diff --git a/.github/workflows/sync-alpha-from-main.yml b/.github/workflows/sync-alpha-from-main.yml
index 545545769..f09cfff1e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/sync-alpha-from-main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/sync-alpha-from-main.yml
@@ -99,24 +99,16 @@ jobs:
             git rebase --abort 2>/dev/null || true
 
             echo "Rebase had conflicts — falling back to merge"
-            MERGE_MSG=$(cat <<'MSG'
-chore: merge main into alpha (conflict resolution required)
-
-Automated merge of origin/main into origin/alpha.
-Rebase encountered conflicts; falling back to merge.
-A human must resolve conflict markers before merging this PR.
-MSG
-)
+            MERGE_MSG="chore: merge main into alpha (conflict resolution required)"
+            MERGE_MSG="${MERGE_MSG}"$'\n\n'"Automated merge of origin/main into origin/alpha."
+            MERGE_MSG="${MERGE_MSG}"$'\n'"Rebase encountered conflicts; falling back to merge."
+            MERGE_MSG="${MERGE_MSG}"$'\n'"A human must resolve conflict markers before merging this PR."
             git merge --no-ff --allow-unrelated-histories origin/main -m "${MERGE_MSG}" || {
               git add -A
-              CONFLICT_MSG=$(cat <<'MSG'
-chore: best-effort merge main into alpha (conflicts present)
-
-Automated merge of origin/main into origin/alpha.
-Both rebase and merge encountered conflicts. Conflict markers
-are present and must be resolved before this PR can be merged.
-MSG
-)
+              CONFLICT_MSG="chore: best-effort merge main into alpha (conflicts present)"
+              CONFLICT_MSG="${CONFLICT_MSG}"$'\n\n'"Automated merge of origin/main into origin/alpha."
+              CONFLICT_MSG="${CONFLICT_MSG}"$'\n'"Both rebase and merge encountered conflicts. Conflict markers"
+              CONFLICT_MSG="${CONFLICT_MSG}"$'\n'"are present and must be resolved before this PR can be merged."
               git commit --no-verify -m "${CONFLICT_MSG}"
             }
           }
@@ -144,33 +136,28 @@ MSG
             CONFLICT_NOTE="⚠️ **Conflicts detected.** Rebase fell back to merge. Search for \`<<<<<<<\` conflict markers and resolve before merging."
           fi
 
+          PR_BODY=$(printf '%s\n' \
+            "## Summary" "" \
+            "Automated sync of \`main\` into \`alpha\` triggered by push to \`main\`." "" \
+            "| | |" "|---|---|" \
+            "| Commits synced | ${COMMIT_COUNT} |" \
+            "| origin/main | \`${MAIN_SHA:0:8}\` |" \
+            "| origin/alpha | \`${ALPHA_SHA:0:8}\` |" "" \
+            "## Status" "" \
+            "${CONFLICT_NOTE}" "" \
+            "## Review Instructions" "" \
+            "1. Check for conflict markers (\`<<<<<<<\`) in changed files." \
+            "2. Resolve any conflicts and push to this branch." \
+            "3. Verify the build passes." \
+            "4. Merge into \`alpha\`." "" \
+            "---" \
+            "*Auto-generated by \`.github/workflows/sync-alpha-from-main.yml\`*")
+
           gh pr create \
             --base alpha \
             --head "${WORK_BRANCH}" \
             --title "chore: sync alpha from main ($(date +%Y-%m-%d))" \
-            --body "## Summary
-
-Automated sync of \`main\` into \`alpha\` triggered by push to \`main\`.
-
-| | |
-|---|---|
-| Commits synced | ${COMMIT_COUNT} |
-| origin/main | \`${MAIN_SHA:0:8}\` |
-| origin/alpha | \`${ALPHA_SHA:0:8}\` |
-
-## Status
-
-${CONFLICT_NOTE}
-
-## Review Instructions
-
-1. Check for conflict markers (\`<<<<<<<\`) in changed files.
-2. Resolve any conflicts and push to this branch.
-3. Verify the build passes.
-4. Merge into \`alpha\`.
-
----
-*Auto-generated by \`.github/workflows/sync-alpha-from-main.yml\`*"
+            --body "${PR_BODY}"
 
       - name: Summary
         if: always()