diff --git a/lib/modules/platform/github/index.spec.ts b/lib/modules/platform/github/index.spec.ts
index da1f9e060bd2c581102d5ee258e843547650a540..12967fcd9f07295f38f0503e6f1d523c7b9fb919 100644
--- a/lib/modules/platform/github/index.spec.ts
+++ b/lib/modules/platform/github/index.spec.ts
@@ -2856,8 +2856,7 @@ describe('modules/platform/github/index', () => {
       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.',
+        message: 'Waiting on code owner review from org/team.',
       });
       await github.initRepo({ repository: 'some/repo' });
       const pr = {
diff --git a/lib/modules/platform/github/index.ts b/lib/modules/platform/github/index.ts
index f97787372c674bcb65ea1a4ab97a27a9c2fdef2b..212666485210ee1a1464692f4e7975f6752a1aa8 100644
--- a/lib/modules/platform/github/index.ts
+++ b/lib/modules/platform/github/index.ts
@@ -1652,7 +1652,8 @@ export async function mergePr({
         }
         if (
           is.nonEmptyString(body?.message) &&
-          body.message.includes('approving review')
+          (body.message.includes('approving review') ||
+            body.message.includes('code owner review'))
         ) {
           logger.debug(
             { response: body },