diff --git a/.github/scripts/pull-request-dashboard/pr_status_comment.py b/.github/scripts/pull-request-dashboard/pr_status_comment.py
index 62b1dd6ff96..cc068aca3d3 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/pull-request-dashboard/pr_status_comment.py
+++ b/.github/scripts/pull-request-dashboard/pr_status_comment.py
@@ -368,7 +368,10 @@ def prepare_rollout_state(
     rollout_state: dict[str, Any],
     open_pr_numbers: set[int],
 ) -> dict[str, Any]:
-    if rollout_state.get("target_revision") != STATUS_COMMENT_REVISION:
+    target_revision = int(rollout_state.get("target_revision") or 0)
+    if target_revision > STATUS_COMMENT_REVISION:
+        return dict(rollout_state)
+    if target_revision < STATUS_COMMENT_REVISION:
         return {
             "target_revision": STATUS_COMMENT_REVISION,
             "completed_revision": int(rollout_state.get("completed_revision") or 0),
@@ -396,6 +399,12 @@ def update_status_comments_from_state(
         return []
 
     saved_rollout_state = load_status_comment_rollout_state()
+    if saved_rollout_state.get("target_revision", 0) > STATUS_COMMENT_REVISION:
+        print(
+            "status comment rollout targets a newer renderer revision; skipping stale worker",
+            file=sys.stderr,
+        )
+        return []
     queued_pr_numbers = set(saved_rollout_state.get("pending_pr_numbers") or [])
     rollout_state = prepare_rollout_state(saved_rollout_state, open_pr_numbers)
     pending_pr_numbers = set(rollout_state["pending_pr_numbers"]) | queued_pr_numbers
diff --git a/.github/scripts/pull-request-dashboard/test_pr_status_comment.py b/.github/scripts/pull-request-dashboard/test_pr_status_comment.py
index ca1771c555d..439987ade9e 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/pull-request-dashboard/test_pr_status_comment.py
+++ b/.github/scripts/pull-request-dashboard/test_pr_status_comment.py
@@ -635,6 +635,45 @@ def test_current_revision_drops_closed_prs_from_queue(self) -> None:
 
         self.assertEqual([34], state["pending_pr_numbers"])
 
+    def test_older_revision_preserves_newer_rollout_state(self) -> None:
+        newer_state = {
+            "target_revision": pr_status_comment.STATUS_COMMENT_REVISION + 1,
+            "completed_revision": pr_status_comment.STATUS_COMMENT_REVISION,
+            "pending_pr_numbers": [12, 34],
+        }
+
+        state = pr_status_comment.prepare_rollout_state(newer_state, {34, 56})
+
+        self.assertEqual(newer_state, state)
+
+    @patch.object(pr_status_comment, "save_status_comment_rollout_state")
+    @patch.object(pr_status_comment, "publish_pr_status")
+    @patch.object(pr_status_comment, "load_dashboard_state_cache", return_value={"prs": {}})
+    @patch.object(
+        pr_status_comment,
+        "load_status_comment_rollout_state",
+        return_value={
+            "target_revision": pr_status_comment.STATUS_COMMENT_REVISION + 1,
+            "completed_revision": pr_status_comment.STATUS_COMMENT_REVISION,
+            "pending_pr_numbers": [12, 34],
+        },
+    )
+    def test_older_revision_does_not_publish_or_mutate_newer_rollout(
+        self,
+        _load_rollout: object,
+        _load_dashboard: object,
+        publish_pr_status: Mock,
+        save_rollout: Mock,
+    ) -> None:
+        status = pr_status_comment.update_status_comments_from_state(
+            "open-telemetry/example",
+            {12, 34},
+        )
+
+        self.assertEqual([], status)
+        publish_pr_status.assert_not_called()
+        save_rollout.assert_not_called()
+
     @patch.object(pr_status_comment, "save_status_comment_rollout_state")
     @patch.object(pr_status_comment, "publish_pr_status")
     @patch.object(pr_status_comment, "load_dashboard_state_cache", return_value={"prs": {}})