diff --git a/docs/changes.rst b/docs/changes.rst
index f8497bb36ba2..6df3440e1324 100644
--- a/docs/changes.rst
+++ b/docs/changes.rst
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ Weblate 5.15
 * Avoid false positive checks upon committing pending changes.
 * Performance improvements for file upload.
 * Show glossary matches for the source language.
+* Pull/merge requests are now only created when necessary.
 
 .. rubric:: Compatibility
 
diff --git a/weblate/vcs/git.py b/weblate/vcs/git.py
index 102590778c6a..e052b71ecad8 100644
--- a/weblate/vcs/git.py
+++ b/weblate/vcs/git.py
@@ -875,6 +875,56 @@ class GitMergeRequestBase(GitForcePushRepository):
     REQUIRED_CONFIG: ClassVar[set[str]] = {"username", "token"}
     OPTIONAL_CONFIG: ClassVar[set[str]] = {"scheme"}
 
+    def get_fork_branch_name(self) -> str:
+        """Get the fork branch name used for pushing."""
+        if self.component is not None:
+            return f"weblate-{self.component.project.slug}-{self.component.slug}"
+        return f"weblate-{self.branch}"
+
+    def count_outgoing(self, branch: str | None = None) -> int:
+        """
+        Count outgoing commits.
+
+        For merge request workflows, we need to check against both the origin
+        remote (to see if commits are already merged) and the fork remote (to see
+        if commits are already pushed but not merged). This prevents creating
+        duplicate merge requests when commits have already been merged, while also
+        avoiding unnecessary pushes when commits are already in the fork.
+        """
+        # Check if fork is used for this branch (default and matching branches use fork)
+        if not self.should_use_fork(branch):
+            # Fork not used: check specified branch directly on origin
+            return super().count_outgoing(branch)
+
+        # Fork workflow: check if commits have been merged to origin's pull branch
+        # Omit branch parameter to check the repository's default pull branch
+        origin_outgoing = super().count_outgoing()
+        if origin_outgoing == 0:
+            # All commits are in origin, nothing to push
+            return 0
+
+        # Check if commits are in the fork (already pushed)
+        # The fork branch name is determined by get_fork_branch_name()
+        credentials = self.get_credentials()
+        fork_remote = credentials["username"]
+        fork_branch_name = self.get_fork_branch_name()
+        fork_branch = f"{fork_remote}/{fork_branch_name}"
+
+        try:
+            fork_outgoing = len(
+                self.log_revisions(self.ref_from_remote.format(fork_branch))
+            )
+            # If fork has all commits, don't need to push
+            if fork_outgoing == 0:
+                return 0
+        except RepositoryError:
+            # Fork branch doesn't exist yet or is not accessible,
+            # indicating commits haven't been pushed to fork
+            pass
+
+        # Commits are not in origin or fork, need to push
+        return origin_outgoing
+
     def merge(
         self, abort: bool = False, message: str | None = None, no_ff: bool = False
     ) -> None:
@@ -1087,12 +1137,7 @@ def push(self, branch: str) -> None:
         else:
             fork_remote = credentials["username"]
             self.fork(credentials)
-            if self.component is not None:
-                fork_branch = (
-                    f"weblate-{self.component.project.slug}-{self.component.slug}"
-                )
-            else:
-                fork_branch = f"weblate-{self.branch}"
+            fork_branch = self.get_fork_branch_name()
             self.push_to_fork(credentials, self.branch, fork_branch)
         self.create_pull_request(credentials, self.branch, fork_remote, fork_branch)
 
diff --git a/weblate/vcs/tests/test_vcs.py b/weblate/vcs/tests/test_vcs.py
index ce82cc690243..e298369e1191 100644
--- a/weblate/vcs/tests/test_vcs.py
+++ b/weblate/vcs/tests/test_vcs.py
@@ -513,6 +513,14 @@ class VCSGitForcePushTest(VCSGitTest):
 
