diff --git a/.github/scripts/init-merge-candidate.sh b/.github/scripts/init-merge-candidate.sh
index 053a080146..58ded6d1b9 100755
--- a/.github/scripts/init-merge-candidate.sh
+++ b/.github/scripts/init-merge-candidate.sh
@@ -70,8 +70,9 @@ if ! [[ "$BASE_SHA" =~ ^[0-9a-f]{40}$ && "$HEAD_SHA" =~ ^[0-9a-f]{40}$ && \
   echo "init-merge-candidate: candidate commit identities must be 40-char lowercase hex" >&2
   exit 2
 fi
-if [ "$MERGE_METHOD" != "squash" ] && [ "$MERGE_METHOD" != "rebase" ]; then
-  echo "init-merge-candidate: merge method must be squash or rebase" >&2
+if [ "$MERGE_METHOD" != "squash" ] && [ "$MERGE_METHOD" != "rebase" ] &&
+   [ "$MERGE_METHOD" != "merge" ]; then
+  echo "init-merge-candidate: merge method must be squash, rebase, or merge" >&2
   exit 2
 fi
 
diff --git a/.github/scripts/test-init-merge-candidate.sh b/.github/scripts/test-init-merge-candidate.sh
index 73bb224298..dabadb583f 100755
--- a/.github/scripts/test-init-merge-candidate.sh
+++ b/.github/scripts/test-init-merge-candidate.sh
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ CANONICAL="$TMP_ROOT/canonical.toml"
 printf 'abi_version = 39\n' > "$CANONICAL"
 TAG=merge-candidate-abi-v39-pr-1-run-2-attempt-1
 run_init() {
-  local store="$1" fail="${2:-}"
+  local store="$1" fail="${2:-}" merge_method="${3:-squash}"
   GH_INIT_STORE="$store" GH_INIT_TAG="$TAG" GH_INIT_UPLOAD_LOG="$store/uploads.log" \
     GITHUB_API_RETRY_DELAY_SECONDS=0 GITHUB_REPOSITORY=example/repo \
     CANDIDATE_INIT_FAIL_AFTER_ASSET="$fail" STATE_LOCK_SCRIPT="$LOCK" \
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ run_init() {
       --head-sha 2222222222222222222222222222222222222222 \
       --synthetic-merge-sha 3333333333333333333333333333333333333333 \
       --synthetic-tree-sha 4444444444444444444444444444444444444444 \
-      --merge-method squash --pr-commit-count 1 --run-id 2 --run-attempt 1
+      --merge-method "$merge_method" --pr-commit-count 1 --run-id 2 --run-attempt 1
 }
 
 for fail_asset in candidate.json base-index.toml index.toml; do
@@ -146,4 +146,21 @@ if run_init "$store" >"$store/mismatch.out" 2>"$store/mismatch.err"; then
 fi
 grep -q 'different bytes' "$store/mismatch.err"
 
+store="$TMP_ROOT/merge-method"
+mkdir -p "$store"
+printf '100\n' > "$store/.next-id"
+: > "$store/uploads.log"
+run_init "$store" "" merge >"$store/merge.out"
+jq -e '.merge_method == "merge"' "$store/candidate.json" >/dev/null
+
+store="$TMP_ROOT/invalid-method"
+mkdir -p "$store"
+printf '100\n' > "$store/.next-id"
+: > "$store/uploads.log"
+if run_init "$store" "" octopus >"$store/out" 2>"$store/err"; then
+  echo "candidate init accepted an unsupported merge method" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+grep -q 'must be squash, rebase, or merge' "$store/err"
+
 echo "merge candidate initialization tests passed"
diff --git a/.github/scripts/test-merge-candidate-workflows.sh b/.github/scripts/test-merge-candidate-workflows.sh
index 70006b642f..f730e8c04b 100755
--- a/.github/scripts/test-merge-candidate-workflows.sh
+++ b/.github/scripts/test-merge-candidate-workflows.sh
@@ -110,6 +110,12 @@ fi
 if grep -Eq -- '--target-tag[[:space:]]+"?binaries-abi-v' "$PREPARE"; then
   fail "Prepare merge still has a pre-merge canonical index writer"
 fi
+grep -Fq "contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'preserve-head-commit') && 'merge'" \
+  "$PREPARE" || fail "Prepare merge does not select merge-commit verification for preserve-head-commit"
+grep -Fq 'batched-changes and preserve-head-commit are mutually exclusive' "$PREPARE" || \
+  fail "Prepare merge does not reject conflicting history-method labels"
+grep -Fq 'expected_parents="$base_sha $head_sha"' "$VERIFY_SCRIPT" || \
+  fail "merge-commit activation does not bind the exact prepared base and head parents"
 
