diff --git a/skill-data/drupalorg-cli/SKILL.md b/skill-data/drupalorg-cli/SKILL.md
index dea6e16..362a646 100644
--- a/skill-data/drupalorg-cli/SKILL.md
+++ b/skill-data/drupalorg-cli/SKILL.md
@@ -94,10 +94,13 @@ drupalorg issue:show <ref> --with-comments --include-bot-comments --format=llm
 
 # Show the GitLab issue fork URLs and branches
 # nid is optional; auto-detected from the branch name if omitted
+# <exists>false</exists> means nobody has clicked "Create issue fork" yet;
+# an empty <branches> list with <exists>true</exists> means the fork has no pushes
 drupalorg issue:get-fork [nid] --format=llm
 
 # Add the GitLab issue fork as a git remote and fetch it
 # nid is optional; auto-detected from the branch name if omitted
+# Fails without adding a remote when the fork does not exist yet
 drupalorg issue:setup-remote [nid]
 
 # Check out a branch from the GitLab issue fork
@@ -270,6 +273,7 @@ drupalorg mr:list [nid] --format=llm --no-cache
 | `No patch found on issue` | Issue has no file attachments | Check `issue:show` to confirm files exist |
 | `No branch configured` | `issue:patch` run outside a git repo or without a tracking branch | Run `issue:branch <nid>` first |
 | `Remote … does not exist` | `issue:checkout` run before `issue:setup-remote` | Run `issue:setup-remote <nid>` first |
+| `No issue fork for … yet` | `issue:setup-remote` or `issue:checkout` run before the fork was created on GitLab | Create the fork from the issue page (or `issue:fork <ref>` on work item projects), then retry |
 | `429 / 503` | Drupal.org rate limit or maintenance | The client retries automatically; wait and retry if it persists |
 
 ## References
diff --git a/skill-data/drupalorg-work-on-issue/SKILL.md b/skill-data/drupalorg-work-on-issue/SKILL.md
index 875259a..8f50d00 100644
--- a/skill-data/drupalorg-work-on-issue/SKILL.md
+++ b/skill-data/drupalorg-work-on-issue/SKILL.md
@@ -66,9 +66,11 @@ asking the user if `CLAUDE.md` provides no guidance.
 - **No matches** → note that no branches exist yet and ask the user how to proceed
   (e.g. create a new branch from the upstream project default branch).
 
-**No fork at all (GitLab work item projects):** If `issue:get-fork` reports no fork
-exists AND the project uses GitLab work items (the ref is a `project_name#nid` or
-work item URL, not a classic Drupal.org NID), offer to create one:
+**No fork at all:** `issue:get-fork` prints `<exists>false</exists>` when nobody has
+created the fork yet. `issue:setup-remote` and `issue:checkout` refuse to run in that
+state. For a classic Drupal.org issue, ask the user to click "Create issue fork" on
+the issue page. If the project uses GitLab work items (the ref is a `project_name#nid`
+or work item URL, not a classic Drupal.org NID), offer to create one:
 
 ```bash
 drupalorg issue:fork <ref>
diff --git a/src/Api/Action/Issue/GetIssueForkAction.php b/src/Api/Action/Issue/GetIssueForkAction.php
index 97a610d..29bd7b0 100644
--- a/src/Api/Action/Issue/GetIssueForkAction.php
+++ b/src/Api/Action/Issue/GetIssueForkAction.php
@@ -37,16 +37,23 @@ public function __invoke(
         $sshUrl = 'git@git.drupal.org:' . $gitLabProjectPath . '.git';
         $httpsUrl = 'https://git.drupalcode.org/' . $gitLabProjectPath . '.git';
 
-        $branches = [];
         try {
             $project = $this->gitLabClient->getProject($gitLabProjectPath);
-            $branchObjects = $this->gitLabClient->getBranches((int) $project->id);
-            $branches = array_map(
-                static fn(\stdClass $b) => (string) $b->name,
-                $branchObjects
-            );
         } catch (\Exception $e) {
-            // Fork may not exist yet; return URL info without branches.
+            // GitLab answers 404 until someone clicks "Create issue fork".
+            $project = null;
+        }
+
+        $branches = [];
+        if ($project !== null) {
+            try {
+                $branches = array_map(
+                    static fn(\stdClass $b) => (string) $b->name,
+                    $this->gitLabClient->getBranches((int) $project->id)
+                );
+            } catch (\Exception $e) {
+                // The fork exists; a failed branch listing must not report it missing.
