diff --git a/src/entrypoints/update-comment-link.ts b/src/entrypoints/update-comment-link.ts
index 47d8245..b30fca7 100644
--- a/src/entrypoints/update-comment-link.ts
+++ b/src/entrypoints/update-comment-link.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
 } from "../github/context";
 import { GITEA_SERVER_URL } from "../github/api/config";
 import { checkAndDeleteEmptyBranch } from "../github/operations/branch-cleanup";
+import { branchHasChanges, fetchBranch, branchExists, remoteBranchExists } from "../github/utils/local-git";
 
 async function run() {
   try {
@@ -105,32 +106,71 @@ async function run() {
       const containsPRUrl = currentBody.match(prUrlPattern);
 
       if (!containsPRUrl) {
-        // Use direct SHA comparison for all Git platforms
-        console.log("Using SHA comparison for PR link check");
+        // Check if we're using Gitea or GitHub
+        const giteaApiUrl = process.env.GITEA_API_URL?.trim();
+        const isGitea = giteaApiUrl && 
+          giteaApiUrl !== "" && 
+          !giteaApiUrl.includes("api.github.com") &&
+          !giteaApiUrl.includes("github.com");
 
-        try {
-          // Get the branch info to see if it exists and has commits
-          const branchResponse = await client.api.getBranch(
-            owner,
-            repo,
-            claudeBranch,
-          );
+        if (isGitea) {
+          // Use local git commands for Gitea
+          console.log("Using local git commands for PR link check (Gitea mode)");
 
-          // Get base branch info for comparison
-          const baseResponse = await client.api.getBranch(
-            owner,
-            repo,
-            baseBranch,
-          );
+          try {
+            // Fetch latest changes from remote
+            await fetchBranch(claudeBranch);
+            await fetchBranch(baseBranch);
 
-          const branchSha = branchResponse.data.commit.sha;
-          const baseSha = baseResponse.data.commit.sha;
+            // Check if branch exists and has changes
+            const { hasChanges, branchSha, baseSha } = await branchHasChanges(claudeBranch, baseBranch);
 
-          // If SHAs are different, assume there are changes and add PR link
-          if (branchSha !== baseSha) {
-            console.log(
-              `Branch ${claudeBranch} appears to have changes (different SHA from base)`,
-            );
+            if (branchSha && baseSha) {
+              if (hasChanges) {
+                console.log(
+                  `Branch ${claudeBranch} appears to have changes (different SHA from base)`,
+                );
+                const entityType = context.isPR ? "PR" : "Issue";
+                const prTitle = encodeURIComponent(
+                  `${entityType} #${context.entityNumber}: Changes from Claude`,
+                );
+                const prBody = encodeURIComponent(
+                  `This PR addresses ${entityType.toLowerCase()} #${context.entityNumber}\n\nGenerated with [Claude Code](https://claude.ai/code)`,
+                );
+                const prUrl = `${serverUrl}/${owner}/${repo}/compare/${baseBranch}...${claudeBranch}?quick_pull=1&title=${prTitle}&body=${prBody}`;
+                prLink = `\n[Create a PR](${prUrl})`;
+              } else {
+                console.log(
+                  `Branch ${claudeBranch} has same SHA as base, no PR link needed`,
+                );
+              }
+            } else {
+              // If we can't get SHAs, check if branch exists at all
+              const localExists = await branchExists(claudeBranch);
+              const remoteExists = await remoteBranchExists(claudeBranch);
+              
+              if (localExists || remoteExists) {
+                console.log(`Branch ${claudeBranch} exists but SHA comparison failed, adding PR link to be safe`);
+                const entityType = context.isPR ? "PR" : "Issue";
+                const prTitle = encodeURIComponent(
+                  `${entityType} #${context.entityNumber}: Changes from Claude`,
+                );
+                const prBody = encodeURIComponent(
+                  `This PR addresses ${entityType.toLowerCase()} #${context.entityNumber}\n\nGenerated with [Claude Code](https://claude.ai/code)`,
+                );
+                const prUrl = `${serverUrl}/${owner}/${repo}/compare/${baseBranch}...${claudeBranch}?quick_pull=1&title=${prTitle}&body=${prBody}`;
+                prLink = `\n[Create a PR](${prUrl})`;
+              } else {
+                console.log(
+                  `Branch ${claudeBranch} does not exist yet - no PR link needed`,
+                );
+                prLink = "";
+              }
+            }
+          } catch (error: any) {
+            console.error("Error checking branch with git commands:", error);
+            // For errors, add PR link to be safe
+            console.log("Adding PR link as fallback due to git command error");
             const entityType = context.isPR ? "PR" : "Issue";
             const prTitle = encodeURIComponent(
               `${entityType} #${context.entityNumber}: Changes from Claude`,
@@ -140,33 +180,71 @@ async function run() {
             );
             const prUrl = `${serverUrl}/${owner}/${repo}/compare/${baseBranch}...${claudeBranch}?quick_pull=1&title=${prTitle}&body=${prBody}`;
             prLink = `\n[Create a PR](${prUrl})`;
-          } else {
-            console.log(
-              `Branch ${claudeBranch} has same SHA as base, no PR link needed`,
-            );
           }
-        } catch (error: any) {
-          console.error("Error checking branch:", error);
+        } else {
+          // Use API calls for GitHub
+          console.log("Using API calls for PR link check (GitHub mode)");
 
