diff --git a/gitea_mcp_server.py b/gitea_mcp_server.py
index 84904f7..cc1cbcf 100644
--- a/gitea_mcp_server.py
+++ b/gitea_mcp_server.py
@@ -417,8 +417,13 @@ def record_preflight_check(type_name: str, resolved_role: str | None = None):
 
 
 def _enforce_branches_only_author_mutation(worktree_path: str | None = None) -> None:
-    """#274: author mutations must run from a branches/ session worktree."""
-    if _preflight_resolved_role == "reviewer":
+    """#274: author file/branch mutations must run from a branches/ worktree.
+
+    Reviewer and reconciler roles are exempt: reconciler ``close_pr`` is a
+    Gitea metadata mutation and must not require ``GITEA_AUTHOR_WORKTREE``
+    (#468).
+    """
+    if _preflight_resolved_role in ("reviewer", "reconciler"):
         return
     ctx = _resolve_author_mutation_context(worktree_path)
     workspace = ctx["workspace_path"]
diff --git a/tests/test_reconciler_close_workspace_guard.py b/tests/test_reconciler_close_workspace_guard.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..54a24e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_reconciler_close_workspace_guard.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+"""Reconciler close_pr must not require author branches/ worktree (#468)."""
+import os
+import sys
+import unittest
+from pathlib import Path
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent))
+
+import gitea_mcp_server as srv
+
+FAKE_AUTH = "token test"
+CONTROL_CHECKOUT_ROOT = str(Path(__file__).resolve().parents[3])
+
+RECONCILER_PROFILE = {
+    "profile_name": "prgs-reconciler",
+    "allowed_operations": ["gitea.read", "gitea.pr.close", "gitea.pr.comment"],
+    "forbidden_operations": [
+        "gitea.pr.approve",
+        "gitea.pr.merge",
+        "gitea.pr.review",
+        "gitea.pr.create",
+        "gitea.branch.push",
+        "gitea.repo.commit",
+    ],
+    "audit_label": "prgs-reconciler",
+}
+
+
+class TestReconcilerCloseWorkspaceGuard(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        srv._preflight_whoami_called = True
+        srv._preflight_capability_called = True
+        srv._preflight_whoami_violation = False
+        srv._preflight_capability_violation = False
+        self._orig_in_test = srv._preflight_in_test_mode
+        srv._preflight_in_test_mode = lambda: False
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        srv._preflight_in_test_mode = self._orig_in_test
+
+    @patch("gitea_mcp_server._auth", return_value=FAKE_AUTH)
+    @patch("gitea_mcp_server._namespace_mutation_block", return_value=None)
+    @patch("gitea_mcp_server.get_profile", return_value=RECONCILER_PROFILE)
+    @patch("gitea_mcp_server.api_request")
+    def test_reconciler_close_pr_from_control_checkout_succeeds(
+        self, mock_api, _profile, _ns, _auth
+    ):
+        srv._preflight_resolved_role = "reconciler"
+        mock_api.return_value = {
+            "number": 414,
+            "title": "old",
+            "body": "",
+            "state": "closed",
+            "html_url": "https://gitea.example.com/pulls/414",
+        }
+        with patch.object(srv, "PROJECT_ROOT", CONTROL_CHECKOUT_ROOT):
+            with patch.dict(os.environ, {}, clear=False):
+                os.environ.pop("GITEA_AUTHOR_WORKTREE", None)
+                os.environ.pop("GITEA_ACTIVE_WORKTREE", None)
+                result = srv.gitea_edit_pr(414, state="closed", remote="prgs")
+        self.assertTrue(result["success"])
+        self.assertEqual(result["state"], "closed")
+        mock_api.assert_called_once()
+
+    @patch("gitea_mcp_server._auth", return_value=FAKE_AUTH)
+    @patch("gitea_mcp_server._profile_permission_block", return_value=None)
+    @patch("gitea_mcp_server._namespace_mutation_block", return_value=None)
+    @patch(
+        "gitea_mcp_server.role_session_router.check_author_mutation_after_reviewer_stop",
+        return_value=(True, []),
+    )
+    @patch("gitea_mcp_server.api_get_all", return_value=[])
+    @patch(
+        "gitea_mcp_server.issue_lock_worktree.read_worktree_git_state",
+        return_value={"current_branch": "master"},
+    )
+    def test_author_create_issue_still_blocked_on_control_checkout(
+        self, _git, _get_all, _role, _ns, _prof, _auth
+    ):
+        srv._preflight_resolved_role = "author"
+        with patch.object(srv, "PROJECT_ROOT", CONTROL_CHECKOUT_ROOT):
+            with self.assertRaises(RuntimeError) as ctx:
+                srv.gitea_create_issue(title="Test", body="body")
+        self.assertIn("stable control checkout", str(ctx.exception))
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()
\ No newline at end of file