diff --git a/scripts/auto_close_needs_mre.py b/scripts/auto_close_needs_mre.py
index a9185f584..240e83a01 100644
--- a/scripts/auto_close_needs_mre.py
+++ b/scripts/auto_close_needs_mre.py
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
 
 import httpx
 
+MAINTAINER_AUTHOR_ASSOCIATIONS = {"OWNER", "MEMBER", "COLLABORATOR"}
+
 
 @dataclass
 class Issue:
@@ -31,6 +33,7 @@ class Issue:
     user_id: int
     user_login: str
     body: str | None
+    author_association: str
 
 
 @dataclass
@@ -104,6 +107,7 @@ class GitHubClient:
                         user_id=item["user"]["id"],
                         user_login=item["user"]["login"],
                         body=item.get("body"),
+                        author_association=item.get("author_association", "NONE"),
                     )
                 )
 
@@ -307,6 +311,10 @@ def should_close_as_needs_mre(
     timeline: list[dict],
 ) -> bool:
     """Determine if an issue should be closed for needing an MRE."""
+    if issue.author_association in MAINTAINER_AUTHOR_ASSOCIATIONS:
+        print(f"Issue #{issue.number}: Skipping maintainer-authored issue")
+        return False
+
     # Check if label is old enough (7 days)
     seven_days_ago = datetime.now(timezone.utc) - timedelta(days=7)
 
diff --git a/tests/scripts/test_auto_close_needs_mre.py b/tests/scripts/test_auto_close_needs_mre.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8a4f089b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/scripts/test_auto_close_needs_mre.py
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
+
+import pytest
+
+from scripts.auto_close_needs_mre import Comment, Issue, should_close_as_needs_mre
+
+
+def make_issue(author_association: str = "NONE") -> Issue:
+    return Issue(
+        number=1,
+        title="Bug report",
+        state="open",
+        created_at="2026-01-01T00:00:00Z",
+        user_id=123,
+        user_login="octocat",
+        body="Something is broken",
+        author_association=author_association,
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "author_association",
+    ["OWNER", "MEMBER", "COLLABORATOR"],
+)
+def test_should_not_close_maintainer_issues(author_association: str):
+    label_date = datetime.now(timezone.utc) - timedelta(days=8)
+
+    should_close = should_close_as_needs_mre(
+        issue=make_issue(author_association),
+        label_date=label_date,
+        comments=[],
+        timeline=[],
+    )
+
+    assert should_close is False
+
+
+def test_should_close_non_maintainer_issue_without_author_activity():
+    label_date = datetime.now(timezone.utc) - timedelta(days=8)
+
+    should_close = should_close_as_needs_mre(
+        issue=make_issue("CONTRIBUTOR"),
+        label_date=label_date,
+        comments=[],
+        timeline=[],
+    )
+
+    assert should_close is True
+
+
+def test_should_not_close_non_maintainer_issue_with_author_activity():
+    label_date = datetime.now(timezone.utc) - timedelta(days=8)
+    comment = Comment(
+        id=1,
+        body="Here's the MRE",
+        created_at=(label_date + timedelta(days=1)).isoformat(),
+        user_id=123,
+        user_login="octocat",
+    )
+
+    should_close = should_close_as_needs_mre(
+        issue=make_issue("CONTRIBUTOR"),
+        label_date=label_date,
+        comments=[comment],
+        timeline=[],
+    )
+
+    assert should_close is False