diff --git a/.github/workflows/sync_docs_cleanup.yml b/.github/workflows/sync_docs_cleanup.yml
index 9813fab3..c83e89a1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/sync_docs_cleanup.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/sync_docs_cleanup.yml
@@ -74,11 +74,12 @@ jobs:
 
           echo "Found open sync PR #${SYNC_PR_NUMBER}"
 
-          # Comment and close sync PR
+          # Handle sync PR based on original PR status
           if [ "$PR_MERGED" = "true" ]; then
-            gh pr close ${SYNC_PR_NUMBER} --comment "✅ Original PR #${PR_NUMBER} was merged. You can still merge this sync PR independently if translations are ready."
+            # Original PR was merged - leave sync PR open for independent merging
+            echo "ℹ️ Original PR #${PR_NUMBER} was merged. Leaving sync PR #${SYNC_PR_NUMBER} open for independent review."
           else
-            gh pr close ${SYNC_PR_NUMBER} --comment "❌ Original PR #${PR_NUMBER} was closed. If it reopens, sync will resume automatically."
+            # Original PR was closed without merging - close sync PR
+            gh pr close ${SYNC_PR_NUMBER} --comment "❌ Original PR #${PR_NUMBER} was closed without merging. Closing this sync PR. If the original PR reopens, sync will resume automatically."
+            echo "✅ Closed sync PR #${SYNC_PR_NUMBER}"
           fi
-
-          echo "✅ Closed sync PR #${SYNC_PR_NUMBER}"