diff --git a/submitqueue/extension/changeprovider/github/provider.go b/submitqueue/extension/changeprovider/github/provider.go
index 8ca69b5f1..748e6553f 100644
--- a/submitqueue/extension/changeprovider/github/provider.go
+++ b/submitqueue/extension/changeprovider/github/provider.go
@@ -106,10 +106,6 @@ func (p *provider) fetchAllPRs(
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to fetch PR #%d: %w", cid.PRNumber, err)
 		}
 
-		if err := validatePRStaleness(cid, prData); err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-
 		changeInfo := convertToChangeInfo(cid, prData)
 		changeInfos = append(changeInfos, changeInfo)
 
@@ -137,6 +133,10 @@ func (p *provider) fetchPullRequest(ctx context.Context, parsed entitygithub.Cha
 			return nil, err
 		}
 
+		if err := validatePRStaleness(parsed, data); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+
 		if cursor == "" {
 			prData = *data
 		}
diff --git a/submitqueue/extension/changeprovider/github/provider_test.go b/submitqueue/extension/changeprovider/github/provider_test.go
index e7e968e8b..9ad844931 100644
--- a/submitqueue/extension/changeprovider/github/provider_test.go
+++ b/submitqueue/extension/changeprovider/github/provider_test.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package github
 import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/httptest"
 	"testing"
@@ -160,6 +161,45 @@ func TestProvider_Get_Pagination(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Len(t, infos[0].Details.ChangedFiles, 2)
 }
 
+func TestProvider_Get_PaginationRejectsStaleHead(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, tt := range []struct {
+		name      string
+		headSHAs  []string
+		wantCalls int
+	}{
+		{name: "first page", headSHAs: []string{shaNew, shaXYZ}, wantCalls: 1},
+		{name: "middle page", headSHAs: []string{shaXYZ, shaNew, shaXYZ}, wantCalls: 2},
+		{name: "last page", headSHAs: []string{shaXYZ, shaNew}, wantCalls: 2},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			callCount := 0
+			server := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+				require.Less(t, callCount, len(tt.headSHAs))
+				headSHA := tt.headSHAs[callCount]
+				callCount++
+				servePR(t, w, pullRequestData{
+					Number:     456,
+					HeadRefOid: headSHA,
+					Files: filesData{
+						PageInfo: pageInfo{EndCursor: fmt.Sprintf("cursor%d", callCount), HasNextPage: callCount < len(tt.headSHAs)},
+						Nodes:    []fileNode{{Path: fmt.Sprintf("file%d.go", callCount)}},
+					},
+				})
+			}))
+			t.Cleanup(server.Close)
+
+			p := newTestProvider(t, server.URL)
+			infos, err := p.Get(context.Background(), entity.Request{Change: change.Change{
+				URIs: []string{"github://github.example.com/uber/submitqueue/pull/456/" + shaXYZ},
+			}})
+
+			require.Error(t, err)
+			assert.Empty(t, infos)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantCalls, callCount)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestProvider_Get_MultiplePRs(t *testing.T) {
 	prData := []pullRequestData{
 		{Number: 123, HeadRefOid: shaA, Files: filesData{Nodes: []fileNode{{Path: "file1.go"}}}},