 
 class VCSGitUpstreamTest(VCSGitTest):
+    _repo_override: str = ""
+
+    def setUp(self) -> None:
+        super().setUp()
+        # Set repo URL to match configured credentials
+        if self._repo_override:
+            self.repo.component.repo = self._repo_override
+
     def add_remote_commit(self, conflict=False, rename=False) -> None:
         # Use Git to create changed upstream repo
         backup = self._class
@@ -530,6 +538,7 @@ class VCSGiteaTest(VCSGitUpstreamTest):
     _class = GiteaFakeRepository
     _vcs = "git"
     _sets_push = False
+    _repo_override = "https://try.gitea.io/WeblateOrg/test.git"
 
     def mock_responses(self, pr_response, pr_status=200) -> None:
         """
@@ -623,8 +632,6 @@ def test_api_url_try_gitea(self) -> None:
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_push(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
-        self.repo.component.repo = "https://try.gitea.io/WeblateOrg/test.git"
-
         # Patch push_to_fork() function because we don't want to actually
         # make a git push request
         mock_push_to_fork_patcher = patch(
@@ -641,8 +648,6 @@ def test_push(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_pull_request_error(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
-        self.repo.component.repo = "https://try.gitea.io/WeblateOrg/test.git"
-
         # Patch push_to_fork() function because we don't want to actually
         # make a git push request
         mock_push_to_fork_patcher = patch(
@@ -660,8 +665,6 @@ def test_pull_request_error(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_pull_request_exists(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
-        self.repo.component.repo = "https://try.gitea.io/WeblateOrg/test.git"
-
         # Patch push_to_fork() function because we don't want to actually
         # make a git push request
         mock_push_to_fork_patcher = patch(
@@ -699,13 +702,10 @@ class VCSAzureDevOpsTest(VCSGitUpstreamTest):
     _vcs = "git"
     _sets_push = False
     _mock_push_to_fork = None
+    _repo_override = "https://dev.azure.com/organization/WeblateOrg/test.git"
 
     def setUp(self) -> None:
         super().setUp()
-        self.repo.component.repo = (
-            "https://dev.azure.com/organization/WeblateOrg/test.git"
-        )
-
         # Patch push_to_fork() function because we don't want to actually
         # make a git push request
         mock_push_to_fork_patcher = patch(
@@ -1059,6 +1059,7 @@ class VCSGitHubTest(VCSGitUpstreamTest):
     _class = GithubFakeRepository
     _vcs = "git"
     _sets_push = False
+    _repo_override = "https://github.com/WeblateOrg/test.git"
 
     def mock_responses(self, pr_response, pr_status=200) -> None:
         """
@@ -1166,8 +1167,6 @@ def test_api_url_ghes(self) -> None:
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_push(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
-        self.repo.component.repo = "https://github.com/WeblateOrg/test.git"
-
         # Patch push_to_fork() function because we don't want to actually
         # make a git push request
         mock_push_to_fork_patcher = patch(
@@ -1184,8 +1183,6 @@ def test_push(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_pull_request_error(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
-        self.repo.component.repo = "https://github.com/WeblateOrg/test.git"
-
         # Patch push_to_fork() function because we don't want to actually
         # make a git push request
         mock_push_to_fork_patcher = patch(
@@ -1203,8 +1200,6 @@ def test_pull_request_error(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_pull_request_exists(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
-        self.repo.component.repo = "https://github.com/WeblateOrg/test.git"
-
         # Patch push_to_fork() function because we don't want to actually
         # make a git push request
         mock_push_to_fork_patcher = patch(
@@ -1245,6 +1240,7 @@ class VCSGitLabTest(VCSGitUpstreamTest):
     _class = GitLabFakeRepository
     _vcs = "git"
     _sets_push = False
+    _repo_override = "https://gitlab.com/WeblateOrg/test.git"
 
