diff --git a/.github/workflows/auto-merge.yml b/.github/workflows/auto-merge.yml
index b05d90708..2f4ea9fc2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/auto-merge.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/auto-merge.yml
@@ -11,14 +11,17 @@ permissions: write-all
 
 
 jobs:
-  automerge:
+  autolabel:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Auto-label
         uses: actions/labeler@v4
         with:
           repo-token: ${{ secrets.AUTOMERGE_PAT }}
-
+  automerge:
+    needs: autolabel
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
       - name: Auto-merge
         uses: pascalgn/automerge-action@v0.15.6
         env:
@@ -26,3 +29,5 @@ jobs:
           MERGE_LABELS: "automerge,!work in progress,!ready for review"
           MERGE_REMOVE_LABELS: "automerge"
           LOG: DEBUG
+          MERGE_RETRIES: 10
+          MERGE_RETRY_SLEEP: 60000