diff --git a/miss_islington/status_change.py b/miss_islington/status_change.py
index 42b9464456844b7..21d966fe9c9a680 100644
--- a/miss_islington/status_change.py
+++ b/miss_islington/status_change.py
@@ -22,13 +22,11 @@ async def check_status(event, gh, *args, **kwargs):
         await check_ci_status_and_approval(gh, sha, leave_comment=True)
 
 
-@router.register("pull_request_review", action="submitted")
+@router.register("pull_request", action="labeled")
 async def pr_reviewed(event, gh, *args, **kwargs):
     if event.data["pull_request"]["user"]["login"] == "miss-islington":
-        reviewer = event.data["review"]["user"]["login"]
-        approved = event.data["review"]["state"] == "approved"
-        if approved and await util.is_core_dev(gh, reviewer):
-            sha = event.data["review"]["commit_id"]
+        if util.pr_is_awaiting_merge(event.data["pull_request"]["labels"]):
+            sha = event.data["pull_request"]["head"]["sha"]
             await check_ci_status_and_approval(gh, sha)
 
 
@@ -75,14 +73,12 @@ async def check_ci_status_and_approval(gh, sha, leave_comment=False):
                             )
 
                         if result["state"] == "success":
-                            async for review in gh.getiter(
-                                f"/repos/python/cpython/pulls/{pr_number}/reviews"
-                            ):
-                                reviewer = review["user"]["login"]
-                                approved = review["state"].lower() == "approved"
-                                if approved and await util.is_core_dev(gh, reviewer):
-                                    await merge_pr(gh, pr_number, sha)
-                                    break
+                            pr = await gh.getitem(
+                                f"/repos/python/cpython/pulls/{pr_number}"
+                            )
+                            if util.pr_is_awaiting_merge(pr["labels"]):
+                                await merge_pr(gh, pr_number, sha)
+                                break
 
 
 async def merge_pr(gh, pr_number, sha):
diff --git a/miss_islington/util.py b/miss_islington/util.py
index 70275cc66cc93cd..6fd07c6f1eb1733 100644
--- a/miss_islington/util.py
+++ b/miss_islington/util.py
@@ -104,3 +104,10 @@ async def is_core_dev(gh, username):
         raise
     else:
         return True
+
+
+def pr_is_awaiting_merge(pr_labels):
+    for label in pr_labels:
+        if label["name"] == "awaiting merge":
+            return True
+    return False
diff --git a/tests/test_delete_branch.py b/tests/test_delete_branch.py
index c55f91ddb99354e..7b7a48936553619 100644
--- a/tests/test_delete_branch.py
+++ b/tests/test_delete_branch.py
@@ -7,10 +7,6 @@ class FakeGH:
     def __init__(self):
         self.post_data = None
 
-    async def post(self, url, *, data):
-        self.post_url = url
-        self.post_data = data
-
     async def delete(self, url):
         self.delete_url = url
 
diff --git a/tests/test_status_change.py b/tests/test_status_change.py
index 4493f9dd170ccba..7b80afa43b22f08 100644
--- a/tests/test_status_change.py
+++ b/tests/test_status_change.py
@@ -18,10 +18,7 @@ def __init__(self, *, getitem=None, getiter=None, put=None):
     async def getitem(self, url):
         self.getitem_url = url
         to_return = self._getitem_return[self.getitem_url]
-        if isinstance(to_return, Exception):
-            raise to_return
-        else:
-            return to_return
+        return to_return
 
     async def getiter(self, url):
         self.getiter_url = url
@@ -40,7 +37,7 @@ async def post(self, url, *, data):
         return self._post_return
 