+            }
         }
 
         return new IssueForkResult(
@@ -54,6 +61,7 @@ public function __invoke(
             sshUrl: $sshUrl,
             httpsUrl: $httpsUrl,
             gitLabProjectPath: $gitLabProjectPath,
+            exists: $project !== null,
             branches: $branches,
         );
     }
diff --git a/src/Api/Action/Issue/SetupIssueRemoteAction.php b/src/Api/Action/Issue/SetupIssueRemoteAction.php
index 842890c..bcd0ecf 100644
--- a/src/Api/Action/Issue/SetupIssueRemoteAction.php
+++ b/src/Api/Action/Issue/SetupIssueRemoteAction.php
@@ -30,6 +30,12 @@ public function __invoke(
     ): SetupIssueRemoteResult {
         $getFork = new GetIssueForkAction($this->client, $this->gitLabClient);
         $fork = $getFork($nid, $projectMachineName, $repositoryProject);
+        if (!$fork->exists) {
+            throw new \RuntimeException(sprintf(
+                'No issue fork for %s yet. Create it on the issue page and click "Get push access", then run this again.',
+                $nid
+            ));
+        }
 
         $remoteName = $fork->remoteName;
         $sshUrl = $fork->sshUrl;
diff --git a/src/Api/Result/Issue/IssueForkResult.php b/src/Api/Result/Issue/IssueForkResult.php
index 165c970..a59cdbb 100644
--- a/src/Api/Result/Issue/IssueForkResult.php
+++ b/src/Api/Result/Issue/IssueForkResult.php
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@
 class IssueForkResult implements ResultInterface
 {
     /**
+     * @param bool $exists
+     *   Whether the fork project exists on GitLab. An empty branch list alone
+     *   cannot tell a missing fork from a fork nobody has pushed to.
      * @param string[] $branches
      */
     public function __construct(
@@ -14,6 +17,7 @@ public function __construct(
         public readonly string $sshUrl,
         public readonly string $httpsUrl,
         public readonly string $gitLabProjectPath,
+        public readonly bool $exists,
         public readonly array $branches,
     ) {
     }
@@ -25,6 +29,7 @@ public function jsonSerialize(): mixed
             'ssh_url' => $this->sshUrl,
             'https_url' => $this->httpsUrl,
             'gitlab_project_path' => $this->gitLabProjectPath,
+            'exists' => $this->exists,
             'branches' => $this->branches,
         ];
     }
diff --git a/src/Cli/Command/Issue/Checkout.php b/src/Cli/Command/Issue/Checkout.php
index 611da4e..f384b60 100644
--- a/src/Cli/Command/Issue/Checkout.php
+++ b/src/Cli/Command/Issue/Checkout.php
@@ -30,6 +30,13 @@ protected function execute(InputInterface $input, OutputInterface $output): int
         $repositoryProject = ProjectRemote::detect()?->machineName;
         $action = new GetIssueForkAction($this->client, $gitLabClient);
         $fork = $action($this->nid, $explicitProject, $repositoryProject);
+        if (!$fork->exists) {
+            $this->stdErr->writeln(sprintf(
+                '<error>No issue fork for %s yet. Create it on the issue page and click "Get push access".</error>',
+                $this->nid
+            ));
+            return 1;
+        }
 
         // Verify the remote exists locally; offer to set it up if missing.
