diff --git a/packages/server/src/server/resolve-worktree-creation-intent.test.ts b/packages/server/src/server/resolve-worktree-creation-intent.test.ts
index ff0c9ddb0b..8d44b9ba80 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/server/resolve-worktree-creation-intent.test.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/server/resolve-worktree-creation-intent.test.ts
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ describe("resolveWorktreeCreationIntent", () => {
       headRepositorySshUrl: null,
       headRepositoryUrl: null,
       isCrossRepository: false,
-      hasOriginHeadBranch: false,
+      headRefKind: "pull-ref",
     });
 
     const intent = await resolveWorktreeCreationIntent(
@@ -351,8 +351,7 @@ describe("resolveWorktreeCreationIntent", () => {
           headRepositorySshUrl: null,
           headRepositoryUrl: null,
           isCrossRepository: false,
-          hasOriginHeadBranch: false,
-          hasHeadBranch: false,
+          headRefKind: "pull-ref",
         }),
       },
     });
@@ -386,7 +385,7 @@ describe("resolveWorktreeCreationIntent", () => {
           headRepositorySshUrl: "git@gitea.test:contributor/repo.git",
           headRepositoryUrl: "https://gitea.test/contributor/repo",
           isCrossRepository: true,
-          hasHeadBranch: false,
+          headRefKind: "pull-ref",
         }),
       },
     });
@@ -419,7 +418,7 @@ describe("resolveWorktreeCreationIntent", () => {
           headRepositorySshUrl: null,
           headRepositoryUrl: null,
           isCrossRepository: true,
-          hasHeadBranch: false,
+          headRefKind: "pull-ref",
         }),
       },
     });
diff --git a/packages/server/src/server/resolve-worktree-creation-intent.ts b/packages/server/src/server/resolve-worktree-creation-intent.ts
index 15aba9479a..5eddc0ef7b 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/server/resolve-worktree-creation-intent.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/server/resolve-worktree-creation-intent.ts
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ async function resolvePrCheckoutIntent(
   const localBranchName = service.buildPrLocalBranchName?.({ headRef, checkoutTarget });
   const crossRepository = resolveCrossRepositoryFields(checkoutTarget);
   const trackOriginHead =
-    !checkoutTarget.isCrossRepository && checkoutTarget.hasOriginHeadBranch !== false;
+    !checkoutTarget.isCrossRepository && checkoutTarget.headRefKind !== "pull-ref";
 
   return {
     kind: "checkout-change-request",
diff --git a/packages/server/src/services/forge-service.ts b/packages/server/src/services/forge-service.ts
index be12acdef5..8499cc8756 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/services/forge-service.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/services/forge-service.ts
@@ -39,10 +39,8 @@ export interface PullRequestCheckoutTarget {
   headRepositorySshUrl: string | null;
   headRepositoryUrl: string | null;
   isCrossRepository: boolean;
-  /** false when origin has no head branch to track */
-  hasOriginHeadBranch?: boolean;
-  /** false when headRefName is a synthetic pull ref, not a real branch name (agit PRs, deleted branches) */
-  hasHeadBranch?: boolean;
+  /** "pull-ref" when headRefName is a synthetic pull ref, not a real branch name (agit PRs, deleted branches); undefined means "branch" */
+  headRefKind?: "branch" | "pull-ref";
 }
 
 export interface PullRequestCheckoutRef {
diff --git a/packages/server/src/services/gitea-service.test.ts b/packages/server/src/services/gitea-service.test.ts
index 94edc2f970..9e3a3ecc62 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/services/gitea-service.test.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/services/gitea-service.test.ts
@@ -2303,8 +2303,7 @@ describe("createGiteaService", () => {
       headRepositorySshUrl: null,
       headRepositoryUrl: null,
       isCrossRepository: false,
-      hasOriginHeadBranch: true,
-      hasHeadBranch: true,
+      headRefKind: "branch",
     });
   });
 
@@ -2341,8 +2340,7 @@ describe("createGiteaService", () => {
       headRepositorySshUrl: "git@gitea.com:contributor/sample-repo.git",
       headRepositoryUrl: "https://gitea.com/contributor/sample-repo",
       isCrossRepository: true,
-      hasOriginHeadBranch: false,
-      hasHeadBranch: true,
+      headRefKind: "branch",
     });
 
     expect(calls).toContainEqual(["api", "repos/example-user/sample-repo/pulls/5"]);
@@ -2369,8 +2367,7 @@ describe("createGiteaService", () => {
         { remoteName: "upstream", remoteRef: "refs/pull/5/head" },
       ],
       isCrossRepository: false,
-      hasOriginHeadBranch: false,
-      hasHeadBranch: false,
+      headRefKind: "pull-ref",
     });
   });
 
@@ -2418,8 +2415,7 @@ describe("createGiteaService", () => {
         { remoteName: "upstream", remoteRef: "refs/pull/5/head" },
       ],
       isCrossRepository: false,
-      hasOriginHeadBranch: false,
-      hasHeadBranch: false,
+      headRefKind: "pull-ref",
     });
   });
 