 
-async def test_ci_passed_with_one_core_dev_review_pr_is_merged():
+async def test_ci_passed_with_awaiting_merge_label_pr_is_merged():
     sha = "f2393593c99dd2d3ab8bfab6fcc5ddee540518a9"
     data = {"sha": sha, "commit": {"committer": {"login": "miss-islington"}}}
     event = sansio.Event(data, event="status", delivery_id="1")
@@ -66,7 +63,7 @@ async def test_ci_passed_with_one_core_dev_review_pr_is_merged():
             "user": {"login": "miss-islington"},
             "merged_by": {"login": "Mariatta"},
         },
-        "/teams/42/memberships/Mariatta": True,
+        "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547": {"labels": [{"name": "awaiting merge"}]},
     }
 
     getiter = {
@@ -88,9 +85,6 @@ async def test_ci_passed_with_one_core_dev_review_pr_is_merged():
                 "body": "\n\n`arg_name` and `element_index` are defined as `digit`+ instead of `integer`.\n(cherry picked from commit 7a561afd2c79f63a6008843b83733911d07f0119)\n\nCo-authored-by: Mariatta <Mariatta@users.noreply.github.com>",
             }
         ],
-        "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547/reviews": [
-            {"user": {"login": "Mariatta"}, "state": "APPROVED"}
-        ],
         "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547/commits": [
             {
                 "sha": "f2393593c99dd2d3ab8bfab6fcc5ddee540518a9",
@@ -99,7 +93,6 @@ async def test_ci_passed_with_one_core_dev_review_pr_is_merged():
                 },
             }
         ],
-        "/orgs/python/teams": [{"name": "Python core", "id": 42}],
     }
 
     gh = FakeGH(getitem=getitem, getiter=getiter)
@@ -113,7 +106,7 @@ async def test_ci_passed_with_one_core_dev_review_pr_is_merged():
     )
 
 
-async def test_ci_passed_with_no_core_dev_review_pr_is_not_merged():
+async def test_ci_passed_with_no_awaiting_merge_label_pr_is_not_merged():
     sha = "f2393593c99dd2d3ab8bfab6fcc5ddee540518a9"
     data = {"sha": sha, "commit": {"committer": {"login": "miss-islington"}}}
     event = sansio.Event(data, event="status", delivery_id="1")
@@ -139,7 +132,9 @@ async def test_ci_passed_with_no_core_dev_review_pr_is_not_merged():
             "user": {"login": "miss-islington"},
             "merged_by": {"login": "Mariatta"},
         },
-        "/teams/42/memberships/Mariatta": True,
+        "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547": {
+            "labels": [{"name": "awaiting core review"}]
+        },
     }
 
     getiter = {
@@ -161,7 +156,6 @@ async def test_ci_passed_with_no_core_dev_review_pr_is_not_merged():
                 "body": "\n\n`arg_name` and `element_index` are defined as `digit`+ instead of `integer`.\n(cherry picked from commit 7a561afd2c79f63a6008843b83733911d07f0119)\n\nCo-authored-by: Mariatta <Mariatta@users.noreply.github.com>",
             }
         ],
-        "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547/reviews": [],
     }
 
     gh = FakeGH(getitem=getitem, getiter=getiter)
@@ -170,7 +164,7 @@ async def test_ci_passed_with_no_core_dev_review_pr_is_not_merged():
     assert not hasattr(gh, "put_data")  # is not merged
 
 
-async def test_ci_not_passed_with_core_dev_review_pr_is_not_merged():
+async def test_ci_not_passed_awaiting_merge_label_pr_is_not_merged():
     sha = "f2393593c99dd2d3ab8bfab6fcc5ddee540518a9"
     data = {"sha": sha, "commit": {"committer": {"login": "miss-islington"}}}
     event = sansio.Event(data, event="status", delivery_id="1")
@@ -196,7 +190,7 @@ async def test_ci_not_passed_with_core_dev_review_pr_is_not_merged():
             "user": {"login": "miss-islington"},
             "merged_by": {"login": "Mariatta"},
         },
-        "/teams/42/memberships/Mariatta": True,
+        "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547": {"labels": [{"name": "awaiting merge"}]},
     }
 
     getiter = {
@@ -218,7 +212,6 @@ async def test_ci_not_passed_with_core_dev_review_pr_is_not_merged():
                 "body": "\n\n`arg_name` and `element_index` are defined as `digit`+ instead of `integer`.\n(cherry picked from commit 7a561afd2c79f63a6008843b83733911d07f0119)\n\nCo-authored-by: Mariatta <Mariatta@users.noreply.github.com>",
             }
         ],
-        "/orgs/python/teams": [{"name": "Python core", "id": 42}],
     }
 
     gh = FakeGH(getitem=getitem, getiter=getiter)
@@ -227,19 +220,18 @@ async def test_ci_not_passed_with_core_dev_review_pr_is_not_merged():
     assert not hasattr(gh, "put_data")  # is not merged
 