         $checkRemote = new Process(['git', 'remote', 'get-url', $fork->remoteName]);
diff --git a/src/Cli/Command/Issue/GetFork.php b/src/Cli/Command/Issue/GetFork.php
index 0c056d9..fe32857 100644
--- a/src/Cli/Command/Issue/GetFork.php
+++ b/src/Cli/Command/Issue/GetFork.php
@@ -43,6 +43,12 @@ protected function execute(InputInterface $input, OutputInterface $output): int
         $this->stdOut->writeln(sprintf('HTTPS URL:   %s', $result->httpsUrl));
         $this->stdOut->writeln(sprintf('GitLab path: %s', $result->gitLabProjectPath));
 
+        if (!$result->exists) {
+            $this->stdOut->writeln('');
+            $this->stdOut->writeln('Fork does not exist yet. Create it on the issue page and click "Get push access".');
+            return 0;
+        }
+
         if ($result->branches !== []) {
             $this->stdOut->writeln('');
             $this->stdOut->writeln('Branches:');
@@ -50,7 +56,7 @@ protected function execute(InputInterface $input, OutputInterface $output): int
                 $this->stdOut->writeln('  ' . $branch);
             }
         } else {
-            $this->stdOut->writeln('No branches found (fork may not exist yet).');
+            $this->stdOut->writeln('Fork exists but has no branches yet.');
         }
 
         return 0;
diff --git a/src/Cli/Formatter/LlmFormatter.php b/src/Cli/Formatter/LlmFormatter.php
index 96b7448..b0fb753 100644
--- a/src/Cli/Formatter/LlmFormatter.php
+++ b/src/Cli/Formatter/LlmFormatter.php
@@ -147,6 +147,7 @@ protected function formatIssueFork(IssueForkResult $result): string
         $sshUrl = $this->xmlEscape($result->sshUrl);
         $httpsUrl = $this->xmlEscape($result->httpsUrl);
         $gitLabPath = $this->xmlEscape($result->gitLabProjectPath);
+        $exists = $result->exists ? 'true' : 'false';
 
         $branchItems = '';
         foreach ($result->branches as $branch) {
@@ -159,6 +160,7 @@ protected function formatIssueFork(IssueForkResult $result): string
   <ssh_url>{$sshUrl}</ssh_url>
   <https_url>{$httpsUrl}</https_url>
   <gitlab_project_path>{$gitLabPath}</gitlab_project_path>
+  <exists>{$exists}</exists>
   <branches>
 {$branchItems}  </branches>
 </drupal_context>
diff --git a/src/Cli/Formatter/MarkdownFormatter.php b/src/Cli/Formatter/MarkdownFormatter.php
index 1d06148..8507de1 100644
--- a/src/Cli/Formatter/MarkdownFormatter.php
+++ b/src/Cli/Formatter/MarkdownFormatter.php
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ protected function formatIssueFork(IssueForkResult $result): string
         $lines[] = "- **SSH URL:** {$result->sshUrl}";
         $lines[] = "- **HTTPS URL:** {$result->httpsUrl}";
         $lines[] = "- **GitLab path:** {$result->gitLabProjectPath}";
+        $lines[] = '- **Exists:** ' . ($result->exists ? 'yes' : 'no');
         if ($result->branches !== []) {
             $lines[] = '';
             $lines[] = '## Branches';
diff --git a/tests/src/Action/Issue/GetIssueForkActionTest.php b/tests/src/Action/Issue/GetIssueForkActionTest.php
index 48f300c..29a8c62 100644
--- a/tests/src/Action/Issue/GetIssueForkActionTest.php
+++ b/tests/src/Action/Issue/GetIssueForkActionTest.php
@@ -61,9 +61,46 @@ public function testForkWithBranches(): void
         self::assertSame('git@git.drupal.org:issue/drupal-3383637.git', $result->sshUrl);
         self::assertSame('https://git.drupalcode.org/issue/drupal-3383637.git', $result->httpsUrl);
         self::assertSame('issue/drupal-3383637', $result->gitLabProjectPath);
+        self::assertTrue($result->exists);
         self::assertSame(['3383637-test-issue', 'main'], $result->branches);
     }
 
+    public function testForkWithoutBranchesStillExists(): void
+    {
+        $project = new \stdClass();
+        $project->id = 12345;
+
+        $client = $this->createMock(Client::class);
+        $client->method('getNode')->willReturn(self::makeIssueNode());
+
+        $gitLabClient = $this->createMock(GitLabClient::class);
+        $gitLabClient->method('getProject')->willReturn($project);
+        $gitLabClient->method('getBranches')->willReturn([]);
+
+        $result = (new GetIssueForkAction($client, $gitLabClient))('3383637');
+
+        self::assertTrue($result->exists);
+        self::assertSame([], $result->branches);
+    }
+
+    public function testBranchListingFailureDoesNotReportMissingFork(): void
+    {
+        $project = new \stdClass();
+        $project->id = 12345;
+
+        $client = $this->createMock(Client::class);
+        $client->method('getNode')->willReturn(self::makeIssueNode());
+
+        $gitLabClient = $this->createMock(GitLabClient::class);
+        $gitLabClient->method('getProject')->willReturn($project);
