diff --git a/.github/workflows/sweep.yml b/.github/workflows/sweep.yml
index 0554e21bf7..1da62c7740 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/sweep.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/sweep.yml
@@ -3968,6 +3968,7 @@ jobs:
       issues: read
       pull-requests: read
     env:
+      CLAWSWEEPER_STATE_LEASE_ACQUIRE_TIMEOUT_MS: "900000"
       CLAWSWEEPER_UNCONFIRMED_PRODUCT_DIRECTION_CLOSE_ENABLED: ${{ vars.CLAWSWEEPER_UNCONFIRMED_PRODUCT_DIRECTION_CLOSE_ENABLED || 'false' }}
       CLAWSWEEPER_UNSPONSORED_FEATURE_CLOSE_ENABLED: ${{ vars.CLAWSWEEPER_UNSPONSORED_FEATURE_CLOSE_ENABLED || 'false' }}
       CLAWSWEEPER_IDEA_REVIVAL_REACTIONS: ${{ vars.CLAWSWEEPER_IDEA_REVIVAL_REACTIONS || '5' }}
@@ -4183,6 +4184,8 @@ jobs:
 
   publish-apply-proof-action-ledger:
     name: Publish immutable apply proof action ledger
+    env:
+      CLAWSWEEPER_STATE_LEASE_ACQUIRE_TIMEOUT_MS: "900000"
     needs: apply-proof
     if: ${{ always() && needs.apply-proof.result != 'skipped' }}
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -4263,6 +4266,7 @@ jobs:
       cancel-in-progress: false
       queue: max
     env:
+      CLAWSWEEPER_STATE_LEASE_ACQUIRE_TIMEOUT_MS: "900000"
       CLAWSWEEPER_UNCONFIRMED_PRODUCT_DIRECTION_CLOSE_ENABLED: ${{ vars.CLAWSWEEPER_UNCONFIRMED_PRODUCT_DIRECTION_CLOSE_ENABLED || 'false' }}
       CLAWSWEEPER_UNSPONSORED_FEATURE_CLOSE_ENABLED: ${{ vars.CLAWSWEEPER_UNSPONSORED_FEATURE_CLOSE_ENABLED || 'false' }}
       CLAWSWEEPER_IDEA_REVIVAL_REACTIONS: ${{ vars.CLAWSWEEPER_IDEA_REVIVAL_REACTIONS || '5' }}
diff --git a/src/repair/git-publish.ts b/src/repair/git-publish.ts
index 5b3bc917d4..78bc1c6aff 100644
--- a/src/repair/git-publish.ts
+++ b/src/repair/git-publish.ts
@@ -85,7 +85,17 @@ const RECOVERY_FETCH_TIMEOUT_MS = 300_000;
 const STATE_PUBLISH_LEASE_REF_ROOT = "refs/heads/clawsweeper-publish-lease";
 const STATE_PUBLISH_LEASE_TTL_MS = 2 * 60_000;
 const STATE_PUBLISH_LEASE_RENEW_THRESHOLD_MS = PUBLISH_FETCH_TIMEOUT_MS;
-const STATE_PUBLISH_LEASE_ACQUIRE_TIMEOUT_MS = 3 * 60_000;
+const STATE_PUBLISH_LEASE_ACQUIRE_TIMEOUT_MS = (() => {
+  const fallback = 3 * 60_000;
+  // Rare, high-value publishers (the apply lane) starve behind the review
+  // herd inside the default window; their workflows may raise the budget so
+  // one apply publish out-waits contention instead of failing the run.
+  const configured = Number(process.env.CLAWSWEEPER_STATE_LEASE_ACQUIRE_TIMEOUT_MS);
+  if (Number.isInteger(configured) && configured > fallback) {
+    return Math.min(configured, 30 * 60_000);
+  }
+  return fallback;
+})();
 const STATE_PUBLISH_LEASE_WAIT_MS = 1_000;
 const STATE_PUBLISH_LEASE_MAX_WAIT_MS = 5_000;
 const SKIP_CI_DIRECTIVE_PATTERN =