diff --git a/internal/cmd/mq.go b/internal/cmd/mq.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..82ded823
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/cmd/mq.go
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+package cmd
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/refinery"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/style"
+)
+
+// mq command flags
+var (
+	mqRetryNow bool
+)
+
+var mqCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:   "mq",
+	Short: "Merge queue operations",
+	Long: `Manage the merge queue for a rig.
+
+The merge queue tracks work from polecats waiting to be merged.
+Use these commands to view, retry, and manage merge requests.`,
+}
+
+var mqRetryCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:   "retry <rig> <mr-id>",
+	Short: "Retry a failed merge request",
+	Long: `Retry a failed merge request.
+
+Resets a failed MR so it can be processed again by the refinery.
+The MR must be in a failed state (open with an error).
+
+Examples:
+  gt mq retry gastown gt-mr-abc123
+  gt mq retry gastown gt-mr-abc123 --now`,
+	Args: cobra.ExactArgs(2),
+	RunE: runMQRetry,
+}
+
+func init() {
+	// Retry flags
+	mqRetryCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&mqRetryNow, "now", false, "Immediately process instead of waiting for refinery loop")
+
+	// Add subcommands
+	mqCmd.AddCommand(mqRetryCmd)
+
+	rootCmd.AddCommand(mqCmd)
+}
+
+func runMQRetry(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+	rigName := args[0]
+	mrID := args[1]
+
+	mgr, _, err := getRefineryManager(rigName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// Get the MR first to show info
+	mr, err := mgr.GetMR(mrID)
+	if err != nil {
+		if err == refinery.ErrMRNotFound {
+			return fmt.Errorf("merge request '%s' not found in rig '%s'", mrID, rigName)
+		}
+		return fmt.Errorf("getting merge request: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Show what we're retrying
+	fmt.Printf("Retrying merge request: %s\n", mrID)
+	fmt.Printf("  Branch: %s\n", mr.Branch)
+	fmt.Printf("  Worker: %s\n", mr.Worker)
+	if mr.Error != "" {
+		fmt.Printf("  Previous error: %s\n", style.Dim.Render(mr.Error))
+	}
+
+	// Perform the retry
+	if err := mgr.Retry(mrID, mqRetryNow); err != nil {
+		if err == refinery.ErrMRNotFailed {
+			return fmt.Errorf("merge request '%s' has not failed (status: %s)", mrID, mr.Status)
+		}
+		return fmt.Errorf("retrying merge request: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if mqRetryNow {
+		fmt.Printf("%s Merge request processed\n", style.Bold.Render("✓"))
+	} else {
+		fmt.Printf("%s Merge request queued for retry\n", style.Bold.Render("✓"))
+		fmt.Printf("  %s\n", style.Dim.Render("Will be processed on next refinery cycle"))
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/git/git.go b/internal/git/git.go
index fcd9db3a..68123dd3 100644
--- a/internal/git/git.go
+++ b/internal/git/git.go
@@ -91,6 +91,12 @@ func (g *Git) Fetch(remote string) error {
 	return err
 }
 
+// FetchBranch fetches a specific branch from the remote.
+func (g *Git) FetchBranch(remote, branch string) error {
+	_, err := g.run("fetch", remote, branch)
+	return err
+}
+
 // Pull pulls from the remote branch.
 func (g *Git) Pull(remote, branch string) error {
 	_, err := g.run("pull", remote, branch)
@@ -207,6 +213,95 @@ func (g *Git) AbortMerge() error {
 	return err
 }
 
+// CheckConflicts performs a test merge to check if source can be merged into target
+// without conflicts. Returns a list of conflicting files, or empty slice if clean.
+// The merge is always aborted after checking - no actual changes are made.
+//
+// The caller must ensure the working directory is clean before calling this.
+// After return, the working directory is restored to the target branch.
+func (g *Git) CheckConflicts(source, target string) ([]string, error) {
+	// Checkout the target branch
+	if err := g.Checkout(target); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("checkout target %s: %w", target, err)
+	}
+
+	// Attempt test merge with --no-commit --no-ff
+	// We need to capture both stdout and stderr to detect conflicts
+	_, mergeErr := g.runMergeCheck("merge", "--no-commit", "--no-ff", source)
+
+	if mergeErr != nil {
+		// Check if there are unmerged files (indicates conflict)
+		conflicts, err := g.getConflictingFiles()
+		if err == nil && len(conflicts) > 0 {
+			// Abort the test merge
+			g.AbortMerge()
+			return conflicts, nil
+		}
+
+		// Check if it's a conflict error from wrapper
+		if errors.Is(mergeErr, ErrMergeConflict) {
+			g.AbortMerge()
+			return conflicts, nil
+		}
+
+		// Some other merge error
+		g.AbortMerge()
+		return nil, mergeErr
+	}
+
+	// Merge succeeded (no conflicts) - abort the test merge
+	// Use reset since --abort won't work on successful merge
+	g.run("reset", "--hard", "HEAD")
+	return nil, nil
+}
+
+// runMergeCheck runs a git merge command and returns error info from both stdout and stderr.
