diff --git a/slash-commands/README.md b/slash-commands/README.md
index 6dadcc4..31aebf6 100644
--- a/slash-commands/README.md
+++ b/slash-commands/README.md
@@ -221,6 +221,7 @@ jobs:
 | `project-number` | | _(empty)_ | Org-level Project (V2) number to update on accept. Empty = disabled. Adds the PR to the project if not already present. Requires the App to have **Organization Projects: write**. |
 | `project-status-field` | | `Status` | Name of the single-select field to set on accept. |
 | `project-accepted-option` | | `Accepted` | Name of the option to set in the status field on accept. |
+| `project-gate-label` | | _(empty)_ | If set, only update the project status when the PR has this label (e.g. `SEP`). Empty = update for every accepted PR. Label removal via `remove-labels-on-accept` is not gated — it always runs. |
 | `stageblog-workflow` | | _(empty)_ | Workflow file name (e.g. `stage-blog.yml`) to dispatch when `/stageblog` is invoked. Empty = command disabled. The workflow must accept `pr_number` and `head_sha` string inputs. |
 | `stageblog-paths` | | `blog/**` | Comma-separated CODEOWNERS-style glob patterns. `/stageblog` is refused if no changed file matches. |
 
diff --git a/slash-commands/action.yml b/slash-commands/action.yml
index 60794fd..d560e56 100644
--- a/slash-commands/action.yml
+++ b/slash-commands/action.yml
@@ -87,6 +87,12 @@ inputs:
     description: Name of the option to set in the status field on accept
     required: false
     default: Accepted
+  project-gate-label:
+    description: >-
+      If set, only update the project status when the PR has this label.
+      Leave empty to update the project for every accepted PR.
+    required: false
+    default: ''
   stageblog-workflow:
     description: >-
       Workflow file name (e.g. stage-blog.yml) to dispatch when /stageblog is
@@ -133,6 +139,7 @@ runs:
         PROJECT_NUMBER: ${{ inputs.project-number }}
         PROJECT_STATUS_FIELD: ${{ inputs.project-status-field }}
         PROJECT_ACCEPTED_OPTION: ${{ inputs.project-accepted-option }}
+        PROJECT_GATE_LABEL: ${{ inputs.project-gate-label }}
         STAGEBLOG_WORKFLOW: ${{ inputs.stageblog-workflow }}
         STAGEBLOG_PATHS: ${{ inputs.stageblog-paths }}
       with:
diff --git a/slash-commands/main.js b/slash-commands/main.js
index 3c314e2..f2da594 100644
--- a/slash-commands/main.js
+++ b/slash-commands/main.js
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ module.exports = async ({ github, context, core }) => {
   const projectNumber = parseInt(process.env.PROJECT_NUMBER, 10) || 0;
   const projectStatusField = process.env.PROJECT_STATUS_FIELD;
   const projectAcceptedOption = process.env.PROJECT_ACCEPTED_OPTION;
+  const projectGateLabel = process.env.PROJECT_GATE_LABEL;
   const reviewMarker = '<!-- slash-commands-lgtm -->';
 
   function setResult(result, actor) {
@@ -265,11 +266,15 @@ module.exports = async ({ github, context, core }) => {
       core.info(`Auto-merge disable skipped: ${e.message}`);
     }
   }
-  async function onAccept(prNumber, prNodeId) {
+  async function onAccept(pr) {
     for (const label of removeLabelsOnAccept) {
-      await removeLabel(prNumber, label);
+      await removeLabel(pr.number, label);
     }
     if (!projectNumber) return;
+    if (projectGateLabel && !pr.labels.some(l => l.name === projectGateLabel)) {
+      core.info(`Skipping project update — PR lacks '${projectGateLabel}' label`);
+      return;
+    }
     try {
       const lookup = await github.graphql(
         `query($org: String!, $num: Int!, $field: String!) {
@@ -304,7 +309,7 @@ module.exports = async ({ github, context, core }) => {
             item { id }
           }
         }`,
-        { proj: project.id, pr: prNodeId },
+        { proj: project.id, pr: pr.node_id },
       );
       const itemId = add.addProjectV2ItemById.item.id;
       await github.graphql(
@@ -376,7 +381,7 @@ module.exports = async ({ github, context, core }) => {
       return setResult('force-unauthorized', actor);
     }
     await addLabel(prNumber, approvedLabel);
-    await onAccept(prNumber, pr.node_id);
+    await onAccept(pr);
     if (submitReview) await submitApproval(prNumber, actor, true);
     await react(commentId, '+1');
     await enableAutoMerge(pr.node_id, prNumber);
@@ -447,7 +452,7 @@ module.exports = async ({ github, context, core }) => {
   // Execute
   if (cmd === 'lgtm' && !cancel) {
     await addLabel(prNumber, approvedLabel);
-    await onAccept(prNumber, pr.node_id);
+    await onAccept(pr);
     if (submitReview) await submitApproval(prNumber, actor);
     await react(commentId, '+1');
     await enableAutoMerge(pr.node_id, prNumber);