in auto-tag.yml.
+#
+# NOTE: commits carrying [skip ci] in their message (e.g. the CHANGELOG
+# commit from auto-tag.yml) suppress all workflow runs, so this job will
+# not fire for those specific commits.  The NEXT real push to master will
+# bring the skipped commit(s) along in the merge.  If you need immediate
+# sync of every commit, remove [skip ci] from auto-tag.yml's CHANGELOG
+# commit and instead gate auto-tag.yml with a path or branch filter.
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - master
+
+concurrency:
+  group: sync-beta
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+
+jobs:
+  sync:
+    runs-on: linux-amd64
+    container:
+      image: alpine:latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Merge master into beta
+        env:
+          RELEASE_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.RELEASE_TOKEN }}
+        run: |
+          set -eu
+          apk add --no-cache git
+
+          git init
+          git remote add origin \
+            "http://oauth2:${RELEASE_TOKEN}@172.0.0.29:3000/${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}.git"
+          git config user.name "gitea-actions[bot]"
+          git config user.email "gitea-actions@local"
+
+          # Check beta exists before trying to merge into it
+          if ! git ls-remote --exit-code origin refs/heads/beta >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            echo "beta branch does not exist yet — skipping sync"
+            exit 0
+          fi
+
+          git fetch origin master beta
+          git checkout -b beta origin/beta
+
+          # If beta already contains everything in master (e.g. right after a
+          # beta→master promotion) there is nothing to do.
+          if git merge-base --is-ancestor origin/master HEAD; then
+            echo "beta is already up to date with master — nothing to do"
+            exit 0
+          fi
+
+          if git merge --no-ff origin/master \
+               -m "chore: sync beta from master [skip ci]"; then
+            git push origin beta
+            echo "✓ beta synced with master"
+          else
+            echo "✗ Merge conflict — manual resolution required"
+            git merge --abort || true
+            exit 1
+          fi