 
-async def test_pr_reviewed_webhook_ci_passed_pr_is_merged():
+async def test_awaiting_merge_label_added_and_ci_passed_pr_is_merged():
     sha = "f2393593c99dd2d3ab8bfab6fcc5ddee540518a9"
     data = {
-        "action": "submitted",
-        "pull_request": {"user": {"login": "miss-islington"}},
-        "review": {
-            "commit_id": sha,
-            "user": {"login": "Mariatta"},
-            "state": "approved",
+        "action": "labeled",
+        "pull_request": {
+            "user": {"login": "miss-islington"},
+            "labels": [{"name": "awaiting merge"}],
+            "head": {"sha": sha},
         },
     }
 
-    event = sansio.Event(data, event="pull_request_review", delivery_id="1")
+    event = sansio.Event(data, event="pull_request", delivery_id="1")
 
     getitem = {
         f"/repos/python/cpython/commits/{sha}/status": {
@@ -258,7 +250,7 @@ async def test_pr_reviewed_webhook_ci_passed_pr_is_merged():
                 },
             ],
         },
-        "/teams/42/memberships/Mariatta": True,
+        "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547": {"labels": [{"name": "awaiting merge"}]},
     }
 
     getiter = {
@@ -280,10 +272,6 @@ async def test_pr_reviewed_webhook_ci_passed_pr_is_merged():
                 "body": "\n\n`arg_name` and `element_index` are defined as `digit`+ instead of `integer`.\n(cherry picked from commit 7a561afd2c79f63a6008843b83733911d07f0119)\n\nCo-authored-by: Mariatta <Mariatta@users.noreply.github.com>",
             }
         ],
-        "/orgs/python/teams": [{"name": "Python core", "id": 42}],
-        "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547/reviews": [
-            {"user": {"login": "Mariatta"}, "state": "APPROVED"}
-        ],
         "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547/commits": [
             {
                 "sha": "f2393593c99dd2d3ab8bfab6fcc5ddee540518a9",
@@ -305,19 +293,18 @@ async def test_pr_reviewed_webhook_ci_passed_pr_is_merged():
     )
 
 
-async def test_pr_reviewed_webhook_ci_failure_pr_is_not_merged():
+async def test_awaiting_merge_webhook_ci_failure_pr_is_not_merged():
     sha = "f2393593c99dd2d3ab8bfab6fcc5ddee540518a9"
     data = {
-        "action": "submitted",
-        "pull_request": {"user": {"login": "miss-islington"}},
-        "review": {
-            "commit_id": sha,
-            "user": {"login": "Mariatta"},
-            "state": "approved",
+        "action": "labeled",
+        "pull_request": {
+            "user": {"login": "miss-islington"},
+            "labels": [{"name": "awaiting merge"}],
+            "head": {"sha": sha},
         },
     }
 
-    event = sansio.Event(data, event="pull_request_review", delivery_id="1")
+    event = sansio.Event(data, event="pull_request", delivery_id="1")
 
     getitem = {
         f"/repos/python/cpython/commits/{sha}/status": {
@@ -336,7 +323,7 @@ async def test_pr_reviewed_webhook_ci_failure_pr_is_not_merged():
                 },
             ],
         },
-        "/teams/42/memberships/Mariatta": True,
+        "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547": {"labels": [{"name": "awaiting merge"}]},
     }
 
     getiter = {
@@ -358,7 +345,6 @@ async def test_pr_reviewed_webhook_ci_failure_pr_is_not_merged():
                 "body": "\n\n`arg_name` and `element_index` are defined as `digit`+ instead of `integer`.\n(cherry picked from commit 7a561afd2c79f63a6008843b83733911d07f0119)\n\nCo-authored-by: Mariatta <Mariatta@users.noreply.github.com>",
             }
         ],
-        "/orgs/python/teams": [{"name": "Python core", "id": 42}],
     }
 
     gh = FakeGH(getitem=getitem, getiter=getiter)
@@ -367,19 +353,18 @@ async def test_pr_reviewed_webhook_ci_failure_pr_is_not_merged():
     assert not hasattr(gh, "put_data")  # is not merged
 
