diff --git a/dev/dev-poll.sh b/dev/dev-poll.sh
index f561209..f3191c5 100755
--- a/dev/dev-poll.sh
+++ b/dev/dev-poll.sh
@@ -355,8 +355,8 @@ if [ "$ORPHAN_COUNT" -gt 0 ]; then
       # Reset to fresh start on primary branch
       git -C "${PROJECT_REPO_ROOT:-}" checkout "${PRIMARY_BRANCH}" 2>/dev/null || true
       git -C "${PROJECT_REPO_ROOT:-}" pull --ff-only origin "${PRIMARY_BRANCH}" 2>/dev/null || true
-      # Continue to next orphan (don't spawn agent for stale PR)
-      continue
+      # Exit to restart poll cycle (issue will be picked up fresh)
+      exit 0
     fi
 
     PR_SHA=$(curl -sf -H "Authorization: token ${FORGE_TOKEN}" \