     def mock_fork_responses(self, get_forks, repo_state=200) -> None:
         if repo_state == 409:
@@ -1469,8 +1465,6 @@ def test_api_url_self_hosted(self) -> None:
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_push(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
-        self.repo.component.repo = "https://gitlab.com/WeblateOrg/test.git"
-
         # Patch push_to_fork() function because we don't want to actually
         # make a git push request
         mock_push_to_fork_patcher = patch(
@@ -1490,8 +1484,6 @@ def test_push(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_push_with_existing_fork(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
-        self.repo.component.repo = "https://gitlab.com/WeblateOrg/test.git"
-
         # Patch push_to_fork() function because we don't want to actually
         # make a git push request
         mock_push_to_fork_patcher = patch(
@@ -1525,8 +1517,6 @@ def test_push_with_existing_fork(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_push_duplicate_repo_name(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
-        self.repo.component.repo = "https://gitlab.com/WeblateOrg/test.git"
-
         # Patch push_to_fork() function because we don't want to actually
         # make a git push request
         mock_push_to_fork_patcher = patch(
@@ -1554,8 +1544,6 @@ def test_push_duplicate_repo_name(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_push_rejected(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
-        self.repo.component.repo = "https://gitlab.com/WeblateOrg/test.git"
-
         # Patch push_to_fork() function because we don't want to actually
         # make a git push request
         mock_push_to_fork_patcher = patch(
@@ -1584,8 +1572,6 @@ def test_push_rejected(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_pull_request_error(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
-        self.repo.component.repo = "https://gitlab.com/WeblateOrg/test.git"
-
         # Patch push_to_fork() function because we don't want to actually
         # make a git push request
         mock_push_to_fork_patcher = patch(
@@ -1602,8 +1588,6 @@ def test_pull_request_error(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_pull_request_exists(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
-        self.repo.component.repo = "https://gitlab.com/WeblateOrg/test.git"
-
         # Patch push_to_fork() function because we don't want to actually
         # make a git push request
         mock_push_to_fork_patcher = patch(
@@ -1620,6 +1604,56 @@ def test_pull_request_exists(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
         super().test_push(branch)
         mock_push_to_fork.stop()
 
+    def test_count_outgoing_after_merge(self) -> None:
+        """Test that count_outgoing correctly detects no pending changes after merge."""
+        # Make a commit locally
+        self.test_commit()
+
+        # Verify there are outgoing commits before any push/merge
+        initial_count = self.repo.count_outgoing()
+        self.assertGreater(initial_count, 0)
+
+        # Scenario 1: Simulate the commit being pushed to fork
+        # The fork branch name is from get_fork_branch_name() method
+        credentials = self.repo.get_credentials()
+        fork_branch_name = self.repo.get_fork_branch_name()
+        fork_ref = f"refs/remotes/{credentials['username']}/{fork_branch_name}"
+        self.repo.execute(["update-ref", fork_ref, "HEAD"], needs_lock=False)
+
+        # count_outgoing should now be 0 since fork has our commits
+        # (even though origin doesn't yet - MR is pending)
+        self.assertEqual(self.repo.count_outgoing(), 0)
+
+        # Scenario 2: Simulate the merge request being merged to origin
+        # In a real scenario, after a merge request is merged and git fetch is done,
+        # origin/{branch} would contain the local commits
+        origin_ref = f"refs/remotes/origin/{self.repo.branch}"
+        self.repo.execute(["update-ref", origin_ref, "HEAD"], needs_lock=False)
+
+        # count_outgoing should still return 0 since origin has our commits
+        self.assertEqual(self.repo.count_outgoing(), 0)
+
+        # Verify with explicit branch parameter
+        self.assertEqual(self.repo.count_outgoing(self.repo.branch), 0)
+
+    def test_count_outgoing_non_default_branch(self) -> None:
+        """Test count_outgoing with non-default branch doesn't check fork."""
+        # Make a commit locally
+        self.test_commit()
+
+        # When called with a different branch than self.branch,
+        # should_use_fork() returns False, so fork checking is skipped
+        # Create a different branch name
+        different_branch = "develop" if self.repo.branch != "develop" else "feature"
+
+        # Update origin ref for the different branch
+        origin_ref = f"refs/remotes/origin/{different_branch}"
+        self.repo.execute(["update-ref", origin_ref, "HEAD"], needs_lock=False)
+
+        # count_outgoing with different branch should return 0
+        # (commits are in origin for that branch, fork not checked)
+        self.assertEqual(self.repo.count_outgoing(different_branch), 0)
+
 
