diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7309cad..586a006 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ Linear chains in the plan are registered as [native GitHub stacks](https://githu
 pr-split status
 ```
 
-Shows a table with each sub-PR's ID, title, branch, PR number, live state (OPEN/CLOSED/MERGED), and review decision (Approved, Changes Requested, etc.) queried directly from GitHub.
+Shows a table with each sub-PR's ID, title, branch, PR number, live state (OPEN/CLOSED/MERGED), and review decision (Approved, Changes Requested, etc.) queried directly from GitHub. A PR whose state could not be fetched is shown as UNKNOWN with a warning, never as a stale OPEN.
 
 ### Merge split PRs in dependency order
 
diff --git a/pr_split/cli.py b/pr_split/cli.py
index 4ad2ea6..874fc5e 100644
--- a/pr_split/cli.py
+++ b/pr_split/cli.py
@@ -949,6 +949,7 @@ def status() -> None:
     table.add_column("State")
     table.add_column("Review")
 
+    unverified: list[int] = []
     for group in plan.groups:
         branch_name = branch_map.get(group.id, "")
         pr_record = pr_map.get(group.id)
@@ -956,12 +957,23 @@ def status() -> None:
         pr_state = ""
         review = ""
         if pr_record:
-            live = live_states.get(pr_record.pr_number, {})
-            pr_state = live.get("state", pr_record.state.value).upper()
-            review = (live.get("reviewDecision") or "").replace("_", " ").title()
+            live = live_states.get(pr_record.pr_number) or {}
+            if live:
+                pr_state = str(live.get("state") or "").upper()
+                review = str(live.get("reviewDecision") or "").replace("_", " ").title()
+            else:
+                # The recorded state is never written back after merge/close,
+                # so showing it would claim OPEN for a PR that may be gone.
+                pr_state = "UNKNOWN"
+                unverified.append(pr_record.pr_number)
         table.add_row(group.id, group.title, branch_name, pr_info, pr_state, review)
 
     console.print(table)
+    if unverified:
+        console.print(
+            f"[yellow]Could not fetch live state for {len(unverified)} PR(s): "
+            f"{', '.join(f'#{n}' for n in unverified)}. Check 'gh auth status'.[/yellow]"
+        )
 
 
 def _cleanup_git_state(git_state: GitState) -> tuple[int, int]:
diff --git a/tests/test_cli_coverage.py b/tests/test_cli_coverage.py
index e6d7b0a..8f64d2d 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli_coverage.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli_coverage.py
@@ -25,9 +25,17 @@
     _validate_inputs,
     app,
 )
-from pr_split.constants import AssignmentType
+from pr_split.constants import AssignmentType, Priority
 from pr_split.exceptions import GitOperationError, PRSplitError
-from pr_split.schemas import Group, GroupAssignment
+from pr_split.schemas import (
+    BranchRecord,
+    GitState,
+    Group,
+    GroupAssignment,
+    PlanFile,
+    PRRecord,
+    SplitPlan,
+)
 from pr_split.types_defs import ForkPRInfo
 
 runner = CliRunner()
@@ -659,6 +667,57 @@ def test_status_no_plan(self, mock_pe: MagicMock) -> None:
         result = runner.invoke(app, ["status"])
         assert result.exit_code == 0
 
+    def _plan_file(self) -> PlanFile:
+        plan = SplitPlan(
+            dev_branch="feature",
+            base_branch="main",
+            max_loc=400,
+            priority=Priority.ORTHOGONAL,
+            groups=[_group("pr-1", "one"), _group("pr-2", "two")],
+        )
+        git_state = GitState(
+            branches=[
+                BranchRecord(group_id="pr-1", branch_name="b1", base_branch="main"),
+                BranchRecord(group_id="pr-2", branch_name="b2", base_branch="main"),
+            ],
+            prs=[
+                PRRecord(group_id="pr-1", pr_number=7, pr_url="u"),
+                PRRecord(group_id="pr-2", pr_number=8, pr_url="u"),
+            ],
+        )
+        return PlanFile(plan=plan, git_state=git_state)
+
+    @patch("pr_split.cli.get_pr_state")
+    @patch("pr_split.cli.load_plan")
+    @patch("pr_split.cli.plan_exists", return_value=True)
+    def test_unfetchable_state_is_unknown_not_open(
+        self, mock_pe: MagicMock, mock_load: MagicMock, mock_state: MagicMock
+    ) -> None:
+        mock_load.return_value = self._plan_file()
+        mock_state.side_effect = lambda n: {} if n == 7 else {"state": "MERGED"}
+
+        result = runner.invoke(app, ["status"])
+
+        assert result.exit_code == 0
+        assert "UNKNOWN" in result.output
+        assert "MERGED" in result.output
+        assert "OPEN" not in result.output
+        assert "Could not fetch live state for 1 PR(s): #7" in result.output
+
+    @patch(
+        "pr_split.cli.get_pr_state", return_value={"state": "OPEN", "reviewDecision": "APPROVED"}
+    )
+    @patch("pr_split.cli.load_plan")
+    @patch("pr_split.cli.plan_exists", return_value=True)
+    def test_live_state_and_review_are_shown(
+        self, mock_pe: MagicMock, mock_load: MagicMock, mock_state: MagicMock
+    ) -> None:
+        mock_load.return_value = self._plan_file()
+        result = runner.invoke(app, ["status"])
+        assert result.exit_code == 0
+        assert "Approved" in result.output
+        assert "Could not fetch" not in result.output
+
     @patch("pr_split.cli.plan_exists", return_value=False)
     def test_clean_no_plan(self, mock_pe: MagicMock) -> None:
         result = runner.invoke(app, ["clean"])