diff --git a/.claude/skills/recipe-upgrade/SKILL.md b/.claude/skills/recipe-upgrade/SKILL.md
index 778a214..d4aced1 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/recipe-upgrade/SKILL.md
+++ b/.claude/skills/recipe-upgrade/SKILL.md
@@ -76,9 +76,10 @@ ssh cc-ci "GITEA_USERNAME='$GITEA_USERNAME' GITEA_PASSWORD='$GITEA_PASSWORD' GIT
    < /srv/cc-ci/.claude/skills/recipe-upgrade/open-recipe-pr.sh
 ```
 This (a) re-syncs mirror `main` to true upstream main, (b) **closes any open PR already merged
-upstream**, (c) **closes any other still-open PR for this recipe as superseded**, then pushes the
-upgrade branch and opens the new PR **in its place** (so the diff is exactly this upgrade, against the
-real current upstream main). Capture the `PR_URL`. Optionally export `RECIPE_PR_BODY` first (image-tag
+upstream** (merging it would be a no-op), then pushes the upgrade branch and opens the new PR
+**alongside** any other still-open PRs — it does **NOT** close superseded/unrelated open PRs; the
+operator decides which to merge/close. The new PR's diff is still exactly this upgrade against the
+real current upstream main. Capture the `PR_URL`. Optionally export `RECIPE_PR_BODY` first (image-tag
 table + the planned operator-action notes). Re-running with the same target version updates the
 existing same-branch PR rather than duplicating it.
 
@@ -150,8 +151,8 @@ Always state explicitly that **nothing was merged** — the PR(s) await operator
   explanatory PR **comment**, never a test edit. Only `--with-tests` opens a cc-ci test PR. The weekly
   `/upgrade-all` cron always runs the **default** — it never auto-updates tests.
 - **Mirror reflects reality.** Each run force-syncs the `recipe-maintainers/<recipe>` mirror `main` to
-  true upstream main, closes open PRs already merged upstream, and replaces any superseded open PR with
-  the new one — so an open mirror PR always means "genuinely still open against current upstream main".
+  true upstream main and closes open PRs already merged upstream. It does NOT close superseded/unrelated
+  open PRs — a new upgrade PR is opened alongside them and the operator decides which to merge/close.
 - **Prefer a recipe-only PR.** Only open a cc-ci test PR (under `--with-tests`) when the upgrade is
   correct but a test is genuinely stale — never to paper over a real upgrade regression.
 - **Never weaken a test**; **bounded** changes (the upgrade + minimal test update, not rewrites).
diff --git a/.claude/skills/recipe-upgrade/open-recipe-pr.sh b/.claude/skills/recipe-upgrade/open-recipe-pr.sh
index c9ff199..7e637f0 100755
--- a/.claude/skills/recipe-upgrade/open-recipe-pr.sh
+++ b/.claude/skills/recipe-upgrade/open-recipe-pr.sh
@@ -19,8 +19,10 @@
 #     never reflected it.
 #
 # Default mode (open a PR — preconditions: HEAD has the upgrade commit(s)):
-#   - Additionally closes any OTHER still-open PR for this recipe (superseded),
-#     then pushes the upgrade branch and opens the new PR IN ITS PLACE.
+#   - Pushes the upgrade branch and opens the new PR ALONGSIDE any other still-open
+#     PRs for this recipe. It does NOT close superseded/unrelated open PRs — stacking
+#     a fresh PR on top of the open ones is intentional; the operator decides which to
+#     merge/close. (Only PRs already merged into upstream main are closed — see above.)
 #
 # --reconcile-only: just sync main + close merged-upstream PRs; no push, no new
 #   PR (used when a recipe is up to date but its mirror may be stale).
@@ -120,10 +122,10 @@ while IFS=$'\t' read -r IDX HEAD_REF; do
   fi
   if [ "${merged}" = "1" ]; then
     close_pr "${IDX}" "its changes are already in upstream main (merged upstream); mirror main re-synced"
-  elif [ -n "${BRANCH}" ]; then
-    close_pr "${IDX}" "superseded by ${BRANCH} (fresh upgrade against current upstream main)"
   else
-    echo "  • PR #${IDX} (${HEAD_REF}) still open vs upstream main — left as-is (reconcile-only)"
+    # Do NOT auto-close superseded/unrelated open PRs. Open the new PR alongside them and
+    # let the operator decide which to merge/close. Only merged-upstream PRs are closed above.
+    echo "  • PR #${IDX} (${HEAD_REF}) still open vs upstream main — leaving open (operator decides)"
   fi
 done < <(echo "${OPEN_PRS}" | jq -r '.[] | [(.number | tostring), .head.ref] | @tsv' 2>/dev/null || true)