diff --git a/codev-skeleton/protocols/air/protocol.json b/codev-skeleton/protocols/air/protocol.json
index 8d0321a90..b634eae26 100644
--- a/codev-skeleton/protocols/air/protocol.json
+++ b/codev-skeleton/protocols/air/protocol.json
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
       },
       "checks": {
         "pr_exists": {
-          "command": "gh pr list --head \"$(git branch --show-current)\" --json number --jq 'length' | grep -q '^[1-9]'",
+          "command": "gh pr list --state all --head \"$(git branch --show-current)\" --json number --jq 'length' | grep -q '^[1-9]'",
           "description": "PR must be created before signaling completion"
         },
         "e2e_tests": {
diff --git a/codev-skeleton/protocols/aspir/protocol.json b/codev-skeleton/protocols/aspir/protocol.json
index 3c7dbc556..713fec3ec 100644
--- a/codev-skeleton/protocols/aspir/protocol.json
+++ b/codev-skeleton/protocols/aspir/protocol.json
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@
       },
       "checks": {
         "pr_exists": {
-          "command": "gh pr list --head \"$(git branch --show-current)\" --json number --jq 'length' | grep -q '^[1-9]'",
+          "command": "gh pr list --state all --head \"$(git branch --show-current)\" --json number --jq 'length' | grep -q '^[1-9]'",
           "description": "PR must be created before signaling completion"
         },
         "review_has_arch_updates": {
diff --git a/codev-skeleton/protocols/spir/protocol.json b/codev-skeleton/protocols/spir/protocol.json
index b046252bb..ca5820fba 100644
--- a/codev-skeleton/protocols/spir/protocol.json
+++ b/codev-skeleton/protocols/spir/protocol.json
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@
       },
       "checks": {
         "pr_exists": {
-          "command": "gh pr list --head \"$(git branch --show-current)\" --json number --jq 'length' | grep -q '^[1-9]'",
+          "command": "gh pr list --state all --head \"$(git branch --show-current)\" --json number --jq 'length' | grep -q '^[1-9]'",
           "description": "PR must be created before signaling completion"
         },
         "review_has_arch_updates": {
diff --git a/codev/protocols/air/protocol.json b/codev/protocols/air/protocol.json
index ba9d62877..7fea5bec9 100644
--- a/codev/protocols/air/protocol.json
+++ b/codev/protocols/air/protocol.json
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
       },
       "checks": {
         "pr_exists": {
-          "command": "gh pr list --head \"$(git branch --show-current)\" --json number --jq 'length' | grep -q '^[1-9]'",
+          "command": "gh pr list --state all --head \"$(git branch --show-current)\" --json number --jq 'length' | grep -q '^[1-9]'",
           "description": "PR must be created before signaling completion"
         },
         "e2e_tests": {
diff --git a/codev/protocols/aspir/protocol.json b/codev/protocols/aspir/protocol.json
index 3c7dbc556..713fec3ec 100644
--- a/codev/protocols/aspir/protocol.json
+++ b/codev/protocols/aspir/protocol.json
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@
       },
       "checks": {
         "pr_exists": {
-          "command": "gh pr list --head \"$(git branch --show-current)\" --json number --jq 'length' | grep -q '^[1-9]'",
+          "command": "gh pr list --state all --head \"$(git branch --show-current)\" --json number --jq 'length' | grep -q '^[1-9]'",
           "description": "PR must be created before signaling completion"
         },
         "review_has_arch_updates": {
diff --git a/codev/protocols/spir/protocol.json b/codev/protocols/spir/protocol.json
index b046252bb..ca5820fba 100644
--- a/codev/protocols/spir/protocol.json
+++ b/codev/protocols/spir/protocol.json
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@
       },
       "checks": {
         "pr_exists": {
-          "command": "gh pr list --head \"$(git branch --show-current)\" --json number --jq 'length' | grep -q '^[1-9]'",
+          "command": "gh pr list --state all --head \"$(git branch --show-current)\" --json number --jq 'length' | grep -q '^[1-9]'",
           "description": "PR must be created before signaling completion"
         },
         "review_has_arch_updates": {
diff --git a/packages/codev/src/commands/porch/__tests__/bugfix-568-pr-exists-state-all.test.ts b/packages/codev/src/commands/porch/__tests__/bugfix-568-pr-exists-state-all.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..37c787824
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/codev/src/commands/porch/__tests__/bugfix-568-pr-exists-state-all.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+/**
+ * Regression test for bugfix #568: pr_exists check must use --state all
+ *
+ * Without --state all, gh pr list defaults to --state open, which causes
+ * the pr_exists check to fail when a PR has already been merged before
+ * the porch gate is approved.
+ */
+
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+import * as fs from 'node:fs';
+import * as path from 'node:path';
+
+const ROOT = path.resolve(__dirname, '../../../../../..');
+
+describe('bugfix #568: pr_exists check uses --state all', () => {
+  const protocolDirs = ['codev-skeleton/protocols', 'codev/protocols'];
+
+  for (const protocolDir of protocolDirs) {
+    const fullDir = path.join(ROOT, protocolDir);
+    if (!fs.existsSync(fullDir)) continue;
+
+    const protocols = fs.readdirSync(fullDir).filter((name) => {
+      const jsonPath = path.join(fullDir, name, 'protocol.json');
+      return fs.existsSync(jsonPath);
+    });
+
+    for (const proto of protocols) {
+      const jsonPath = path.join(fullDir, proto, 'protocol.json');
+      const raw = fs.readFileSync(jsonPath, 'utf-8');
+      const parsed = JSON.parse(raw);
+
+      // Find all pr_exists checks across phases
+      const phases: Array<{ id: string; checks?: Record<string, unknown> }> =
+        parsed.phases ?? [];
+
+      for (const phase of phases) {
+        if (!phase.checks) continue;
+        const prCheck = phase.checks['pr_exists'] as
+          | { command?: string }
+          | undefined;
+        if (!prCheck?.command) continue;
+
+        it(`${protocolDir}/${proto} phase "${phase.id}" pr_exists includes --state all`, () => {
+          expect(prCheck.command).toContain('--state all');
+        });
+      }
+    }
+  }
+});