diff --git a/.github/workflows/dependabot-auto-merge.yml b/.github/workflows/dependabot-auto-merge.yml
index 163ebbf..b536776 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dependabot-auto-merge.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dependabot-auto-merge.yml
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 name: Dependabot auto-merge
 
-# Queues auto-merge on Dependabot PRs. It approves nothing: the PR still needs
-# a maintainer approval of the current head and every required check, and
-# GitHub merges it only once both are satisfied.
+# Queues auto-merge on classified minor/patch Dependabot PRs; approves nothing.
+# A maintainer must still approve the current head and every required check must
+# pass. GitHub merges only once the existing branch requirements are satisfied.
 on:
   pull_request:
-    types: [opened, reopened]
+    types: [opened, reopened, synchronize]
     branches: [main]
 
 permissions:
@@ -19,8 +19,25 @@ jobs:
       contents: write
       pull-requests: write
     steps:
+      - name: Read verified Dependabot metadata
+        id: metadata
+        uses: dependabot/fetch-metadata@25dd0e34f4fe68f24cc83900b1fe3fe149efef98 # v3.1.0
+        with:
+          github-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
       - name: Enable auto-merge
-        run: gh pr merge --auto --squash "$PR_URL"
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          # Check every dependency in a group; unknown types stay manual too.
+          if ! jq -e 'type == "array" and length > 0 and all(.[];
+            .updateType == "version-update:semver-minor" or
+            .updateType == "version-update:semver-patch")' \
+            <<< "$UPDATED_DEPENDENCIES" > /dev/null; then
+            echo "Leaving major or unclassified updates for manual handling."
+            exit 0
+          fi
+          gh pr merge --auto --squash --match-head-commit "$PR_HEAD_SHA" "$PR_URL"
         env:
+          UPDATED_DEPENDENCIES: ${{ steps.metadata.outputs.updated-dependencies-json }}
+          PR_HEAD_SHA: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}
           PR_URL: ${{ github.event.pull_request.html_url }}
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/tests/test_dependabot_auto_merge.py b/tests/test_dependabot_auto_merge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5dfc74c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_dependabot_auto_merge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+"""Exercise the real auto-merge shell without contacting GitHub."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+import os
+import re
+import subprocess
+import sys
+import tempfile
+import textwrap
+import unittest
+from pathlib import Path
+
+WORKFLOW = (
+    Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1] / ".github/workflows/dependabot-auto-merge.yml"
+)
+
+
+class DependabotAutoMergeTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    @unittest.skipUnless(
+        sys.platform == "linux", "Matches the workflow's Ubuntu runner"
+    )
+    def test_metadata_eligibility(self):
+        patch = {"updateType": "version-update:semver-patch"}
+        minor = {"updateType": "version-update:semver-minor"}
+        major = {"updateType": "version-update:semver-major"}
+        cases = [
+            ([patch], True),
+            ([minor], True),
+            ([major], False),
+            ([minor, patch], True),
+            ([patch, major], False),
+            ([patch, {}], False),
+            ([{"updateType": None}], False),
+            ([{"updateType": "unknown"}], False),
+            ([patch, "unknown"], False),
+            ([], False),
+            (patch, False),
+            (None, False),
+            ("not metadata", False),
+        ]
+        for metadata, allowed in cases:
+            with self.subTest(metadata=metadata, allowed=allowed):
+                self._run_gate(json.dumps(metadata), allowed)
+
+    @unittest.skipUnless(
+        sys.platform == "linux", "Matches the workflow's Ubuntu runner"
+    )
+    def test_malformed_metadata_never_queues(self):
+        self._run_gate("{invalid", False)
+
+    def _run_gate(self, metadata, allowed):
+        # Keep this tooling dependency-free, as the existing workflow guards are.
+        block = re.search(
+            r"^        run: \|\n((?:          [^\n]*\n)+)",
+            WORKFLOW.read_text(),
+            re.MULTILINE,
+        )
+        self.assertIsNotNone(block, "auto-merge must retain its literal Bash block")
+        script = textwrap.dedent(block[1])
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as directory:
+            root = Path(directory)
+            output = root / "gh-args"
+            gh = root / "gh"
+            gh.write_text('#!/bin/sh\nprintf "%s\\n" "$@" > "$AUDIT_GH_ARGS"\n')
+            gh.chmod(0o755)
+            head = "a" * 40
+            url = "https://github.com/example/repo/pull/1"
+            env = {
+                **os.environ,
+                "PATH": str(root) + os.pathsep + os.environ["PATH"],
+                "AUDIT_GH_ARGS": str(output),
+                "UPDATED_DEPENDENCIES": metadata,
+                "PR_HEAD_SHA": head,
+                "PR_URL": url,
+                "GH_TOKEN": "unused-local-test-token",
+            }
+            subprocess.run(
+                ["bash", "--noprofile", "--norc", "-e", "-o", "pipefail", "-c", script],
+                env=env,
+                check=True,
+                capture_output=True,
+                text=True,
+                timeout=10,
+            )
+            self.assertEqual(output.exists(), allowed)
+            if allowed:
+                self.assertEqual(
+                    output.read_text().splitlines(),
+                    [
+                        "pr",
+                        "merge",
+                        "--auto",
+                        "--squash",
+                        "--match-head-commit",
+                        head,
+                        url,
+                    ],
+                )
+
+    def test_workflow_keeps_event_and_permission_boundaries(self):
+        source = WORKFLOW.read_text()
+        self.assertRegex(
+            source,
+            r"(?m)^on:\n  pull_request:\n    types: \[opened, reopened, synchronize\]\n"
+            r"    branches: \[main\]\n\npermissions:",
+        )
+        for required in (
+            "user.login == 'dependabot[bot]'",
+            "head.repo.full_name == github.repository",
+            "permissions:\n  contents: read\n",
+            "    permissions:\n      contents: write\n      pull-requests: write\n",
+            "UPDATED_DEPENDENCIES: ${{ steps.metadata.outputs.updated-dependencies-json }}",
+            "PR_HEAD_SHA: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}",
+            "PR_URL: ${{ github.event.pull_request.html_url }}",
+            "GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}",
+        ):
+            with self.subTest(required=required):
+                self.assertIn(required, source)
+        self.assertRegex(source, r"uses: dependabot/fetch-metadata@[0-9a-f]{40} #")
+        for forbidden in ("skip-verification", "skip-commit-verification", "checkout@"):
+            with self.subTest(forbidden=forbidden):
+                self.assertNotIn(forbidden, source)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()