 
-async def test_pr_reviewed_changes_requested_pr_is_not_merged():
+async def test_awaiting_core_review_label_added_is_not_merged():
     sha = "f2393593c99dd2d3ab8bfab6fcc5ddee540518a9"
     data = {
-        "action": "submitted",
-        "pull_request": {"user": {"login": "miss-islington"}},
-        "review": {
-            "commit_id": sha,
-            "user": {"login": "Mariatta"},
-            "state": "changes_requested",
+        "action": "labeled",
+        "pull_request": {
+            "user": {"login": "miss-islington"},
+            "labels": [{"name": "awaiting merge"}],
+            "head": {"sha": sha},
         },
     }
 
-    event = sansio.Event(data, event="pull_request_review", delivery_id="1")
+    event = sansio.Event(data, event="pull_request", delivery_id="1")
 
     getitem = {
         f"/repos/python/cpython/commits/{sha}/status": {
@@ -400,7 +385,26 @@ async def test_pr_reviewed_changes_requested_pr_is_not_merged():
         }
     }
 
-    getiter = {"/orgs/python/teams": [{"name": "Python core", "id": 42}]}
+    getiter = {
+        "/repos/miss-islington/cpython/git/refs/heads/": [
+            {"ref": f"refs/heads/backport-{sha[0:7]}-3.6", "object": {"sha": sha}},
+            {
+                "ref": "refs/heads/backport-63ae044-3.6",
+                "object": {
+                    "sha": "67a2b0b7713e40dea7762b7d7764ae18fe967561",
+                    "type": "commit",
+                    "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/miss-islington/cpython/git/commits/67a2b0b7713e40dea7762b7d7764ae18fe967561",
+                },
+            },
+        ],
+        f"/repos/python/cpython/pulls?state=open&head=miss-islington:backport-{sha[0:7]}-3.6": [
+            {
+                "number": 5547,
+                "title": "[3.6] bpo-32720: Fixed the replacement field grammar documentation. (GH-5544)",
+                "body": "\n\n`arg_name` and `element_index` are defined as `digit`+ instead of `integer`.\n(cherry picked from commit 7a561afd2c79f63a6008843b83733911d07f0119)\n\nCo-authored-by: Mariatta <Mariatta@users.noreply.github.com>",
+            }
+        ],
+    }
 
     gh = FakeGH(getitem=getitem, getiter=getiter)
     await status_change.router.dispatch(event, gh)
@@ -408,19 +412,18 @@ async def test_pr_reviewed_changes_requested_pr_is_not_merged():
     assert not hasattr(gh, "put_data")  # is not merged
 
 
-async def test_pr_reviewed_ignore_non_miss_islingtons_pr():
+async def test_awaiting_merge_label_ignore_non_miss_islingtons_pr():
     sha = "f2393593c99dd2d3ab8bfab6fcc5ddee540518a9"
     data = {
-        "action": "submitted",
-        "pull_request": {"user": {"login": "Mariatta"}},
-        "review": {
-            "commit_id": sha,
+        "action": "labeled",
+        "pull_request": {
             "user": {"login": "Mariatta"},
-            "state": "approved",
+            "labels": [{"name": "awaiting merge"}],
+            "head": {"sha": sha},
         },
     }
 
-    event = sansio.Event(data, event="pull_request_review", delivery_id="1")
+    event = sansio.Event(data, event="pull_request", delivery_id="1")
 
     getitem = {
         f"/repos/python/cpython/commits/{sha}/status": {
@@ -441,15 +444,13 @@ async def test_pr_reviewed_ignore_non_miss_islingtons_pr():
         }
     }
 
-    getiter = {"/orgs/python/teams": [{"name": "Python core", "id": 42}]}
-
-    gh = FakeGH(getitem=getitem, getiter=getiter)
+    gh = FakeGH(getitem=getitem)  # , getiter=getiter)
     await status_change.router.dispatch(event, gh)
     assert not hasattr(gh, "post_data")  # does not leave a comment
     assert not hasattr(gh, "put_data")  # is not merged
 