-          // Handle 404 specifically - branch doesn't exist
-          if (error.status === 404) {
-            console.log(
-              `Branch ${claudeBranch} does not exist yet - no PR link needed`,
+          try {
+            // Get the branch info to see if it exists and has commits
+            const branchResponse = await client.api.getBranch(
+              owner,
+              repo,
+              claudeBranch,
             );
-            // Don't add PR link since branch doesn't exist
-            prLink = "";
-          } else {
-            // For other errors, add PR link to be safe
-            console.log("Adding PR link as fallback due to non-404 error");
-            const entityType = context.isPR ? "PR" : "Issue";
-            const prTitle = encodeURIComponent(
-              `${entityType} #${context.entityNumber}: Changes from Claude`,
+
+            // Get base branch info for comparison
+            const baseResponse = await client.api.getBranch(
+              owner,
+              repo,
+              baseBranch,
             );
-            const prBody = encodeURIComponent(
-              `This PR addresses ${entityType.toLowerCase()} #${context.entityNumber}\n\nGenerated with [Claude Code](https://claude.ai/code)`,
-            );
-            const prUrl = `${serverUrl}/${owner}/${repo}/compare/${baseBranch}...${claudeBranch}?quick_pull=1&title=${prTitle}&body=${prBody}`;
-            prLink = `\n[Create a PR](${prUrl})`;
+
+            const branchSha = branchResponse.data.commit.sha;
+            const baseSha = baseResponse.data.commit.sha;
+
+            // If SHAs are different, assume there are changes and add PR link
+            if (branchSha !== baseSha) {
+              console.log(
+                `Branch ${claudeBranch} appears to have changes (different SHA from base)`,
+              );
+              const entityType = context.isPR ? "PR" : "Issue";
+              const prTitle = encodeURIComponent(
+                `${entityType} #${context.entityNumber}: Changes from Claude`,
+              );
+              const prBody = encodeURIComponent(
+                `This PR addresses ${entityType.toLowerCase()} #${context.entityNumber}\n\nGenerated with [Claude Code](https://claude.ai/code)`,
+              );
+              const prUrl = `${serverUrl}/${owner}/${repo}/compare/${baseBranch}...${claudeBranch}?quick_pull=1&title=${prTitle}&body=${prBody}`;
+              prLink = `\n[Create a PR](${prUrl})`;
+            } else {
+              console.log(
+                `Branch ${claudeBranch} has same SHA as base, no PR link needed`,
+              );
+            }
+          } catch (error: any) {
+            console.error("Error checking branch:", error);
+
+            // Handle 404 specifically - branch doesn't exist
+            if (error.status === 404) {
+              console.log(
+                `Branch ${claudeBranch} does not exist yet - no PR link needed`,
+              );
+              // Don't add PR link since branch doesn't exist
+              prLink = "";
+            } else {
+              // For other errors, add PR link to be safe
+              console.log("Adding PR link as fallback due to non-404 error");
+              const entityType = context.isPR ? "PR" : "Issue";
+              const prTitle = encodeURIComponent(
+                `${entityType} #${context.entityNumber}: Changes from Claude`,
+              );
+              const prBody = encodeURIComponent(
+                `This PR addresses ${entityType.toLowerCase()} #${context.entityNumber}\n\nGenerated with [Claude Code](https://claude.ai/code)`,
+              );
+              const prUrl = `${serverUrl}/${owner}/${repo}/compare/${baseBranch}...${claudeBranch}?quick_pull=1&title=${prTitle}&body=${prBody}`;
+              prLink = `\n[Create a PR](${prUrl})`;
+            }
           }
         }
       }
diff --git a/src/github/operations/branch-cleanup.ts b/src/github/operations/branch-cleanup.ts
index fc20989..4280145 100644
--- a/src/github/operations/branch-cleanup.ts
+++ b/src/github/operations/branch-cleanup.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import type { GitHubClient } from "../api/client";
 import { GITEA_SERVER_URL } from "../api/config";
+import { branchHasChanges, fetchBranch, branchExists, remoteBranchExists } from "../utils/local-git";
 