 index_writer_count=$(grep -c 'bash scripts/index-update.sh' "$PREPARE")
 candidate_target_count=$(grep -c -- '--target-tag "${{ needs.preflight.outputs.target_tag }}"' "$PREPARE")
diff --git a/.github/scripts/test-verify-merge-candidate.sh b/.github/scripts/test-verify-merge-candidate.sh
index f1e0768a44..67a318a5d4 100755
--- a/.github/scripts/test-verify-merge-candidate.sh
+++ b/.github/scripts/test-verify-merge-candidate.sh
@@ -244,4 +244,26 @@ if run_verify >"$TMP_ROOT/method.out" 2>"$TMP_ROOT/method.err"; then
 fi
 grep -q 'rebase result contains merge commits' "$TMP_ROOT/method.err"
 
+# A preserve-head merge accepts only the exact prepared base and head as its
+# ordered parents. This is the history shape that keeps a published head SHA
+# reachable without weakening the tested-tree check above.
+jq '.merge_method = "merge"' "$CANDIDATE_JSON" > "$TMP_ROOT/merge-candidate.json"
+mv "$TMP_ROOT/merge-candidate.json" "$CANDIDATE_JSON"
+jq '.merge_method = "merge"' "$READY_JSON" > "$TMP_ROOT/merge-ready.json"
+mv "$TMP_ROOT/merge-ready.json" "$READY_JSON"
+run_verify >/dev/null
+
+WRONG_HEAD_MERGE=$(printf 'wrong merge head\n' | \
+  git -C "$REPO" commit-tree "$SYNTHETIC_TREE_SHA" -p "$BASE_SHA" -p "$FIRST_HEAD_SHA")
+git -C "$REPO" update-ref refs/remotes/origin/main "$WRONG_HEAD_MERGE"
+jq --arg merge "$WRONG_HEAD_MERGE" '.mergeCommit.oid = $merge' "$PR_JSON" \
+  > "$TMP_ROOT/wrong-head-merge-pr.json"
+mv "$TMP_ROOT/wrong-head-merge-pr.json" "$PR_JSON"
+if run_verify >"$TMP_ROOT/merge-parent.out" 2>"$TMP_ROOT/merge-parent.err"; then
+  echo "expected a merge with the wrong head parent to fail" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+grep -q 'do not match prepared base and head' "$TMP_ROOT/merge-parent.err"
+[ "$(cat "$TMP_ROOT/terminal-reason")" = merge-parent-mismatch ]
+
 echo "merge candidate verification tests passed"
diff --git a/.github/scripts/verify-merge-candidate.sh b/.github/scripts/verify-merge-candidate.sh
index e01eaac809..5f888516c6 100755
--- a/.github/scripts/verify-merge-candidate.sh
+++ b/.github/scripts/verify-merge-candidate.sh
@@ -85,7 +85,8 @@ if ! jq -e '
     (.head_sha | test("^[0-9a-f]{40}$")) and
     (.synthetic_merge_sha | test("^[0-9a-f]{40}$")) and
     (.synthetic_tree_sha | test("^[0-9a-f]{40}$")) and
-    (.merge_method == "squash" or .merge_method == "rebase") and
+    (.merge_method == "squash" or .merge_method == "rebase" or
+      .merge_method == "merge") and
     (.pr_commit_count | type == "number" and . > 0 and floor == .) and
     (.abi_version | type == "number" and . > 0 and floor == .) and
     (.candidate_tag | type == "string" and length > 0) and
@@ -263,6 +264,17 @@ case "$merge_method" in
         "rebased merge contains $merged_commit_count commits after the prepared base, expected $pr_commit_count"
     fi
     ;;
+  merge)
+    merged_parents=$(git show -s --format=%P "$merge_commit_sha")
+    expected_parents="$base_sha $head_sha"
+    # WHY: tree equality alone would let a lookalike commit activate package
+    # bytes while the reviewed/published PR head remained unreachable. Exact
+    # parent order proves both the prepared base and head entered main.
+    if [ "$merged_parents" != "$expected_parents" ]; then
+      terminal_fail merge-parent-mismatch \
+        "merge commit parents $merged_parents do not match prepared base and head $expected_parents"
+    fi
+    ;;
 esac
 