+// This is needed because git merge outputs CONFLICT info to stdout.
+func (g *Git) runMergeCheck(args ...string) (string, error) {
+	cmd := exec.Command("git", args...)
+	cmd.Dir = g.workDir
+
+	var stdout, stderr bytes.Buffer
+	cmd.Stdout = &stdout
+	cmd.Stderr = &stderr
+
+	err := cmd.Run()
+	if err != nil {
+		// Check stdout for CONFLICT message (git sends it there)
+		stdoutStr := stdout.String()
+		if strings.Contains(stdoutStr, "CONFLICT") {
+			return "", ErrMergeConflict
+		}
+		// Fall back to stderr check
+		return "", g.wrapError(err, stderr.String(), args)
+	}
+
+	return strings.TrimSpace(stdout.String()), nil
+}
+
+// getConflictingFiles returns the list of files with merge conflicts.
+func (g *Git) getConflictingFiles() ([]string, error) {
+	// git diff --name-only --diff-filter=U shows unmerged files
+	out, err := g.run("diff", "--name-only", "--diff-filter=U")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	if out == "" {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+
+	files := strings.Split(out, "\n")
+	// Filter out empty strings
+	var result []string
+	for _, f := range files {
+		if f != "" {
+			result = append(result, f)
+		}
+	}
+	return result, nil
+}
+
 // AbortRebase aborts a rebase in progress.
 func (g *Git) AbortRebase() error {
 	_, err := g.run("rebase", "--abort")
diff --git a/internal/git/git_test.go b/internal/git/git_test.go
index 64d772f0..6db55f92 100644
--- a/internal/git/git_test.go
+++ b/internal/git/git_test.go
@@ -186,3 +186,157 @@ func TestRev(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("hash length = %d, want 40", len(hash))
 	}
 }
+
+func TestFetchBranch(t *testing.T) {
+	// Create a "remote" repo
+	remoteDir := t.TempDir()
+	cmd := exec.Command("git", "init", "--bare")
+	cmd.Dir = remoteDir
+	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("git init --bare: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Create a local repo and push to remote
+	localDir := initTestRepo(t)
+	g := NewGit(localDir)
+
+	// Add remote
+	cmd = exec.Command("git", "remote", "add", "origin", remoteDir)
+	cmd.Dir = localDir
+	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("git remote add: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Push main branch
+	mainBranch, _ := g.CurrentBranch()
+	cmd = exec.Command("git", "push", "-u", "origin", mainBranch)
+	cmd.Dir = localDir
+	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("git push: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Fetch should succeed
+	if err := g.FetchBranch("origin", mainBranch); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("FetchBranch: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCheckConflicts_NoConflict(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := initTestRepo(t)
+	g := NewGit(dir)
+	mainBranch, _ := g.CurrentBranch()
+
+	// Create feature branch with non-conflicting change
+	if err := g.CreateBranch("feature"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("CreateBranch: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := g.Checkout("feature"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Checkout feature: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Add a new file (won't conflict with main)
+	newFile := filepath.Join(dir, "feature.txt")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(newFile, []byte("feature content"), 0644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write file: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := g.Add("feature.txt"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Add: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := g.Commit("add feature file"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Commit: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Go back to main
+	if err := g.Checkout(mainBranch); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Checkout main: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Check for conflicts - should be none
+	conflicts, err := g.CheckConflicts("feature", mainBranch)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("CheckConflicts: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(conflicts) > 0 {
+		t.Errorf("expected no conflicts, got %v", conflicts)
+	}
+
+	// Verify we're still on main and clean
+	branch, _ := g.CurrentBranch()
+	if branch != mainBranch {
+		t.Errorf("branch = %q, want %q", branch, mainBranch)
+	}
+	status, _ := g.Status()
+	if !status.Clean {
+		t.Error("expected clean working directory after CheckConflicts")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCheckConflicts_WithConflict(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := initTestRepo(t)
+	g := NewGit(dir)
+	mainBranch, _ := g.CurrentBranch()
+
+	// Create feature branch
