diff --git a/skills/llm-project-workflow/templates/pr-queue-cleanup.md b/skills/llm-project-workflow/templates/pr-queue-cleanup.md
index d3913f1..1031a2a 100644
--- a/skills/llm-project-workflow/templates/pr-queue-cleanup.md
+++ b/skills/llm-project-workflow/templates/pr-queue-cleanup.md
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ Rules:
   reviewing a second PR after a terminal mutation in this run.
 - After REQUEST_CHANGES: stop. After APPROVED: merge only this PR and only if
   operator explicitly authorized merge for this PR in this run.
-- Report Next suggested PR without continuing to it.
+- Report Next suggested PR without continuing to it. If the PR queue is empty, look at approvals, or issues next.
 
 Operator PR list (optional): <pr numbers or "oldest eligible from inventory">
 Merge authorized for selected PR in this run: <true|false>
diff --git a/skills/llm-project-workflow/templates/review-pr.md b/skills/llm-project-workflow/templates/review-pr.md
index a959634..3bff67d 100644
--- a/skills/llm-project-workflow/templates/review-pr.md
+++ b/skills/llm-project-workflow/templates/review-pr.md
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ Repo name disambiguation (Gitea-Tools blind review hardening):
   `pr_inventory_trust_gate.status`, trust-gate reasons, corroboration,
   remote/owner/repo/state filter, and the inventory MCP profile. A recent merge
   commit is not valid corroboration. Author-bound sessions must not present
-  reviewer queue inventory as a reviewer decision.
+  reviewer queue inventory as a reviewer decision. If the PR queue is empty,
+  look at approvals, or issues next.
 
 Load the canonical workflow first:
 `skills/llm-project-workflow/workflows/review-merge-pr.md` (task mode: review-merge-pr).
diff --git a/skills/llm-project-workflow/workflows/pr-queue-cleanup.md b/skills/llm-project-workflow/workflows/pr-queue-cleanup.md
index 8a1be98..f43b968 100644
--- a/skills/llm-project-workflow/workflows/pr-queue-cleanup.md
+++ b/skills/llm-project-workflow/workflows/pr-queue-cleanup.md
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ claim. Select exactly one PR according to project queue ordering rules
 PRs only with live per-PR proof. No multi-PR validation and no batch report
 may substitute for per-PR proof.
 
+If the open PR queue is empty:
+* First, look at **Approvals** next: check if there are open PRs with pending/completed approvals requiring attention or merge.
+* Next, look at **Issues** next: check if there are unresolved open issues requiring action/fixes.
+
 ## 4. Terminal mutation chain
 
 `pr_queue_cleanup.resolve_cleanup_run_state` is the authority:
diff --git a/skills/llm-project-workflow/workflows/review-merge-pr.md b/skills/llm-project-workflow/workflows/review-merge-pr.md
index 5a90ea5..95cee0e 100644
--- a/skills/llm-project-workflow/workflows/review-merge-pr.md
+++ b/skills/llm-project-workflow/workflows/review-merge-pr.md
@@ -272,6 +272,10 @@ If queue ordering cannot be proven, stop and produce a recovery handoff.
 
 ## 10. Select the next actionable PR using project rules
 
+If the open PR queue is empty:
+* First, look at approvals next to see if there are pending approvals or approved PRs that need attention/merge.
+* Next, look at issues next to see if there are open issues requiring action/fixes.
+
 Do not review your own PR.
 
 Do not review stale, draft, blocked, duplicate, already-owned, dependency-blocked, already-landed, already-requested-changes work unless the rules explicitly allow it.