diff --git a/.github/workflows/auto-tag-on-release-pr-merge.yml b/.github/workflows/auto-tag-on-release-pr-merge.yml
index 2dd9c4d146..b67e4081e0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/auto-tag-on-release-pr-merge.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/auto-tag-on-release-pr-merge.yml
@@ -62,11 +62,13 @@ jobs:
             -f ref="v$VERSION"
 
       - name: Trigger internal release build
+        id: buildkite
+        continue-on-error: true
         env:
           BUILDKITE_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.BUILDKITE_API_TOKEN }}
           VERSION: ${{ env.version }}
         run: |
-          curl -sf -X POST \
+          RESPONSE=$(curl -sf -X POST \
             "https://api.buildkite.com/v2/organizations/runway/pipelines/sprout-releases/builds" \
             -H "Authorization: Bearer ${BUILDKITE_API_TOKEN}" \
             -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
@@ -80,5 +82,13 @@ jobs:
                 \"relay_url\": \"wss://sprout-oss.stage.blox.sqprod.co\",
                 \"publish_latest\": \"true\"
               }
-            }"
+            }")
+          BUILD_URL=$(echo "$RESPONSE" | jq -r '.web_url // empty')
+          echo "build-url=$BUILD_URL" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "::notice::Internal build started: $BUILD_URL"
+
+      - name: Warn on Buildkite trigger failure
+        if: steps.buildkite.outcome == 'failure'
+        run: |
+          echo "::warning::Failed to trigger internal Buildkite build. Trigger manually: https://buildkite.com/runway/sprout-releases"
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/sync-release-changelog.yml b/.github/workflows/sync-release-changelog.yml
index 188d2c04bc..913665ba5c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/sync-release-changelog.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/sync-release-changelog.yml
@@ -143,7 +143,16 @@ jobs:
 
           mv "$TMPFILE" CHANGELOG.md
 
-          # Skip commit if nothing changed.
+          # Always update PR body to reflect current commit list.
+          if [[ -n "$LAST_TAG" ]]; then
+            PR_HEADER="### Changes since ${LAST_TAG}:"$'\n\n'"${NEW_ENTRIES}"
+          else
+            PR_HEADER="Initial release."
+          fi
+          PR_BODY="## Release v${VERSION}"$'\n\n'"${PR_HEADER}"$'\n\n'"**To release:** merge this PR. The tag and build will happen automatically."
+          gh pr edit "$PR_NUMBER" --body "$PR_BODY"
+
+          # Only commit and push if the changelog file actually changed.
           if git diff --quiet CHANGELOG.md; then
             echo "Changelog already up to date — nothing to commit"
             exit 0
@@ -151,15 +160,6 @@ jobs:
 
           git add CHANGELOG.md
           git commit -m "chore(release): sync changelog for v${VERSION}"
+          git pull --rebase origin "version-bump/${VERSION}"
           git push origin "HEAD:refs/heads/version-bump/${VERSION}"
-
-          # Update the PR body with the refreshed commit list.
-          if [[ -n "$LAST_TAG" ]]; then
-            PR_HEADER="### Changes since ${LAST_TAG}:"$'\n\n'"${NEW_ENTRIES}"
-          else
-            PR_HEADER="Initial release."
-          fi
-          PR_BODY="## Release v${VERSION}"$'\n\n'"${PR_HEADER}"$'\n\n'"**To release:** merge this PR. The tag and build will happen automatically."
-
-          gh pr edit "$PR_NUMBER" --body "$PR_BODY"
-          echo "Changelog synced and PR #${PR_NUMBER} body updated"
+          echo "Changelog synced for v${VERSION}"