+	if err := g.CreateBranch("feature"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("CreateBranch: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := g.Checkout("feature"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Checkout feature: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Modify README.md on feature branch
+	readmeFile := filepath.Join(dir, "README.md")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(readmeFile, []byte("# Feature changes\n"), 0644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write file: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := g.Add("README.md"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Add: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := g.Commit("modify readme on feature"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Commit: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Go back to main and make conflicting change
+	if err := g.Checkout(mainBranch); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Checkout main: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(readmeFile, []byte("# Main changes\n"), 0644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write file: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := g.Add("README.md"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Add: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := g.Commit("modify readme on main"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Commit: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Check for conflicts - should find README.md
+	conflicts, err := g.CheckConflicts("feature", mainBranch)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("CheckConflicts: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(conflicts) == 0 {
+		t.Error("expected conflicts, got none")
+	}
+
+	foundReadme := false
+	for _, f := range conflicts {
+		if f == "README.md" {
+			foundReadme = true
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	if !foundReadme {
+		t.Errorf("expected README.md in conflicts, got %v", conflicts)
+	}
+
+	// Verify we're still on main and clean
+	branch, _ := g.CurrentBranch()
+	if branch != mainBranch {
+		t.Errorf("branch = %q, want %q", branch, mainBranch)
+	}
+	status, _ := g.Status()
+	if !status.Clean {
+		t.Error("expected clean working directory after CheckConflicts")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/refinery/manager.go b/internal/refinery/manager.go
index c8ad3971..9e8c2d0e 100644
--- a/internal/refinery/manager.go
+++ b/internal/refinery/manager.go
@@ -551,6 +551,90 @@ Thank you for your contribution!`,
 	router.Send(msg)
 }
 
+// ErrMRNotFound is returned when a merge request is not found.
+var ErrMRNotFound = errors.New("merge request not found")
+
+// ErrMRNotFailed is returned when trying to retry an MR that hasn't failed.
+var ErrMRNotFailed = errors.New("merge request has not failed")
+
+// GetMR returns a merge request by ID.
+func (m *Manager) GetMR(id string) (*MergeRequest, error) {
+	ref, err := m.loadState()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	// Check if it's the current MR
+	if ref.CurrentMR != nil && ref.CurrentMR.ID == id {
+		return ref.CurrentMR, nil
+	}
+
+	// Check pending MRs
+	if ref.PendingMRs != nil {
+		if mr, ok := ref.PendingMRs[id]; ok {
+			return mr, nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil, ErrMRNotFound
+}
+
+// Retry resets a failed merge request so it can be processed again.
+// If processNow is true, immediately processes the MR instead of waiting for the loop.
+func (m *Manager) Retry(id string, processNow bool) error {
+	ref, err := m.loadState()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// Find the MR
+	var mr *MergeRequest
+	if ref.PendingMRs != nil {
+		mr = ref.PendingMRs[id]
+	}
+	if mr == nil {
+		return ErrMRNotFound
+	}
+
+	// Verify it's in a failed state (open with an error)
+	if mr.Status != MROpen || mr.Error == "" {
+		return ErrMRNotFailed
+	}
+
+	// Clear the error to mark as ready for retry
+	mr.Error = ""
+
+	// Save the state
+	if err := m.saveState(ref); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// If --now flag, process immediately
+	if processNow {
+		result := m.ProcessMR(mr)
+		if !result.Success {
+			return fmt.Errorf("retry failed: %s", result.Error)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// RegisterMR adds a merge request to the pending queue.
+func (m *Manager) RegisterMR(mr *MergeRequest) error {
+	ref, err := m.loadState()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if ref.PendingMRs == nil {
+		ref.PendingMRs = make(map[string]*MergeRequest)
+	}
+
+	ref.PendingMRs[mr.ID] = mr
+	return m.saveState(ref)
+}
+
 // findTownRoot walks up directories to find the town root.