+        $gitLabClient->method('getBranches')->willThrowException(new \Exception('Service Unavailable', 503));
+
+        $result = (new GetIssueForkAction($client, $gitLabClient))('3383637');
+
+        self::assertTrue($result->exists);
+        self::assertSame([], $result->branches);
+    }
+
     public function testExplicitProjectSkipsNodeLookup(): void
     {
         $client = $this->createMock(Client::class);
@@ -111,6 +148,7 @@ public function testForkNotYetCreated(): void
         self::assertSame('drupal-3383637', $result->remoteName);
         self::assertSame('git@git.drupal.org:issue/drupal-3383637.git', $result->sshUrl);
         self::assertSame('issue/drupal-3383637', $result->gitLabProjectPath);
+        self::assertFalse($result->exists);
         self::assertSame([], $result->branches);
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/src/Action/Issue/SetupIssueRemoteActionTest.php b/tests/src/Action/Issue/SetupIssueRemoteActionTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..490adc8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/src/Action/Issue/SetupIssueRemoteActionTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace mglaman\DrupalOrg\Tests\Action\Issue;
+
+use mglaman\DrupalOrg\Action\Issue\SetupIssueRemoteAction;
+use mglaman\DrupalOrg\Client;
+use mglaman\DrupalOrg\GitLab\Client as GitLabClient;
+use PHPUnit\Framework\Attributes\CoversClass;
+use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase;
+
+#[CoversClass(SetupIssueRemoteAction::class)]
+class SetupIssueRemoteActionTest extends TestCase
+{
+    public function testMissingForkStopsBeforeTouchingGit(): void
+    {
+        $client = $this->createMock(Client::class);
+        $client->expects(self::never())->method('getNode');
+
+        $gitLabClient = $this->createMock(GitLabClient::class);
+        $gitLabClient->method('getProject')->willThrowException(new \Exception('Not Found', 404));
+
+        $action = new SetupIssueRemoteAction($client, $gitLabClient);
+
+        $this->expectException(\RuntimeException::class);
+        $this->expectExceptionMessage('No issue fork for 3007808 yet.');
+        $action('3007808', 'poll');
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/src/Formatter/LlmFormatterTest.php b/tests/src/Formatter/LlmFormatterTest.php
index 5254d5c..5be2522 100644
--- a/tests/src/Formatter/LlmFormatterTest.php
+++ b/tests/src/Formatter/LlmFormatterTest.php
@@ -248,6 +248,7 @@ public function testIssueForkResult(): void
             sshUrl: 'git@git.drupal.org:issue/drupal-3383637.git',
             httpsUrl: 'https://git.drupalcode.org/issue/drupal-3383637.git',
             gitLabProjectPath: 'issue/drupal-3383637',
+            exists: true,
             branches: ['3383637-fix-the-thing', 'main'],
         );
 
@@ -259,6 +260,7 @@ public function testIssueForkResult(): void
         self::assertStringContainsString('<ssh_url>git@git.drupal.org:issue/drupal-3383637.git</ssh_url>', $output);
         self::assertStringContainsString('<https_url>https://git.drupalcode.org/issue/drupal-3383637.git</https_url>', $output);
         self::assertStringContainsString('<gitlab_project_path>issue/drupal-3383637</gitlab_project_path>', $output);
+        self::assertStringContainsString('<exists>true</exists>', $output);
         self::assertStringContainsString('<branch>3383637-fix-the-thing</branch>', $output);
         self::assertStringContainsString('<branch>main</branch>', $output);
     }
diff --git a/tests/src/Formatter/MarkdownFormatterTest.php b/tests/src/Formatter/MarkdownFormatterTest.php
index e9d0bb1..f57c391 100644
--- a/tests/src/Formatter/MarkdownFormatterTest.php
+++ b/tests/src/Formatter/MarkdownFormatterTest.php
@@ -212,6 +212,7 @@ public function testIssueForkResult(): void
             sshUrl: 'git@git.drupal.org:issue/drupal-3383637.git',
             httpsUrl: 'https://git.drupalcode.org/issue/drupal-3383637.git',
             gitLabProjectPath: 'issue/drupal-3383637',
+            exists: true,
             branches: ['3383637-fix-the-thing', 'main'],
         );
 
@@ -223,6 +224,7 @@ public function testIssueForkResult(): void
         self::assertStringContainsString('**SSH URL:** git@git.drupal.org:issue/drupal-3383637.git', $output);
         self::assertStringContainsString('**HTTPS URL:** https://git.drupalcode.org/issue/drupal-3383637.git', $output);
         self::assertStringContainsString('**GitLab path:** issue/drupal-3383637', $output);
+        self::assertStringContainsString('**Exists:** yes', $output);
         self::assertStringContainsString('## Branches', $output);
         self::assertStringContainsString('- 3383637-fix-the-thing', $output);
         self::assertStringContainsString('- main', $output);