 
-async def test_ci_passed_with_one_core_dev_review_pr_is_merged_not_miss_islington():
+async def test_ci_passed_with_awaiting_merge_label_not_miss_islington_is_not_merged():
     sha = "f2393593c99dd2d3ab8bfab6fcc5ddee540518a9"
     data = {"sha": sha, "commit": {"committer": {"login": "Mariatta"}}}
     event = sansio.Event(data, event="status", delivery_id="1")
@@ -475,7 +476,7 @@ async def test_ci_passed_with_one_core_dev_review_pr_is_merged_not_miss_islingto
             "user": {"login": "miss-islington"},
             "merged_by": {"login": "Mariatta"},
         },
-        "/teams/42/memberships/Mariatta": True,
+        "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547": {"labels": [{"name": "awaiting merge"}]},
     }
 
     getiter = {
@@ -497,9 +498,6 @@ async def test_ci_passed_with_one_core_dev_review_pr_is_merged_not_miss_islingto
                 "body": "\n\n`arg_name` and `element_index` are defined as `digit`+ instead of `integer`.\n(cherry picked from commit 7a561afd2c79f63a6008843b83733911d07f0119)\n\nCo-authored-by: Mariatta <Mariatta@users.noreply.github.com>",
             }
         ],
-        "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547/reviews": [
-            {"user": {"login": "Mariatta"}, "state": "APPROVED"}
-        ],
         "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547/commits": [
             {
                 "sha": "f2393593c99dd2d3ab8bfab6fcc5ddee540518a9",
@@ -508,7 +506,6 @@ async def test_ci_passed_with_one_core_dev_review_pr_is_merged_not_miss_islingto
                 },
             }
         ],
-        "/orgs/python/teams": [{"name": "Python core", "id": 42}],
     }
 
     gh = FakeGH(getitem=getitem, getiter=getiter)
@@ -543,7 +540,6 @@ async def test_ci_pending():
             "user": {"login": "miss-islington"},
             "merged_by": {"login": "Mariatta"},
         },
-        "/teams/42/memberships/Mariatta": True,
     }
 
     getiter = {
@@ -565,9 +561,6 @@ async def test_ci_pending():
                 "body": "\n\n`arg_name` and `element_index` are defined as `digit`+ instead of `integer`.\n(cherry picked from commit 7a561afd2c79f63a6008843b83733911d07f0119)\n\nCo-authored-by: Mariatta <Mariatta@users.noreply.github.com>",
             }
         ],
-        "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547/reviews": [
-            {"user": {"login": "Mariatta"}, "state": "APPROVED"}
-        ],
         "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547/commits": [
             {
                 "sha": "f2393593c99dd2d3ab8bfab6fcc5ddee540518a9",
@@ -576,7 +569,6 @@ async def test_ci_pending():
                 },
             }
         ],
-        "/orgs/python/teams": [{"name": "Python core", "id": 42}],
     }
 
     gh = FakeGH(getitem=getitem, getiter=getiter)
@@ -605,7 +597,6 @@ async def test_travis_not_done():
             "user": {"login": "miss-islington"},
             "merged_by": {"login": "Mariatta"},
         },
-        "/teams/42/memberships/Mariatta": True,
     }
 
     getiter = {
@@ -627,9 +618,6 @@ async def test_travis_not_done():
                 "body": "\n\n`arg_name` and `element_index` are defined as `digit`+ instead of `integer`.\n(cherry picked from commit 7a561afd2c79f63a6008843b83733911d07f0119)\n\nCo-authored-by: Mariatta <Mariatta@users.noreply.github.com>",
             }
         ],
-        "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547/reviews": [
-            {"user": {"login": "Mariatta"}, "state": "APPROVED"}
-        ],
         "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547/commits": [
             {
                 "sha": "f2393593c99dd2d3ab8bfab6fcc5ddee540518a9",
@@ -638,7 +626,6 @@ async def test_travis_not_done():
                 },
             }
         ],
-        "/orgs/python/teams": [{"name": "Python core", "id": 42}],
     }
 
