diff --git a/src/operations_center/entrypoints/custodian_sweep/main.py b/src/operations_center/entrypoints/custodian_sweep/main.py
index b2bf78b7..1a1d8ddb 100644
--- a/src/operations_center/entrypoints/custodian_sweep/main.py
+++ b/src/operations_center/entrypoints/custodian_sweep/main.py
@@ -220,6 +220,8 @@ def _emit(
     dry_run: bool,
 ) -> str:
     """Create-or-comment one Plane task per repo. Returns action label."""
+    if sweep.error is None and sweep.total == 0:
+        return "skipped-zero-findings"
     title = f"[{sweep.repo_key}] custodian sweep: {sweep.total} findings"
     body = _render_body(sweep, deltas)
     existing = existing_tasks.get(sweep.repo_key)
diff --git a/tests/test_custodian_sweep.py b/tests/test_custodian_sweep.py
index d45ee8c0..bc5a51a6 100644
--- a/tests/test_custodian_sweep.py
+++ b/tests/test_custodian_sweep.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
     _DEDUP_LABEL_PREFIX,
     _delta,
     _discover_targets,
+    _emit,
     _find_open_sweep_task,
     _index_open_sweep_tasks,
     _render_body,
@@ -121,6 +122,46 @@ def test_index_open_sweep_tasks_maps_repo_key_to_issue() -> None:
     }
 
 
+def test_emit_skips_plane_mutation_for_zero_findings() -> None:
+    calls: list[tuple[str, object]] = []
+
+    plane = SimpleNamespace(
+        comment_issue=lambda *args, **kwargs: calls.append(("comment", args)),
+        create_issue=lambda **kwargs: calls.append(("create", kwargs)),
+    )
+
+    action = _emit(
+        _RepoSweep(repo_key="Demo", envelope=_envelope()),
+        {},
+        plane,
+        existing_tasks={"Demo": {"id": "123"}},
+        dry_run=False,
+    )
+
+    assert action == "skipped-zero-findings"
+    assert calls == []
+
+
+def test_emit_skips_plane_mutation_for_zero_findings_in_dry_run() -> None:
+    calls: list[tuple[str, object]] = []
+
+    plane = SimpleNamespace(
+        comment_issue=lambda *args, **kwargs: calls.append(("comment", args)),
+        create_issue=lambda **kwargs: calls.append(("create", kwargs)),
+    )
+
+    action = _emit(
+        _RepoSweep(repo_key="Demo", envelope=_envelope()),
+        {},
+        plane,
+        existing_tasks={},
+        dry_run=True,
+    )
+
+    assert action == "skipped-zero-findings"
+    assert calls == []
+
+
 def test_discover_targets_filters_to_repos_with_custodian_yaml(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
     has_yaml = tmp_path / "WithYaml"
     has_yaml.mkdir()