diff --git a/.github/workflows/create-hotfix-pr.yml b/.github/workflows/create-hotfix-pr.yml
index 06d261ffb..2db8c1e7f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/create-hotfix-pr.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/create-hotfix-pr.yml
@@ -138,7 +138,18 @@ jobs:
 
             # Attempt cherry-pick
             if ! git cherry-pick ${{ steps.get_commit.outputs.sha }} --empty=keep; then
-              echo "Cherry-pick encountered conflicts for $base_branch, attempting to resolve..."
+              echo "Cherry-pick failed for $base_branch, checking for merge conflicts..."
+              CONFLICT_FILES=$(git diff --name-only --diff-filter=U)
+
+              if [[ -z "$CONFLICT_FILES" ]]; then
+                echo "::error::Cherry-pick failed for $base_branch without merge conflicts."
+                git status --short
+                exit 1
+              fi
+
+              echo "Cherry-pick encountered conflicts for $base_branch:"
+              echo "$CONFLICT_FILES"
+              had_conflicts="true"
               git add -A
               # Check if there are actual changes staged after conflict resolution attempt
               if git diff --cached --quiet; then
@@ -147,15 +158,7 @@ jobs:
                   continue # Skip PR creation if no changes after resolution
               fi
               git cherry-pick --continue
-
-              if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
-                echo "Successfully resolved conflicts for $base_branch"
-                had_conflicts="true"
-              else
-                echo "Failed to resolve conflicts for $base_branch"
-                git cherry-pick --abort
-                continue
-              fi
+              echo "Continuing with conflict hotfix PR for $base_branch"
             else
               echo "Cherry-pick successful for $base_branch"
             fi
@@ -250,14 +253,19 @@ jobs:
             if git push origin "$new_branch"; then
               echo "Successfully pushed branch $new_branch"
 
-              PR_BODY="Hotfix of PR #${PR_NUMBER} (${PR_URL}) to the \`${base_branch}\` branch.
-              Hey @${PR_AUTHOR}, please review this hotfix PR created from your original PR."
+              PR_BODY=$(printf '%s\n' \
+                "Hotfix of PR #${PR_NUMBER} (${PR_URL}) to the \`${base_branch}\` branch." \
+                "Hey @${PR_AUTHOR}, please review this hotfix PR created from your original PR.")
 
               # Add conflict warning if needed
               if [[ "$had_conflicts" == "true" ]]; then
-                PR_BODY="${PR_BODY}
-
-          ### ⚠️ **Note:** This PR had conflicts with the base branch and was resolved automatically. Please review the changes carefully."
+                PR_BODY=$(printf '%s\n\n%s\n\n%s\n%s\n\n%s\n```\n%s\n```' \
+                  "$PR_BODY" \
+                  "### Manual conflict resolution required" \
+                  "This hotfix PR contains cherry-pick conflicts against \`${base_branch}\`." \
+                  "Resolve the conflict markers in this branch and push a follow-up commit before merging." \
+                  "**Conflicted files:**" \
+                  "$CONFLICT_FILES")
               fi
 
               # Create PR using gh cli
diff --git a/.github/workflows/hotfix-tracking-guard.yml b/.github/workflows/hotfix-tracking-guard.yml
index 5fbb8508c..a5c388727 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/hotfix-tracking-guard.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/hotfix-tracking-guard.yml
@@ -19,16 +19,15 @@ jobs:
     permissions:
       pull-requests: read
     steps:
-      - name: Fail on auto-hotfix placeholder files
+      - name: Skip non-auto-hotfix PRs
+        if: ${{ !contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'auto-hotfix') }}
+        run: echo "PR does not have auto-hotfix label. Passing."
+
+      - name: Fail on placeholder files and unresolved conflict markers
+        if: contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'auto-hotfix')
         uses: actions/github-script@v7
         with:
           script: |
-            const labels = (context.payload.pull_request.labels || []).map((label) => label.name);
-            if (!labels.includes("auto-hotfix")) {
-              core.info("PR does not have auto-hotfix label. Passing.");
-              return;
-            }
-
             const files = await github.paginate(github.rest.pulls.listFiles, {
               owner: context.repo.owner,
               repo: context.repo.repo,
@@ -36,16 +35,49 @@ jobs:
               per_page: 100,
             });
 
-            const placeholderFiles = files
-              .map((file) => file.filename)
+            const fileNames = files.map((file) => file.filename);
+            const placeholderFiles = fileNames
               .filter((filename) => filename.startsWith(".github/hotfix-manual/"));
 
-            if (placeholderFiles.length === 0) {
-              core.info("auto-hotfix PR has no hotfix tracking placeholder files. Passing.");
+            if (placeholderFiles.length > 0) {
+              core.error(`Found hotfix tracking placeholder file(s): ${placeholderFiles.join(", ")}`);
+              core.setFailed(
+                "Manual hotfix tracking PR detected (.github/hotfix-manual/*). Close this PR after manually cherry-picking the changes. Do NOT merge."
+              );
+              return;
+            }
+
+            const conflictStartPattern = /^<{7,}(?:$| )/;
+            const conflictMiddlePattern = /^={7,}$/;
+            const conflictEndPattern = /^>{7,}(?:$| )/;
+
+            const filesWithoutPatch = fileNames.filter((filename, index) => typeof files[index].patch !== "string");
+            if (filesWithoutPatch.length > 0) {
+              core.warning(`Could not inspect diff patch for: ${filesWithoutPatch.join(", ")}`);
+            }
+
+            const conflictedFiles = files
+              .filter((file) => typeof file.patch === "string")
+              .filter((file) => {
+                const addedLines = file.patch
+                  .split("\n")
+                  .filter((line) => line.startsWith("+") && !line.startsWith("+++"))
+                  .map((line) => line.slice(1));
+
+                return (
+                  addedLines.some((line) => conflictStartPattern.test(line)) &&
+                  addedLines.some((line) => conflictMiddlePattern.test(line)) &&
+                  addedLines.some((line) => conflictEndPattern.test(line))
+                );
+              })
+              .map((file) => file.filename);
+
+            if (conflictedFiles.length === 0) {
+              core.info("No unresolved conflict markers found in added lines for auto-hotfix PR files.");
               return;
             }
 
-            core.error(`Found hotfix tracking placeholder file(s): ${placeholderFiles.join(", ")}`);
+            core.error(`Found unresolved conflict markers in: ${conflictedFiles.join(", ")}`);
             core.setFailed(
-              "Manual hotfix tracking PR detected (.github/hotfix-manual/*). Close this PR after manually cherry-picking the changes. Do NOT merge."
+              "Auto-hotfix PR still contains unresolved conflict markers in added lines. Resolve them in this branch and push a follow-up commit before merging."
             );