diff --git a/tools/maintainer/train/land.sh b/tools/maintainer/train/land.sh
index f6624484..0371d979 100755
--- a/tools/maintainer/train/land.sh
+++ b/tools/maintainer/train/land.sh
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 # main: when every generated file comes out unchanged the PR keeps its CI results and lands;
 # otherwise auto-merge goes off and it exits 8 for a real refresh.
 #
-# Exit: 0 merged, 1 failing check, 2 unresolved threads, 3 timeout, 4 someone else pushed,
+# Exit: 0 merged, 1 failing check, 2 unresolved threads (before or after auto-merge), 3 timeout, 4 someone else pushed,
 #       5 auto-merge refused, 6 closed, 7 went DIRTY, 8 main moved under it (refresh again).
 {
 P=$1
@@ -51,20 +51,25 @@ while :; do
   esac
   sleep 60
 done
-u=$(gh api graphql -F owner="${R%/*}" -F name="${R#*/}" -F n="$P" \
-  -f query='query($owner:String!,$name:String!,$n:Int!){repository(owner:$owner,name:$name){pullRequest(number:$n){reviewThreads(first:100){nodes{isResolved}}}}}' \
-  --jq '[.data.repository.pullRequest.reviewThreads.nodes[]|select(.isResolved==false)]|length')
+unresolved() {
+  gh api graphql -F owner="${R%/*}" -F name="${R#*/}" -F n="$P" \
+    -f query='query($owner:String!,$name:String!,$n:Int!){repository(owner:$owner,name:$name){pullRequest(number:$n){reviewThreads(first:100){nodes{isResolved}}}}}' \
+    --jq '[.data.repository.pullRequest.reviewThreads.nodes[]|select(.isResolved==false)]|length' 2>/dev/null
+}
+u=$(unresolved)
 [ "$u" != 0 ] && { echo "#$P Corpus green but $u unresolved review thread(s)"; exit 2; }
 if moved && ! still_valid; then echo "#$P main moved under it since the refresh"; exit 8; fi
 gh pr merge "$P" -R "$R" --squash --auto > /dev/null 2>&1 || { echo "#$P could not enable auto-merge"; exit 5; }
 echo "#$P Corpus green, 0 threads, auto-merge on"
 while :; do
-  [ "$(date +%s)" -gt $((deadline + 3600)) ] && { echo "#$P TIMEOUT waiting for merge"; exit 3; }
+  [ "$(date +%s)" -gt $((deadline + 3600)) ] && { gh pr merge "$P" -R "$R" --disable-auto > /dev/null 2>&1; echo "#$P TIMEOUT waiting for merge; auto-merge off"; exit 3; }
   s=$(gh pr view "$P" -R "$R" --json state,mergeStateStatus --jq '"\(.state) \(.mergeStateStatus)"' 2>/dev/null)
   case $s in
     MERGED*) echo "#$P MERGED as $(gh pr view "$P" -R "$R" --json mergeCommit --jq '.mergeCommit.oid[0:9]')"; exit 0 ;;
     CLOSED*) echo "#$P CLOSED without merge"; exit 6 ;;
     *DIRTY) gh pr merge "$P" -R "$R" --disable-auto > /dev/null 2>&1; echo "#$P went DIRTY before merging"; exit 7 ;;
+    # With strict up-to-date on, a branch behind main never merges; only a real refresh pushes main in.
+    *BEHIND) gh pr merge "$P" -R "$R" --disable-auto > /dev/null 2>&1; echo "#$P is behind main; auto-merge off"; exit 8 ;;
   esac
   if moved; then
     [ "$(gh pr view "$P" -R "$R" --json state --jq .state 2>/dev/null)" = MERGED ] && continue
@@ -76,7 +81,14 @@ while :; do
     echo "#$P main moved under it while waiting; auto-merge off"; exit 8
   fi
   f=$(gh pr checks "$P" -R "$R" --json name,state --jq '[.[]|select(.state=="FAILURE")|.name]|join(", ")' 2>/dev/null)
-  [ -n "$f" ] && { echo "#$P failing: $f"; exit 1; }
+  [ -n "$f" ] && { gh pr merge "$P" -R "$R" --disable-auto > /dev/null 2>&1; echo "#$P failing: $f; auto-merge off"; exit 1; }
+  # A reviewer can open a thread after auto-merge went on; the ruleset then holds the PR until
+  # the deadline, so hand it back instead of stalling the train.
+  case $(unresolved) in
+    ''|*[!0-9]*|0) ;;
+    *) gh pr merge "$P" -R "$R" --disable-auto > /dev/null 2>&1
+       echo "#$P review thread opened after auto-merge went on; auto-merge off"; exit 2 ;;
+  esac
   sleep 60
 done
 }