 export async function checkAndDeleteEmptyBranch(
   client: GitHubClient,
@@ -12,51 +13,108 @@ export async function checkAndDeleteEmptyBranch(
   let shouldDeleteBranch = false;
 
   if (claudeBranch) {
-    // Use direct SHA comparison for both GitHub and Gitea
-    console.log("Using SHA comparison for branch check");
+    // Check if we're using Gitea or GitHub
+    const giteaApiUrl = process.env.GITEA_API_URL?.trim();
+    const isGitea = giteaApiUrl && 
+      giteaApiUrl !== "" && 
+      !giteaApiUrl.includes("api.github.com") &&
+      !giteaApiUrl.includes("github.com");
 
-    try {
-      // Get the branch info to see if it exists and has commits
-      const branchResponse = await client.api.getBranch(
-        owner,
-        repo,
-        claudeBranch,
-      );
+    if (isGitea) {
+      // Use local git operations for Gitea
+      console.log("Using local git commands for branch check (Gitea mode)");
 
-      // Get base branch info for comparison
-      const baseResponse = await client.api.getBranch(owner, repo, baseBranch);
+      try {
+        // Fetch latest changes from remote
+        await fetchBranch(claudeBranch);
+        await fetchBranch(baseBranch);
 
-      const branchSha = branchResponse.data.commit.sha;
-      const baseSha = baseResponse.data.commit.sha;
+        // Check if branch exists and has changes
+        const { hasChanges, branchSha, baseSha } = await branchHasChanges(claudeBranch, baseBranch);
 
-      // If SHAs are different, assume there are commits
-      if (branchSha !== baseSha) {
-        console.log(
-          `Branch ${claudeBranch} appears to have commits (different SHA from base)`,
-        );
+        if (branchSha && baseSha) {
+          if (hasChanges) {
+            console.log(
+              `Branch ${claudeBranch} appears to have commits (different SHA from base)`,
+            );
+            const branchUrl = `${GITEA_SERVER_URL}/${owner}/${repo}/tree/${claudeBranch}`;
+            branchLink = `\n[View branch](${branchUrl})`;
+          } else {
+            console.log(
+              `Branch ${claudeBranch} has same SHA as base, marking for deletion`,
+            );
+            shouldDeleteBranch = true;
+          }
+        } else {
+          // If we can't get SHAs, check if branch exists at all
+          const localExists = await branchExists(claudeBranch);
+          const remoteExists = await remoteBranchExists(claudeBranch);
+          
+          if (localExists || remoteExists) {
+            console.log(`Branch ${claudeBranch} exists but SHA comparison failed, assuming it has commits`);
+            const branchUrl = `${GITEA_SERVER_URL}/${owner}/${repo}/tree/${claudeBranch}`;
+            branchLink = `\n[View branch](${branchUrl})`;
+          } else {
+            console.log(
+              `Branch ${claudeBranch} does not exist yet - this is normal during workflow`,
+            );
+            branchLink = "";
+          }
+        }
+      } catch (error: any) {
+        console.error("Error checking branch with git commands:", error);
+        // For errors, assume the branch has commits to be safe
+        console.log("Assuming branch exists due to git command error");
         const branchUrl = `${GITEA_SERVER_URL}/${owner}/${repo}/tree/${claudeBranch}`;
         branchLink = `\n[View branch](${branchUrl})`;
-      } else {
-        console.log(
-          `Branch ${claudeBranch} has same SHA as base, marking for deletion`,
-        );
-        shouldDeleteBranch = true;
       }
-    } catch (error: any) {
-      console.error("Error checking branch:", error);
+    } else {
+      // Use API calls for GitHub
+      console.log("Using API calls for branch check (GitHub mode)");
 
