diff --git a/bert_e/tests/test_bert_e.py b/bert_e/tests/test_bert_e.py
index 45d0f291..34d32afe 100644
--- a/bert_e/tests/test_bert_e.py
+++ b/bert_e/tests/test_bert_e.py
@@ -1346,7 +1346,8 @@ def test_request_integration_branch_creation(self):
 admins:
   - {admin}
 """ # noqa
-        options = self.bypass_all_but(['bypass_build_status'])
+        options = self.bypass_all_but(['bypass_build_status',
+                                       'bypass_author_approval'])
         pr = self.create_pr('feature/TEST-0069', 'development/4.3')
         with self.assertRaises(exns.RequestIntegrationBranches):
             self.handle(
@@ -1358,6 +1359,9 @@ def test_request_integration_branch_creation(self):
             '/create_integration_branches', self.get_last_pr_comment(pr))
 
         pr.add_comment('/create_integration_branches')
+        # Restore bypass_author_approval so subsequent calls can pass
+        # check_approvals and reach the build-status stage.
+        options = self.bypass_all_but(['bypass_build_status'])
         with self.assertRaises(exns.BuildNotStarted):
             self.handle(
                 pr.id, settings=settings, options=options, backtrace=True)
@@ -1398,13 +1402,17 @@ def test_request_integration_branch_by_creating_pull_requests(self):
 admins:
   - {admin}
 """ # noqa
-        options = self.bypass_all_but(['bypass_build_status'])
+        options = self.bypass_all_but(['bypass_build_status',
+                                       'bypass_author_approval'])
         pr = self.create_pr('feature/TEST-0069', 'development/4.3')
         with self.assertRaises(exns.RequestIntegrationBranches):
             self.handle(
                 pr.id, settings=settings, options=options, backtrace=True)
 
         pr.add_comment('/create_pull_requests')
+        # Restore bypass_author_approval so subsequent calls can pass
+        # check_approvals and reach the build-status stage.
+        options = self.bypass_all_but(['bypass_build_status'])
         with self.assertRaises(exns.BuildNotStarted):
             self.handle(
                 pr.id, settings=settings, options=options, backtrace=True)
@@ -1420,6 +1428,46 @@ def test_request_integration_branch_by_creating_pull_requests(self):
             'I have successfully merged the changeset',
             self.get_last_pr_comment(pr))
 
+    def test_creation_integration_branch_by_bypass_author_approval(self):
+        """Test that bypass_author_approval triggers integration branch
+        creation just like /approve does.
+
+        1. Create a PR on a repo that would otherwise wait for an explicit
+           /create_integration_branches command.
+        2. Handle the PR with bypass_author_approval enabled and verify that
+           integration branches are created instead of a
+           RequestIntegrationBranches reply.
+
+        """
+        settings = """
+repository_owner: {owner}
+repository_slug: {slug}
+repository_host: {host}
+robot: {robot}
+robot_email: nobody@nowhere.com
+pull_request_base_url: https://bitbucket.org/{owner}/{slug}/bar/pull-requests/{{pr_id}}
+commit_base_url: https://bitbucket.org/{owner}/{slug}/commits/{{commit_id}}
+build_key: pre-merge
+required_leader_approvals: 0
+required_peer_approvals: 1
+always_create_integration_branches: false
+always_create_integration_pull_requests: false
+admins:
+  - {admin}
+""" # noqa
+        options = self.bypass_all_but(['bypass_build_status'])
+        pr = self.create_pr('feature/TEST-0069', 'development/4.3')
+        with self.assertRaises(exns.BuildNotStarted):
+            self.handle(
+                pr.id, settings=settings, options=options, backtrace=True)
+        self.assertIn(
+            'Integration data created', self.get_last_pr_comment(pr))
+
+        options = self.bypass_all
+        with self.assertRaises(exns.SuccessMessage):
+            self.handle(
+                pr.id, settings=settings, options=options, backtrace=True)
+
     def test_creation_integration_branch_by_approve(self):
         """Test pr.approve() to request integration branches creation.
 
diff --git a/bert_e/workflow/gitwaterflow/integration.py b/bert_e/workflow/gitwaterflow/integration.py
index 80783163..7d3ebb4a 100644
--- a/bert_e/workflow/gitwaterflow/integration.py
+++ b/bert_e/workflow/gitwaterflow/integration.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 from ..pr_utils import notify_user
 from .branches import (branch_factory, build_branch_cascade,
                        GhostIntegrationBranch)
+from .utils import bypass_author_approval
 
 
 def get_integration_branches(job):
@@ -149,7 +150,7 @@ def check_integration_branches(job):
     """Check if the integration branches can be created."""
 
     approvals = set(job.pull_request.get_approvals())
-    if job.settings.approve:
+    if job.settings.approve or bypass_author_approval(job):
         approvals.add(job.pull_request.author)
     approved_by_author = job.pull_request.author in approvals