     gh = FakeGH(getitem=getitem, getiter=getiter)
@@ -673,7 +660,6 @@ async def test_pr_title_does_not_match():
             "user": {"login": "miss-islington"},
             "merged_by": {"login": "Mariatta"},
         },
-        "/teams/42/memberships/Mariatta": True,
     }
 
     getiter = {
@@ -695,9 +681,6 @@ async def test_pr_title_does_not_match():
                 "body": "\n\n`arg_name` and `element_index` are defined as `digit`+ instead of `integer`.\n(cherry picked from commit 7a561afd2c79f63a6008843b83733911d07f0119)\n\nCo-authored-by: Mariatta <Mariatta@users.noreply.github.com>",
             }
         ],
-        "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547/reviews": [
-            {"user": {"login": "Mariatta"}, "state": "APPROVED"}
-        ],
         "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547/commits": [
             {
                 "sha": "f2393593c99dd2d3ab8bfab6fcc5ddee540518a9",
@@ -706,7 +689,6 @@ async def test_pr_title_does_not_match():
                 },
             }
         ],
-        "/orgs/python/teams": [{"name": "Python core", "id": 42}],
     }
 
     gh = FakeGH(getitem=getitem, getiter=getiter)
@@ -715,7 +697,7 @@ async def test_pr_title_does_not_match():
     assert not hasattr(gh, "put_data")  # is not merged
 
 
-async def test_ci_passed_approved_by_non_core_dev_review_pr_is_not_merged():
+async def test_ci_passed_awaiting_core_review_is_not_merged():
     sha = "f2393593c99dd2d3ab8bfab6fcc5ddee540518a9"
     data = {"sha": sha, "commit": {"committer": {"login": "miss-islington"}}}
     event = sansio.Event(data, event="status", delivery_id="1")
@@ -741,11 +723,10 @@ async def test_ci_passed_approved_by_non_core_dev_review_pr_is_not_merged():
             "user": {"login": "miss-islington"},
             "merged_by": {"login": "Mariatta"},
         },
-        "/teams/42/memberships/Mariatta": gidgethub.BadRequest(
-            status_code=http.HTTPStatus(404)
-        ),
+        "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547": {
+            "labels": [{"name": "awaiting core review"}]
+        },
     }
-
     getiter = {
         "/repos/miss-islington/cpython/git/refs/heads/": [
             {"ref": f"refs/heads/backport-{sha[0:7]}-3.6", "object": {"sha": sha}},
@@ -765,18 +746,69 @@ async def test_ci_passed_approved_by_non_core_dev_review_pr_is_not_merged():
                 "body": "\n\n`arg_name` and `element_index` are defined as `digit`+ instead of `integer`.\n(cherry picked from commit 7a561afd2c79f63a6008843b83733911d07f0119)\n\nCo-authored-by: Mariatta <Mariatta@users.noreply.github.com>",
             }
         ],
-        "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547/reviews": [
-            {"user": {"login": "Mariatta"}, "state": "APPROVED"}
+    }
+
+    gh = FakeGH(getitem=getitem, getiter=getiter)
+    await status_change.router.dispatch(event, gh)
+    assert not hasattr(gh, "put_data")  # is not merged
+
+
+async def test_branch_sha_not_matched_pr_not_merged():
+    sha = "f2393593c99dd2d3ab8bfab6fcc5ddee540518a9"
+    data = {"sha": sha, "commit": {"committer": {"login": "miss-islington"}}}
+    event = sansio.Event(data, event="status", delivery_id="1")
+
+    getitem = {
+        f"/repos/python/cpython/commits/{sha}/status": {
+            "state": "success",
+            "statuses": [
+                {
+                    "state": "success",
+                    "description": "Issue report skipped",
+                    "context": "bedevere/issue-number",
+                },
+                {
+                    "state": "success",
+                    "description": "The Travis CI build passed",
+                    "target_url": "https://travis-ci.org/python/cpython/builds/340259685?utm_source=github_status&utm_medium=notification",
+                    "context": "continuous-integration/travis-ci/pr",
+                },
+            ],
+        },
+        "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5544": {
+            "user": {"login": "miss-islington"},
+            "merged_by": {"login": "Mariatta"},
+        },
+        "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547": {"labels": [{"name": "awaiting merge"}]},
+    }
+
+    getiter = {
+        "/repos/miss-islington/cpython/git/refs/heads/": [
+            {"ref": f"refs/heads/backport-{sha[0:7]}-3.6", "object": {"sha": sha}},
+            {
+                "ref": "refs/heads/backport-63ae044-3.6",
+                "object": {
+                    "sha": "67a2b0b7713e40dea7762b7d7764ae18fe967561",
+                    "type": "commit",
+                    "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/miss-islington/cpython/git/commits/67a2b0b7713e40dea7762b7d7764ae18fe967561",
+                },
+            },
+        ],
+        f"/repos/python/cpython/pulls?state=open&head=miss-islington:backport-{sha[0:7]}-3.6": [
+            {
+                "number": 5547,
+                "title": "[3.6] bpo-32720: Fixed the replacement field grammar documentation. (GH-5544)",
+                "body": "\n\n`arg_name` and `element_index` are defined as `digit`+ instead of `integer`.\n(cherry picked from commit 7a561afd2c79f63a6008843b83733911d07f0119)\n\nCo-authored-by: Mariatta <Mariatta@users.noreply.github.com>",
+            }
         ],
         "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547/commits": [
             {
-                "sha": "f2393593c99dd2d3ab8bfab6fcc5ddee540518a9",
+                "sha": "f2393593c99dd2d3",
                 "commit": {
                     "message": "bpo-32720: Fixed the replacement field grammar documentation. (GH-5544)\n\n`arg_name` and `element_index` are defined as `digit`+ instead of `integer`.\n(cherry picked from commit 7a561afd2c79f63a6008843b83733911d07f0119)\n\nCo-authored-by: Mariatta <Mariatta@users.noreply.github.com>"
                 },
             }
         ],
-        "/orgs/python/teams": [{"name": "Python core", "id": 42}],
     }
 