@@ -2439,8 +2435,7 @@ describe("createGiteaService", () => {
       ],
       headOwnerLogin: null,
       isCrossRepository: true,
-      hasOriginHeadBranch: false,
-      hasHeadBranch: true,
+      headRefKind: "branch",
     });
   });
 
@@ -2457,7 +2452,7 @@ describe("createGiteaService", () => {
       remoteName: "origin",
       remoteRef: "refs/heads/feat/sample-change",
     });
-    expect(target.hasOriginHeadBranch).toBe(true);
+    expect(target.headRefKind).toBe("branch");
   });
 
   it("prefixes the local branch name with the fork owner for a cross-repository checkout", () => {
@@ -2492,7 +2487,7 @@ describe("createGiteaService", () => {
         headRepositorySshUrl: null,
         headRepositoryUrl: null,
         isCrossRepository: false,
-        hasHeadBranch: false,
+        headRefKind: "pull-ref",
       },
     });
 
@@ -2512,7 +2507,7 @@ describe("createGiteaService", () => {
         headRepositorySshUrl: null,
         headRepositoryUrl: null,
         isCrossRepository: true,
-        hasHeadBranch: false,
+        headRefKind: "pull-ref",
       },
     });
 
@@ -2532,7 +2527,7 @@ describe("createGiteaService", () => {
         headRepositorySshUrl: null,
         headRepositoryUrl: null,
         isCrossRepository: true,
-        hasHeadBranch: false,
+        headRefKind: "pull-ref",
       },
     });
 
diff --git a/packages/server/src/services/gitea-service.ts b/packages/server/src/services/gitea-service.ts
index 80a9228ac4..892f9cc33a 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/services/gitea-service.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/services/gitea-service.ts
@@ -1445,19 +1445,30 @@ export function createGiteaService(options: CreateGiteaServiceOptions = {}): For
     return runJsonParse(args, runOptions, stdout, schema);
   }
 
+  function resolveHeadRefKind(
+    pr: z.infer<typeof GiteaPullRequestApiSchema>,
+    number: number,
+  ): "branch" | "pull-ref" {
+    // head.ref only becomes the branch name when the branch still exists,
+    // agit PRs and deleted branches keep the pull ref
+    const isPullRefOnly =
+      pr.flow === GITEA_PULL_REQUEST_FLOW_AGIT || pr.head?.ref === `refs/pull/${number}/head`;
+    return isPullRefOnly ? "pull-ref" : "branch";
+  }
+
   async function resolveForkCheckoutFacts(
     cwd: string,
     summary: PullRequestSummary,
   ): Promise<{
     isCrossRepository: boolean;
-    hasHeadBranch: boolean;
+    headRefKind: "branch" | "pull-ref";
     headOwnerLogin: string | null;
     headRepositorySshUrl: string | null;
     headRepositoryUrl: string | null;
   }> {
     const sameRepo = {
       isCrossRepository: false,
-      hasHeadBranch: true,
+      headRefKind: "branch" as const,
       headOwnerLogin: null,
       headRepositorySshUrl: null,
       headRepositoryUrl: null,
@@ -1476,18 +1487,14 @@ export function createGiteaService(options: CreateGiteaServiceOptions = {}): For
     );
     const headRepo = pr.head?.repo ?? null;
     const baseRepo = pr.base?.repo ?? null;
-    // head.ref only becomes the branch name when the branch still exists,
-    // agit PRs and deleted branches keep the pull ref
-    const hasHeadBranch =
-      pr.flow !== GITEA_PULL_REQUEST_FLOW_AGIT &&
-      pr.head?.ref !== `refs/pull/${summary.number}/head`;
+    const headRefKind = resolveHeadRefKind(pr, summary.number);
     if (baseRepo?.id == null || headRepo?.id === baseRepo.id) {
-      return { ...sameRepo, hasHeadBranch };
+      return { ...sameRepo, headRefKind };
     }
     // headRepo is null when the fork was deleted
     return {
       isCrossRepository: true,
-      hasHeadBranch,
+      headRefKind,
       headOwnerLogin: headRepo?.owner?.login ?? null,
       headRepositorySshUrl: headRepo?.ssh_url ?? null,
       headRepositoryUrl: headRepo?.html_url ?? null,
@@ -2033,7 +2040,7 @@ export function createGiteaService(options: CreateGiteaServiceOptions = {}): For
       const checkoutRefs = [originPullRef];
       // for a fork PR a branch with that name on origin belongs to the base repo
       const headBranchOnOrigin =
-        !fork.isCrossRepository && fork.hasHeadBranch && Boolean(summary.headRefName);
+        !fork.isCrossRepository && fork.headRefKind === "branch" && Boolean(summary.headRefName);
       if (headBranchOnOrigin) {
         checkoutRefs.push({ remoteName: "origin", remoteRef: `refs/heads/${summary.headRefName}` });
       }
@@ -2048,8 +2055,7 @@ export function createGiteaService(options: CreateGiteaServiceOptions = {}): For
         headRepositorySshUrl: fork.headRepositorySshUrl,
         headRepositoryUrl: fork.headRepositoryUrl,
         isCrossRepository: fork.isCrossRepository,
-        hasOriginHeadBranch: headBranchOnOrigin,
-        hasHeadBranch: fork.hasHeadBranch,
+        headRefKind: fork.headRefKind,
       };
     },
 
