diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fc837bbb..37289112 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -96,8 +96,14 @@ jobs:
       - name: Dependabot metadata
         id: dependabot-metadata
         uses: dependabot/fetch-metadata@v1.3.0
-      - name: Approve a PR
-        run: gh pr review --approve "$PR_URL"
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - name: Approve a PR if not already approved
+        run: |
+          gh pr checkout "$PR_URL" # sets the upstream metadata for `gh pr status`
+          if [ "$(gh pr status --json reviewDecision -q .currentBranch.reviewDecision)" != "APPROVED" ];
+          then gh pr review --approve "$PR_URL"
+          else echo "PR already approved, skipping additional approvals to minimize emails/notification noise.";
+          fi
         env:
           PR_URL: ${{github.event.pull_request.html_url}}
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN}}