diff --git a/lib/modules/platform/github/index.spec.ts b/lib/modules/platform/github/index.spec.ts
index b787c71f2e..51b25a6d95 100644
--- a/lib/modules/platform/github/index.spec.ts
+++ b/lib/modules/platform/github/index.spec.ts
@@ -2839,6 +2839,28 @@ describe('modules/platform/github/index', () => {
         })
       ).toBeFalse();
     });
+
+    it('should handle approvers required', async () => {
+      const scope = httpMock.scope(githubApiHost);
+      initRepoMock(scope, 'some/repo');
+      scope.put('/repos/some/repo/pulls/1234/merge').reply(405, {
+        message:
+          'At least 1 approving review is required by reviewers with write access.',
+      });
+      await github.initRepo({ repository: 'some/repo' });
+      const pr = {
+        number: 1234,
+        head: {
+          ref: 'someref',
+        },
+      };
+      expect(
+        await github.mergePr({
+          branchName: '',
+          id: pr.number,
+        })
+      ).toBeFalse();
+    });
   });
 
   describe('massageMarkdown(input)', () => {
diff --git a/lib/modules/platform/github/index.ts b/lib/modules/platform/github/index.ts
index 87a6f619f5..8f5bdab301 100644
--- a/lib/modules/platform/github/index.ts
+++ b/lib/modules/platform/github/index.ts
@@ -593,15 +593,6 @@ export async function getRepoForceRebase(): Promise<boolean> {
       config.repoForceRebase = false;
       const branchProtection = await getBranchProtection(config.defaultBranch);
       logger.debug('Found branch protection');
-      if (
-        branchProtection.required_pull_request_reviews
-          ?.required_approving_review_count > 0
-      ) {
-        logger.debug(
-          'Branch protection: PR Reviews are required before merging'
-        );
-        config.prReviewsRequired = true;
-      }
       if (branchProtection.required_status_checks) {
         if (branchProtection.required_status_checks.strict) {
           logger.debug(
@@ -1606,28 +1597,6 @@ export async function mergePr({
   id: prNo,
 }: MergePRConfig): Promise<boolean> {
   logger.debug(`mergePr(${prNo}, ${branchName})`);
-  // istanbul ignore if
-  if (config.prReviewsRequired) {
-    logger.debug(
-      { branch: branchName, prNo },
-      'Branch protection: Attempting to merge PR when PR reviews are enabled'
-    );
-    const repository = config.parentRepo ?? config.repository;
-    const reviews = await githubApi.getJson<{ state: string }[]>(
-      `repos/${repository}/pulls/${prNo}/reviews`
-    );
-    const isApproved = reviews.body.some(
-      (review) => review.state === 'APPROVED'
-    );
-    if (!isApproved) {
-      logger.debug(
-        { branch: branchName, prNo },
-        'Branch protection: Cannot automerge PR until there is an approving review'
-      );
-      return false;
-    }
-    logger.debug('Found approving reviews');
-  }
   const url = `repos/${
     config.parentRepo ?? config.repository
   }/pulls/${prNo}/merge`;
@@ -1660,6 +1629,16 @@ export async function mergePr({
           );
           return false;
         }
+        if (
+          is.nonEmptyString(body?.message) &&
+          body.message.includes('approving review')
+        ) {
+          logger.debug(
+            { response: body },
+            `GitHub blocking PR merge -- Needs approving review(s)`
+          );
+          return false;
+        }
         logger.debug(
           { response: body },
           'GitHub blocking PR merge -- will keep trying'