diff --git a/.github/workflows/merge-gate.yml b/.github/workflows/merge-gate.yml
index 7290a70..462bcbe 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/merge-gate.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/merge-gate.yml
@@ -9,12 +9,13 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   merge-gate:
-    name: Maintainer Approval Required
+    name: merge-gate
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     permissions:
       pull-requests: read
+      statuses: write
     steps:
-      - name: Require maintainer approval
+      - name: Check maintainer approval
         uses: actions/github-script@v7
         with:
           script: |
@@ -24,6 +25,16 @@ jobs:
             const prAuthor = context.payload.pull_request.user.login;
             const currentHead = context.payload.pull_request.head.sha;
 
+            // Get the latest commit's timestamp to detect stale reviews
+            // GitHub updates review.commit_id to current HEAD, making it
+            // unreliable for staleness checks. Timestamps are immutable.
+            const { data: headCommit } = await github.rest.repos.getCommit({
+              owner,
+              repo,
+              ref: currentHead,
+            });
+            const headCommitDate = new Date(headCommit.commit.committer.date);
+
             // Get all reviews on this PR
             const { data: reviews } = await github.rest.pulls.listReviews({
               owner,
@@ -38,15 +49,16 @@ jobs:
             }
 
             // Check each approver's repo permission level
-            // Only count approvals against the current HEAD commit
+            // Only count approvals submitted AFTER the latest commit
             const validApprovals = [];
             const staleApprovals = [];
             for (const [login, review] of latestReviews) {
               if (review.state !== 'APPROVED') continue;
               if (login === prAuthor) continue;
 
-              // Reject approvals made against an older commit
-              if (review.commit_id !== currentHead) {
+              // Reject approvals submitted before the latest commit
+              const reviewDate = new Date(review.submitted_at);
+              if (reviewDate < headCommitDate) {
                 staleApprovals.push(login);
                 continue;
               }
@@ -62,13 +74,32 @@ jobs:
               }
             }
 
+            // Use the Commit Status API instead of core.setFailed()
+            // This ensures multiple runs for the same commit overwrite
+            // each other instead of creating conflicting check runs
             if (validApprovals.length === 0) {
-              let message = `❌ Requires approval from a user with Maintain or Admin permission before merging.\n` +
-                `Contributors (Write permission) cannot satisfy this requirement.`;
+              let description = 'Requires approval from a Maintain/Admin user';
               if (staleApprovals.length > 0) {
-                message += `\n\n⚠️ Stale approvals (new commits pushed since review): ${staleApprovals.join(', ')}`;
+                description = `Stale approvals (pushed after review): ${staleApprovals.join(', ')}`;
               }
-              core.setFailed(message);
+              await github.rest.repos.createCommitStatus({
+                owner,
+                repo,
+                sha: currentHead,
+                state: 'failure',
+                context: 'Maintainer Approval Required',
+                description,
+              });
+              core.info(`❌ ${description}`);
             } else {
-              core.info(`✅ Approved by maintainer(s): ${validApprovals.join(', ')}`);
+              const approvedBy = validApprovals.join(', ');
+              await github.rest.repos.createCommitStatus({
+                owner,
+                repo,
+                sha: currentHead,
+                state: 'success',
+                context: 'Maintainer Approval Required',
+                description: `Approved by: ${approvedBy}`,
+              });
+              core.info(`✅ Approved by maintainer(s): ${approvedBy}`);
             }