-      // Handle 404 specifically - branch doesn't exist
-      if (error.status === 404) {
-        console.log(
-          `Branch ${claudeBranch} does not exist yet - this is normal during workflow`,
+      try {
+        // Get the branch info to see if it exists and has commits
+        const branchResponse = await client.api.getBranch(
+          owner,
+          repo,
+          claudeBranch,
         );
-        // Don't add branch link since branch doesn't exist
-        branchLink = "";
-      } else {
-        // For other errors, assume the branch has commits to be safe
-        console.log("Assuming branch exists due to non-404 error");
-        const branchUrl = `${GITEA_SERVER_URL}/${owner}/${repo}/tree/${claudeBranch}`;
-        branchLink = `\n[View branch](${branchUrl})`;
+
+        // Get base branch info for comparison
+        const baseResponse = await client.api.getBranch(owner, repo, baseBranch);
+
+        const branchSha = branchResponse.data.commit.sha;
+        const baseSha = baseResponse.data.commit.sha;
+
+        // If SHAs are different, assume there are commits
+        if (branchSha !== baseSha) {
+          console.log(
+            `Branch ${claudeBranch} appears to have commits (different SHA from base)`,
+          );
+          const branchUrl = `${GITEA_SERVER_URL}/${owner}/${repo}/tree/${claudeBranch}`;
+          branchLink = `\n[View branch](${branchUrl})`;
+        } else {
+          console.log(
+            `Branch ${claudeBranch} has same SHA as base, marking for deletion`,
+          );
+          shouldDeleteBranch = true;
+        }
+      } catch (error: any) {
+        console.error("Error checking branch:", error);
+
+        // Handle 404 specifically - branch doesn't exist
+        if (error.status === 404) {
+          console.log(
+            `Branch ${claudeBranch} does not exist yet - this is normal during workflow`,
+          );
+          // Don't add branch link since branch doesn't exist
+          branchLink = "";
+        } else {
+          // For other errors, assume the branch has commits to be safe
+          console.log("Assuming branch exists due to non-404 error");
+          const branchUrl = `${GITEA_SERVER_URL}/${owner}/${repo}/tree/${claudeBranch}`;
+          branchLink = `\n[View branch](${branchUrl})`;
+        }
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/github/utils/local-git.ts b/src/github/utils/local-git.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..551831e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/github/utils/local-git.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bun
+
+import { $ } from "bun";
+
+/**
+ * Check if a branch exists locally using git commands
+ */
+export async function branchExists(branchName: string): Promise<boolean> {
+  try {
+    await $`git show-ref --verify --quiet refs/heads/${branchName}`;
+    return true;
+  } catch {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Check if a remote branch exists using git commands
+ */
+export async function remoteBranchExists(branchName: string): Promise<boolean> {
+  try {
+    await $`git show-ref --verify --quiet refs/remotes/origin/${branchName}`;
+    return true;
+  } catch {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Get the SHA of a branch using git commands
+ */
+export async function getBranchSha(branchName: string): Promise<string | null> {
+  try {
+    // Try local branch first
+    if (await branchExists(branchName)) {
+      const result = await $`git rev-parse refs/heads/${branchName}`;
+      return result.text().trim();
+    }
+    
+    // Try remote branch if local doesn't exist
+    if (await remoteBranchExists(branchName)) {
+      const result = await $`git rev-parse refs/remotes/origin/${branchName}`;
+      return result.text().trim();
+    }
+    
+    return null;
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error(`Error getting SHA for branch ${branchName}:`, error);
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Check if a branch has commits different from base branch
+ */
+export async function branchHasChanges(branchName: string, baseBranch: string): Promise<{ hasChanges: boolean; branchSha: string | null; baseSha: string | null }> {
+  try {
+    const branchSha = await getBranchSha(branchName);
+    const baseSha = await getBranchSha(baseBranch);
+    
+    if (!branchSha || !baseSha) {
+      return { hasChanges: false, branchSha, baseSha };
+    }
+    
+    const hasChanges = branchSha !== baseSha;
+    return { hasChanges, branchSha, baseSha };
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error(`Error comparing branches ${branchName} and ${baseBranch}:`, error);
+    return { hasChanges: false, branchSha: null, baseSha: null };
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Fetch latest changes from remote to ensure we have up-to-date branch info
+ */
+export async function fetchBranch(branchName: string): Promise<boolean> {
+  try {
+    await $`git fetch origin ${branchName}`;
+    return true;
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.log(`Could not fetch branch ${branchName} from remote (may not exist yet)`);
+    return false;
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file