 @override_settings(
     PAGURE_CREDENTIALS={"pagure.io": {"username": "test", "token": "token"}}
@@ -1628,6 +1662,7 @@ class VCSPagureTest(VCSGitUpstreamTest):
     _class = PagureFakeRepository
     _vcs = "git"
     _sets_push = False
+    _repo_override = "https://pagure.io/testrepo.git"
 
     def mock_responses(self, pr_response: dict, existing_response: dict) -> None:
         """Mock response helper function."""
@@ -1658,8 +1693,6 @@ def mock_responses(self, pr_response: dict, existing_response: dict) -> None:
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_push(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
-        self.repo.component.repo = "https://pagure.io/testrepo.git"
-
         # Patch push_to_fork() function because we don't want to actually
         # make a git push request
         mock_push_to_fork_patcher = patch(
@@ -1678,8 +1711,6 @@ def test_push(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_push_with_existing_fork(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
-        self.repo.component.repo = "https://pagure.io/testrepo.git"
-
         # Patch push_to_fork() function because we don't want to actually
         # make a git push request
         mock_push_to_fork_patcher = patch(
@@ -1707,8 +1738,6 @@ def test_push_with_existing_fork(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_push_with_existing_request(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
-        self.repo.component.repo = "https://pagure.io/testrepo.git"
-
         # Patch push_to_fork() function because we don't want to actually
         # make a git push request
         mock_push_to_fork_patcher = patch(
@@ -1929,6 +1958,7 @@ class VCSBitbucketServerTest(VCSGitUpstreamTest):
     _sets_push = False
 
     _bbhost = "https://api.selfhosted.com"
+    _repo_override = f"{_bbhost}/bb_pk/bb_repo.git"
     _bb_api_error_stub: ClassVar[dict] = {
         "errors": [{"context": "<string>", "message": "<string>"}]
     }
@@ -2099,8 +2129,6 @@ def test_get_headers(self) -> None:
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_default_reviewers_repo_error(self) -> None:
-        self.repo.component.repo = f"{self._bbhost}/bb_pk/bb_repo.git"
-
         # Patch push_to_fork() function because we don't want to actually
         # make a git push request
         mock_push_to_fork_patcher = patch(
@@ -2121,8 +2149,6 @@ def test_default_reviewers_repo_error(self) -> None:
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_default_reviewers_error(self) -> None:
-        self.repo.component.repo = f"{self._bbhost}/bb_pk/bb_repo.git"
-
         # Patch push_to_fork() function because we don't want to actually
         # make a git push request
         mock_push_to_fork_patcher = patch(
@@ -2145,8 +2171,6 @@ def test_default_reviewers_error(self) -> None:
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_push(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
-        self.repo.component.repo = f"{self._bbhost}/bb_pk/bb_repo.git"
-
         # Patch push_to_fork() function because we don't want to actually
         # make a git push request
         mock_push_to_fork_patcher = patch(
@@ -2164,8 +2188,6 @@ def test_push(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_push_with_existing_pr(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
-        self.repo.component.repo = f"{self._bbhost}/bb_pk/bb_repo.git"
-
         # Patch push_to_fork() function because we don't want to actually
         # make a git push request
         mock_push_to_fork_patcher = patch(
@@ -2183,8 +2205,6 @@ def test_push_with_existing_pr(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_push_pr_error_response(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
-        self.repo.component.repo = f"{self._bbhost}/bb_pk/bb_repo.git"
-
         # Patch push_to_fork() function because we don't want to actually
         # make a git push request
         mock_push_to_fork_patcher = patch(
@@ -2203,8 +2223,6 @@ def test_push_pr_error_response(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_push_with_existing_fork(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
-        self.repo.component.repo = f"{self._bbhost}/bb_pk/bb_repo.git"
-
         # Patch push_to_fork() function because we don't want to actually
         # make a git push request
         mock_push_to_fork_patcher = patch(
@@ -2223,8 +2241,6 @@ def test_push_with_existing_fork(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_create_fork_unexpected_fail(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
-        self.repo.component.repo = f"{self._bbhost}/bb_pk/bb_repo.git"
-
         # Patch push_to_fork() function because we don't want to actually
         # make a git push request
         mock_push_to_fork_patcher = patch(
@@ -2240,8 +2256,6 @@ def test_create_fork_unexpected_fail(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_existing_fork_not_found(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
-        self.repo.component.repo = f"{self._bbhost}/bb_pk/bb_repo.git"
-
         # Patch push_to_fork() function because we don't want to actually
         # make a git push request
         mock_push_to_fork_patcher = patch(
@@ -2272,6 +2286,7 @@ class VCSBitbucketCloudTest(VCSGitUpstreamTest):
     _vcs = "git"
     _sets_push = False
     _apihost = "bitbucket.org"
+    _repo_override = "git@bitbucket.org:WeblateOrg/test.git"
 