diff --git a/packages/server/src/services/github-service.test.ts b/packages/server/src/services/github-service.test.ts
index ab71115f36..3109bcc63c 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/services/github-service.test.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/services/github-service.test.ts
@@ -797,6 +797,7 @@ describe("ForgeService", () => {
       headRepositorySshUrl: "git@github.com:therainisme/paseo.git",
       headRepositoryUrl: "https://github.com/therainisme/paseo",
       isCrossRepository: true,
+      headRefKind: "branch",
     });
 
     expect(runner.calls).toHaveLength(2);
diff --git a/packages/server/src/services/github-service.ts b/packages/server/src/services/github-service.ts
index 0ea4a8bf14..2dd3fdc269 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/services/github-service.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/services/github-service.ts
@@ -3522,6 +3522,7 @@ function toPullRequestCheckoutTarget(
     headRepositorySshUrl: pullRequest.headRepository?.sshUrl || null,
     headRepositoryUrl: pullRequest.headRepository?.url || null,
     isCrossRepository: pullRequest.isCrossRepository,
+    headRefKind: "branch",
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/server/src/services/gitlab-service.test.ts b/packages/server/src/services/gitlab-service.test.ts
index 371198e447..b9b6d447d4 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/services/gitlab-service.test.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/services/gitlab-service.test.ts
@@ -477,6 +477,7 @@ describe("createGitLabService", () => {
       headRepositorySshUrl: null,
       headRepositoryUrl: null,
       isCrossRepository: false,
+      headRefKind: "branch",
     });
     expect(calls[0]).toEqual(["mr", "view", "14", "-F", "json"]);
   });
diff --git a/packages/server/src/services/gitlab-service.ts b/packages/server/src/services/gitlab-service.ts
index 1fff0e2a02..c5f54be2cb 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/services/gitlab-service.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/services/gitlab-service.ts
@@ -1204,6 +1204,7 @@ export function createGitLabService(options: CreateGitLabServiceOptions = {}): F
           mr.target_project_id !== undefined &&
           mr.target_project_id !== null &&
           mr.source_project_id !== mr.target_project_id,
+        headRefKind: "branch",
       };
     },
 
diff --git a/packages/server/src/utils/change-request-checkout.test.ts b/packages/server/src/utils/change-request-checkout.test.ts
index dbd9f55a0d..74a57c2445 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/utils/change-request-checkout.test.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/utils/change-request-checkout.test.ts
@@ -70,20 +70,20 @@ describe("buildForkLocalBranchName", () => {
         ...fork,
         isCrossRepository: false,
         headOwnerLogin: "arthur",
-        hasHeadBranch: false,
+        headRefKind: "pull-ref",
       }),
     ).toBe("pr-42");
   });
 
   it("prefixes pr-<number> with the owner for a fork pull-ref-only head", () => {
     expect(
-      buildForkLocalBranchName({ ...fork, headOwnerLogin: "Arthur", hasHeadBranch: false }),
+      buildForkLocalBranchName({ ...fork, headOwnerLogin: "Arthur", headRefKind: "pull-ref" }),
     ).toBe("arthur/pr-42");
   });
 
   it("does not double the pr number when the fork owner is unknown and there is no head branch", () => {
-    expect(buildForkLocalBranchName({ ...fork, headOwnerLogin: null, hasHeadBranch: false })).toBe(
-      "pr-42",
-    );
+    expect(
+      buildForkLocalBranchName({ ...fork, headOwnerLogin: null, headRefKind: "pull-ref" }),
+    ).toBe("pr-42");
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/server/src/utils/change-request-checkout.ts b/packages/server/src/utils/change-request-checkout.ts
index 7fc6e2190b..12c779571b 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/utils/change-request-checkout.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/utils/change-request-checkout.ts
@@ -26,15 +26,15 @@ export interface ForkLocalBranchNameInput {
   number: number;
   isCrossRepository: boolean;
   headOwnerLogin: string | null;
-  /** false when headRef is a synthetic pull ref, not a real branch name (agit PRs, deleted branches) */
-  hasHeadBranch?: boolean;
+  /** "pull-ref" when headRef is a synthetic pull ref, not a real branch name (agit PRs, deleted branches); undefined means "branch" */
+  headRefKind?: "branch" | "pull-ref";
 }
 
 export function buildForkLocalBranchName(params: ForkLocalBranchNameInput): string {
   const pullRefFallback = `pr-${params.number}`;
   // headRef is the literal pull ref (e.g. refs/pull/42/head) when there is no
   // real branch to name after, so use the pr number instead
-  const headSegment = params.hasHeadBranch === false ? pullRefFallback : params.headRef;
+  const headSegment = params.headRefKind === "pull-ref" ? pullRefFallback : params.headRef;
   if (!params.isCrossRepository) {
     return headSegment;
   }