     gh = FakeGH(getitem=getitem, getiter=getiter)
@@ -784,10 +816,18 @@ async def test_ci_passed_approved_by_non_core_dev_review_pr_is_not_merged():
     assert not hasattr(gh, "put_data")  # is not merged
 
 
-async def test_branch_sha_not_matched_pr_not_merged():
+async def test_awaiting_merge_label_added_not_miss_islingtons_pr():
     sha = "f2393593c99dd2d3ab8bfab6fcc5ddee540518a9"
-    data = {"sha": sha, "commit": {"committer": {"login": "miss-islington"}}}
-    event = sansio.Event(data, event="status", delivery_id="1")
+    data = {
+        "action": "labeled",
+        "pull_request": {
+            "user": {"login": "Mariatta"},
+            "labels": [{"name": "awaiting merge"}],
+            "head": {"sha": sha},
+        },
+    }
+
+    event = sansio.Event(data, event="pull_request", delivery_id="1")
 
     getitem = {
         f"/repos/python/cpython/commits/{sha}/status": {
@@ -810,7 +850,7 @@ async def test_branch_sha_not_matched_pr_not_merged():
             "user": {"login": "miss-islington"},
             "merged_by": {"login": "Mariatta"},
         },
-        "/teams/42/memberships/Mariatta": True,
+        "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547": {"labels": [{"name": "awaiting merge"}]},
     }
 