     def mock_responses(self) -> None:
         """
@@ -2357,7 +2372,6 @@ def mock_responses(self) -> None:
     @responses.activate
     def test_push(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
         """Test push to bitbucket cloud."""
-        self.repo.component.repo = "git@bitbucket.org:WeblateOrg/test.git"
         self.mock_responses()
         with patch("weblate.vcs.git.GitMergeRequestBase.push_to_fork", return_value=""):
             super().test_push(branch)
@@ -2365,7 +2379,6 @@ def test_push(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
     @responses.activate
     def test_push_with_http(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
         """Test push to bitbucket cloud with HTTP repo link."""
-        self.repo.component.repo = "https://bitbucket.org/WeblateOrg/test.git"
         self.mock_responses()
         with patch("weblate.vcs.git.GitMergeRequestBase.push_to_fork", return_value=""):
             super().test_push(branch)
@@ -2373,8 +2386,6 @@ def test_push_with_http(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
     @responses.activate
     def test_push_with_missing_permission(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
         """Test push with missing permission for App Password."""
-        self.repo.component.repo = "git@bitbucket.org:WeblateOrg/test.git"
-
         self.mock_responses()
         responses.replace(
             responses.POST,
@@ -2400,7 +2411,6 @@ def test_push_with_missing_permission(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
     @responses.activate
     def test_default_reviewers_error(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
         """Test default reviewers error, push expected to be successful."""
-        self.repo.component.repo = "git@bitbucket.org:WeblateOrg/test.git"
         self.mock_responses()
 
         responses.replace(
@@ -2424,7 +2434,6 @@ def test_default_reviewers_error(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
     @responses.activate
     def test_paginated_reviewers_list(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
         """Test the 'build_full_paginated_result' with default reviewers list."""
-        self.repo.component.repo = "git@bitbucket.org:WeblateOrg/test.git"
         self.mock_responses()
 
         responses.replace(
@@ -2475,7 +2484,6 @@ def test_paginated_reviewers_list(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
     @responses.activate
     def test_push_nothing_to_merge(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
         """Test push to bitbucket cloud with no changes to be merged."""
-        self.repo.component.repo = "git@bitbucket.org:WeblateOrg/test.git"
         self.mock_responses()
 
         responses.replace(
@@ -2494,7 +2502,6 @@ def test_push_nothing_to_merge(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
     @responses.activate
     def test_fork_already_exists(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
         """Test push to bitbucket cloud with HTTP repo link."""
-        self.repo.component.repo = "git@bitbucket.org:WeblateOrg/test.git"
         self.mock_responses()
 
         responses.replace(
@@ -2532,7 +2539,6 @@ def test_fork_already_exists(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
     @responses.activate
     def test_fork_name_already_taken(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
         """Test push to bitbucket cloud with HTTP repo link."""
-        self.repo.component.repo = "git@bitbucket.org:WeblateOrg/test.git"
         responses.add(
             responses.POST,
             "https://api.bitbucket.org/2.0/repositories/WeblateOrg/test/forks",
@@ -2554,7 +2560,6 @@ def test_fork_name_already_taken(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
     @responses.activate
     def test_fork_error(self, branch: str = "") -> None:
         """Test push to bitbucket cloud with HTTP repo link."""
-        self.repo.component.repo = "git@bitbucket.org:WeblateOrg/test.git"
         self.mock_responses()
         responses.replace(
             responses.POST,