diff --git a/task_capability_map.py b/task_capability_map.py
index c86ce2a..8d3daf2 100644
--- a/task_capability_map.py
+++ b/task_capability_map.py
@@ -106,11 +106,11 @@ TASK_CAPABILITY_MAP: dict[str, dict[str, str]] = {
     },
     "reconcile_merged_cleanups": {
         "permission": "gitea.read",
-        "role": "author",
+        "role": "reconciler",
     },
     "reconciliation_cleanup": {
         "permission": "gitea.branch.delete",
-        "role": "author",
+        "role": "reconciler",
     },
     "work_issue": {
         "permission": "gitea.pr.create",
diff --git a/tests/test_audit_reconciliation_mode.py b/tests/test_audit_reconciliation_mode.py
index a117fab..e429ddf 100644
--- a/tests/test_audit_reconciliation_mode.py
+++ b/tests/test_audit_reconciliation_mode.py
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ class TestTaskCapabilityMap(unittest.TestCase):
             required_permission("reconciliation_cleanup"),
             "gitea.branch.delete",
         )
-        self.assertEqual(required_role("reconciliation_cleanup"), "author")
+        self.assertEqual(required_role("reconciliation_cleanup"), "reconciler")
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/tests/test_reconciler_cleanup_integration.py b/tests/test_reconciler_cleanup_integration.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7b3ef4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_reconciler_cleanup_integration.py
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+"""Integration tests for reconciler merged cleanup (#523)."""
+import os
+import sys
+import unittest
+from unittest.mock import patch, MagicMock
+
+sys.path.insert(0, str(__import__("pathlib").Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent))
+
+import mcp_server
+import task_capability_map
+from audit_reconciliation_mode import clear_phase
+
+RECONCILER_PROFILE = {
+    "profile_name": "prgs-reconciler",
+    "context": "prgs",
+    "role": "reconciler",
+    "username": "sysadmin",
+    "base_url": "https://gitea.prgs.cc",
+    "allowed_operations": ["gitea.read", "gitea.pr.close", "gitea.pr.comment", "gitea.issue.comment"],
+    "forbidden_operations": [],
+}
+
+
+class TestReconcilerCleanupIntegration(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        clear_phase()
+        mcp_server._preflight_whoami_called = False
+        mcp_server._preflight_capability_called = False
+        mcp_server._preflight_resolved_role = None
+        mcp_server._preflight_resolved_task = None
+        mcp_server._preflight_whoami_violation = False
+        mcp_server._preflight_capability_violation = False
+        mcp_server._preflight_whoami_violation_files = []
+        mcp_server._preflight_capability_violation_files = []
+        self.mock_api = patch("gitea_auth.api_request").start()
+        self.mock_auth = patch(
+            "mcp_server.get_auth_header", return_value="token test"
+        ).start()
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        patch.stopall()
+        clear_phase()
+        mcp_server._IDENTITY_CACHE.clear()
+
+    @patch.dict(os.environ, {"GITEA_PROFILE_NAME": "prgs-reconciler"}, clear=True)
+    @patch("mcp_server.get_profile", return_value=RECONCILER_PROFILE)
+    def test_reconciler_can_run_reconcile_merged_cleanups_directly(self, _profile):
+        mcp_server.record_preflight_check("whoami")
+        mcp_server.record_preflight_check("capability", resolved_role="reconciler", resolved_task="reconcile_merged_cleanups")
+        
+        # Mock closed PRs and open PRs returned by API
+        self.mock_api.side_effect = [
+            [  # closed pulls
+                {
+                    "number": 100,
+                    "title": "merged feature",
+                    "body": "Closes #100",
+                    "merged": True,
+                    "merged_at": "2026-07-06T12:00:00Z",
+                    "merge_commit_sha": "deadbeef",
+                    "head": {"ref": "feat/issue-100", "sha": "cafebabe"},
+                }
+            ],
+            [],  # open pulls
+        ]
+
+        with patch("mcp_server._remote_branch_exists", return_value=True):
+            with patch("mcp_server.merged_cleanup_reconcile.is_head_ancestor_of_ref", return_value=True):
+                result = mcp_server.gitea_reconcile_merged_cleanups(
+                    dry_run=True,
+                    remote="prgs",
+                )
+        self.assertTrue(result["success"])
+        self.assertTrue(result["dry_run"])
+        self.assertEqual(result["entries"][0]["issue_number"], 100)
+
+    @patch.dict(os.environ, {"GITEA_PROFILE_NAME": "prgs-reconciler"}, clear=True)
+    @patch("mcp_server.get_profile", return_value=RECONCILER_PROFILE)
+    def test_reconciler_role_bypasses_branches_only_mutation_guard(self, _profile):
+        # We simulate verify_preflight_purity under reconciler role.
+        # It should succeed without raising RuntimeError even if CWD/workspace is the process root.
+        mcp_server.record_preflight_check("whoami")
+        mcp_server.record_preflight_check("capability", resolved_role="reconciler", resolved_task="reconcile_merged_cleanups")
+        
+        # Calling verify_preflight_purity directly
+        try:
+            mcp_server.verify_preflight_purity(remote="prgs", task="reconcile_merged_cleanups")
+        except RuntimeError as e:
+            self.fail(f"verify_preflight_purity raised RuntimeError unexpectedly: {e}")
+
+    @patch.dict(os.environ, {"GITEA_PROFILE_NAME": "prgs-author", "GITEA_TEST_PORCELAIN": ""}, clear=True)
+    @patch("mcp_server.get_profile", return_value={
+        "profile_name": "prgs-author",
+        "context": "prgs",
+        "role": "author",
+        "username": "jcwalker3",
+        "base_url": "https://gitea.prgs.cc",
+        "allowed_operations": ["gitea.read", "gitea.pr.create", "gitea.branch.create", "gitea.branch.push", "gitea.repo.commit"],
+        "forbidden_operations": [],
+    })
+    def test_author_role_remains_blocked_on_root_checkout(self, _profile):
+        mcp_server.record_preflight_check("whoami")
+        mcp_server.record_preflight_check("capability", resolved_role="author", resolved_task="reconcile_merged_cleanups")
+        
+        with patch("mcp_server.PROJECT_ROOT", "/Users/jasonwalker/Development/Gitea-Tools"):
+            with self.assertRaises(RuntimeError) as ctx:
+                mcp_server.verify_preflight_purity(remote="prgs", task="reconcile_merged_cleanups")
+        self.assertIn("author mutation blocked: workspace is the stable control checkout", str(ctx.exception))
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()
diff --git a/webui/lease_loader.py b/webui/lease_loader.py
index 717feef..548aec3 100644
--- a/webui/lease_loader.py
+++ b/webui/lease_loader.py
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ from urllib.parse import urlparse
 
 from gitea_auth import api_fetch_page, get_auth_header, repo_api_url
 from issue_claim_heartbeat import build_claim_inventory
-from merged_cleanup_reconcile import ISSUE_LOCK_FILE, read_issue_lock
+from merged_cleanup_reconcile import read_issue_lock
+from issue_lock_provenance import ISSUE_LOCK_FILE
 
 from webui.project_registry import ProjectRecord, load_registry
 from webui.queue_loader import _extract_linked_issue, _fetch_issues, _fetch_prs