     getiter = {
@@ -832,8 +872,78 @@ async def test_branch_sha_not_matched_pr_not_merged():
                 "body": "\n\n`arg_name` and `element_index` are defined as `digit`+ instead of `integer`.\n(cherry picked from commit 7a561afd2c79f63a6008843b83733911d07f0119)\n\nCo-authored-by: Mariatta <Mariatta@users.noreply.github.com>",
             }
         ],
-        "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547/reviews": [
-            {"user": {"login": "Mariatta"}, "state": "APPROVED"}
+        "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547/commits": [
+            {
+                "sha": "f2393593c99dd2d3",
+                "commit": {
+                    "message": "bpo-32720: Fixed the replacement field grammar documentation. (GH-5544)\n\n`arg_name` and `element_index` are defined as `digit`+ instead of `integer`.\n(cherry picked from commit 7a561afd2c79f63a6008843b83733911d07f0119)\n\nCo-authored-by: Mariatta <Mariatta@users.noreply.github.com>"
+                },
+            }
+        ],
+    }
+
+    gh = FakeGH(getitem=getitem, getiter=getiter)
+    await status_change.router.dispatch(event, gh)
+    assert not hasattr(gh, "put_data")  # is not merged
+
+
+async def test_awaiting_core_review_label_added_miss_islingtons_pr():
+    sha = "f2393593c99dd2d3ab8bfab6fcc5ddee540518a9"
+    data = {
+        "action": "labeled",
+        "pull_request": {
+            "user": {"login": "miss-islington"},
+            "labels": [{"name": "awaiting core review"}],
+            "head": {"sha": sha},
+        },
+    }
+
+    event = sansio.Event(data, event="pull_request", delivery_id="1")
+
+    getitem = {
+        f"/repos/python/cpython/commits/{sha}/status": {
+            "state": "success",
+            "statuses": [
+                {
+                    "state": "success",
+                    "description": "Issue report skipped",
+                    "context": "bedevere/issue-number",
+                },
+                {
+                    "state": "success",
+                    "description": "The Travis CI build passed",
+                    "target_url": "https://travis-ci.org/python/cpython/builds/340259685?utm_source=github_status&utm_medium=notification",
+                    "context": "continuous-integration/travis-ci/pr",
+                },
+            ],
+        },
+        "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5544": {
+            "user": {"login": "miss-islington"},
+            "merged_by": {"login": "Mariatta"},
+        },
+        "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547": {
+            "labels": [{"name": "awaiting core review"}]
+        },
+    }
+
+    getiter = {
+        "/repos/miss-islington/cpython/git/refs/heads/": [
+            {"ref": f"refs/heads/backport-{sha[0:7]}-3.6", "object": {"sha": sha}},
+            {
+                "ref": "refs/heads/backport-63ae044-3.6",
+                "object": {
+                    "sha": "67a2b0b7713e40dea7762b7d7764ae18fe967561",
+                    "type": "commit",
+                    "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/miss-islington/cpython/git/commits/67a2b0b7713e40dea7762b7d7764ae18fe967561",
+                },
+            },
+        ],
+        f"/repos/python/cpython/pulls?state=open&head=miss-islington:backport-{sha[0:7]}-3.6": [
+            {
+                "number": 5547,
+                "title": "[3.6] bpo-32720: Fixed the replacement field grammar documentation. (GH-5544)",
+                "body": "\n\n`arg_name` and `element_index` are defined as `digit`+ instead of `integer`.\n(cherry picked from commit 7a561afd2c79f63a6008843b83733911d07f0119)\n\nCo-authored-by: Mariatta <Mariatta@users.noreply.github.com>",
+            }
         ],
         "/repos/python/cpython/pulls/5547/commits": [
             {
@@ -843,7 +953,6 @@ async def test_branch_sha_not_matched_pr_not_merged():
                 },
             }
         ],
-        "/orgs/python/teams": [{"name": "Python core", "id": 42}],
     }
 
     gh = FakeGH(getitem=getitem, getiter=getiter)
diff --git a/tests/test_util.py b/tests/test_util.py
index 933dc533368b9aa..3e4df30b5f4cb9a 100644
--- a/tests/test_util.py
+++ b/tests/test_util.py
@@ -31,11 +31,6 @@ async def getiter(self, url):
         for item in to_iterate:
             yield item
 
-    async def post(self, url, *, data):
-        self.post_url = url
-        self.post_data = data
-        return self._post_return
-
 
 def test_title_normalization():
     title = "abcd"
@@ -118,3 +113,13 @@ async def test_is_core_dev():
     gh = FakeGH(getiter={"/orgs/python/teams": teams}, getitem=getitem)
     with pytest.raises(gidgethub.BadRequest):
         await util.is_core_dev(gh, "miss-islington")
+
+
+def test_pr_is_awaiting_merge():
+    labels = [{"name": "CLA Signed"}, {"name": "awaiting merge"}]
+    assert util.pr_is_awaiting_merge(labels) is True
+
+
+def test_pr_is_not_awaiting_merge():
+    labels = [{"name": "CLA Signed", "name": "skip issue", "name": "awaiting review"}]
+    assert util.pr_is_awaiting_merge(labels) is False