 echo "verified merge candidate $candidate_tag at merge commit $merge_commit_sha"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/prepare-merge.yml b/.github/workflows/prepare-merge.yml
index 7b38739601..195f2d678e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/prepare-merge.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/prepare-merge.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@ name: Prepare merge
 # tested tree merged does `activate-merge-candidate.yml` copy its
 # content-addressed archives and replace the canonical ABI index once. PRs
 # labeled `batched-changes` must be rebase-merged so their granular commits land
-# on main; all other PRs must use the default squash merge behavior.
+# on main. A `preserve-head-commit` PR must use a merge commit so an exact
+# reviewed or published head SHA remains a parent of main. Those labels are
+# mutually exclusive; all other PRs use the default squash merge behavior.
 #
 # Flow (see docs/plans/2026-05-05-decoupled-package-builds-design.md
 # §5.5 + docs/plans/2026-04-29-pr-package-builds-design.md §4.2):
@@ -36,7 +38,9 @@ on:
     types: [labeled]
 
 env:
-  PREPARE_MERGE_METHOD: ${{ contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'batched-changes') && 'rebase' || 'squash' }}
+  BATCHED_CHANGES: ${{ contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'batched-changes') }}
+  PRESERVE_HEAD_COMMIT: ${{ contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'preserve-head-commit') }}
+  PREPARE_MERGE_METHOD: ${{ contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'preserve-head-commit') && 'merge' || contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'batched-changes') && 'rebase' || 'squash' }}
   GIT_FETCH_RETRY_FUNC: |
     git_fetch_retry() {
       local attempt=1
@@ -103,6 +107,13 @@ jobs:
         id: synthesize
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
+          # WHY: each label selects a different post-merge history proof.
+          # Silently preferring one would let the operator perform the other
+          # method and leave an otherwise valid candidate terminally rejected.
+          if [ "$BATCHED_CHANGES" = true ] && [ "$PRESERVE_HEAD_COMMIT" = true ]; then
+            echo "::error::batched-changes and preserve-head-commit are mutually exclusive"
+            exit 1
+          fi
 
           work="$RUNNER_TEMP/synthesize-merge"
           bundle_dir="$RUNNER_TEMP/synthetic-pr-merge"
diff --git a/docs/binary-releases.md b/docs/binary-releases.md
index ba50e37daf..7957be1d9d 100644
--- a/docs/binary-releases.md
+++ b/docs/binary-releases.md
@@ -240,12 +240,18 @@ live PR head still matches the event head, and no review has an outstanding
 `CHANGES_REQUESTED` decision. The label's persistent state is not authority;
 each new head needs a fresh label event or exact-head review. Prepare merge
 posts `merge-gate=success` and leaves the merge to a maintainer; Actions never
-enables auto-merge. PRs labeled
-`batched-changes` must be rebase-merged, while other PRs must be squash-merged.
+enables auto-merge. PRs labeled `batched-changes` must be rebase-merged. A PR
+labeled `preserve-head-commit` must be merged with a merge commit whose ordered
+parents are the prepared base and the exact PR head. That bounded mode keeps an
+exact reviewed or publication-pinned head SHA reachable from `main`; repository
+merge commits may remain disabled outside its merge window. The two
+history-method labels are mutually exclusive. Other PRs must be squash-merged.
 The exact merge method is part of `candidate.json` and a different method fails
-closed during activation. This is repository process policy, not tamper-proof
-two-person authorization: same-repository writers are trusted to change the
-workflow and helper code through the normal review process.
+closed during activation. Tree equality is required for every method, so a
+lookalike merge commit cannot substitute another head. This is repository
+process policy, not tamper-proof two-person authorization: same-repository
+writers are trusted to change the workflow and helper code through the normal
+review process.
 
 The write-authorized merge gate executes candidate lifecycle helpers from the
 exact prepared base commit, not from the pull request head. The pull request is