 func findTownRoot(startPath string) string {
 	path := startPath
diff --git a/internal/refinery/manager_test.go b/internal/refinery/manager_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..19dc20d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/refinery/manager_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,172 @@
+package refinery
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/rig"
+)
+
+func setupTestManager(t *testing.T) (*Manager, string) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	// Create temp directory structure
+	tmpDir := t.TempDir()
+	rigPath := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "testrig")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(rigPath, ".gastown"), 0755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("mkdir .gastown: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	r := &rig.Rig{
+		Name: "testrig",
+		Path: rigPath,
+	}
+
+	return NewManager(r), rigPath
+}
+
+func TestManager_GetMR(t *testing.T) {
+	mgr, _ := setupTestManager(t)
+
+	// Create a test MR in the pending queue
+	mr := &MergeRequest{
+		ID:       "gt-mr-abc123",
+		Branch:   "polecat/Toast/gt-xyz",
+		Worker:   "Toast",
+		IssueID:  "gt-xyz",
+		Status:   MROpen,
+		Error:    "test failure",
+	}
+
+	if err := mgr.RegisterMR(mr); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("RegisterMR: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	t.Run("find existing MR", func(t *testing.T) {
+		found, err := mgr.GetMR("gt-mr-abc123")
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("GetMR() unexpected error: %v", err)
+		}
+		if found == nil {
+			t.Fatal("GetMR() returned nil")
+		}
+		if found.ID != mr.ID {
+			t.Errorf("GetMR() ID = %s, want %s", found.ID, mr.ID)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("MR not found", func(t *testing.T) {
+		_, err := mgr.GetMR("nonexistent-mr")
+		if err != ErrMRNotFound {
+			t.Errorf("GetMR() error = %v, want %v", err, ErrMRNotFound)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestManager_Retry(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("retry failed MR clears error", func(t *testing.T) {
+		mgr, _ := setupTestManager(t)
+
+		// Create a failed MR
+		mr := &MergeRequest{
+			ID:       "gt-mr-failed",
+			Branch:   "polecat/Toast/gt-xyz",
+			Worker:   "Toast",
+			Status:   MROpen,
+			Error:    "merge conflict",
+		}
+
+		if err := mgr.RegisterMR(mr); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("RegisterMR: %v", err)
+		}
+
+		// Retry without processing
+		err := mgr.Retry("gt-mr-failed", false)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Retry() unexpected error: %v", err)
+		}
+
+		// Verify error was cleared
+		found, _ := mgr.GetMR("gt-mr-failed")
+		if found.Error != "" {
+			t.Errorf("Retry() error not cleared, got %s", found.Error)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("retry non-failed MR fails", func(t *testing.T) {
+		mgr, _ := setupTestManager(t)
+
+		// Create a successful MR (no error)
+		mr := &MergeRequest{
+			ID:     "gt-mr-success",
+			Branch: "polecat/Toast/gt-abc",
+			Worker: "Toast",
+			Status: MROpen,
+			Error:  "", // No error
+		}
+
+		if err := mgr.RegisterMR(mr); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("RegisterMR: %v", err)
+		}
+
+		err := mgr.Retry("gt-mr-success", false)
+		if err != ErrMRNotFailed {
+			t.Errorf("Retry() error = %v, want %v", err, ErrMRNotFailed)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("retry nonexistent MR fails", func(t *testing.T) {
+		mgr, _ := setupTestManager(t)
+
+		err := mgr.Retry("nonexistent", false)
+		if err != ErrMRNotFound {
+			t.Errorf("Retry() error = %v, want %v", err, ErrMRNotFound)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestManager_RegisterMR(t *testing.T) {
+	mgr, rigPath := setupTestManager(t)
+
+	mr := &MergeRequest{
+		ID:           "gt-mr-new",
+		Branch:       "polecat/Cheedo/gt-123",
+		Worker:       "Cheedo",
+		IssueID:      "gt-123",
+		TargetBranch: "main",
+		CreatedAt:    time.Now(),
+		Status:       MROpen,
+	}
+
+	if err := mgr.RegisterMR(mr); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("RegisterMR: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Verify it was saved to disk
+	stateFile := filepath.Join(rigPath, ".gastown", "refinery.json")
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(stateFile)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("reading state file: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	var ref Refinery
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &ref); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unmarshal state: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if ref.PendingMRs == nil {
+		t.Fatal("PendingMRs is nil")
+	}
+
+	saved, ok := ref.PendingMRs["gt-mr-new"]
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("MR not found in PendingMRs")
+	}
+
+	if saved.Worker != "Cheedo" {
+		t.Errorf("saved MR worker = %s, want Cheedo", saved.Worker)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/refinery/types.go b/internal/refinery/types.go
index 4aa86c87..6d220a00 100644
--- a/internal/refinery/types.go
+++ b/internal/refinery/types.go
@@ -38,6 +38,10 @@ type Refinery struct {
 	// CurrentMR is the merge request currently being processed.
 	CurrentMR *MergeRequest `json:"current_mr,omitempty"`
 
+	// PendingMRs tracks merge requests that have been submitted.
+	// Key is the MR ID.
+	PendingMRs map[string]*MergeRequest `json:"pending_mrs,omitempty"`
+
 	// LastMergeAt is when the last successful merge happened.
 	LastMergeAt *time.Time `json:"last_merge_at,omitempty"`