diff --git a/.github/actions/bot-autoassign/stale_pr_bot.py b/.github/actions/bot-autoassign/stale_pr_bot.py
index 98e3ee1a..9404909c 100644
--- a/.github/actions/bot-autoassign/stale_pr_bot.py
+++ b/.github/actions/bot-autoassign/stale_pr_bot.py
@@ -209,6 +209,12 @@ def unassign_linked_issues(self, pr):
             return 0
 
     def close_stale_pr(self, pr, days_inactive):
+        # TEMPORARY: auto-close disabled. The stale-detection heuristic
+        # has been closing PRs that are merely blocked by bot reviews
+        # (or by reviews the same reviewer later approved). The proper
+        # fix lives in PR #668; until it lands, no PR is auto-closed.
+        print(f"Auto-close currently disabled, skipping PR #{pr.number}")
+        return False
         if pr.state == "closed":
             print(f"PR #{pr.number} is already closed, skipping")
             return True
diff --git a/.github/actions/bot-autoassign/tests/test_stale_pr_bot.py b/.github/actions/bot-autoassign/tests/test_stale_pr_bot.py
index 32c5ffbb..78307452 100644
--- a/.github/actions/bot-autoassign/tests/test_stale_pr_bot.py
+++ b/.github/actions/bot-autoassign/tests/test_stale_pr_bot.py
@@ -329,6 +329,7 @@ def test_success(self, bot_env):
         mock_issue.remove_from_assignees.assert_called_once_with("testuser")
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skip(reason="Auto-close temporarily disabled; see close_stale_pr stub.")
 class TestCloseStalePR:
     def test_success(self, bot_env):
         bot = StalePRBot()