diff --git a/lib/modules/platform/github/index.spec.ts b/lib/modules/platform/github/index.spec.ts
index d9a211a825ddc7b..c3dd9888bc87d19 100644
--- a/lib/modules/platform/github/index.spec.ts
+++ b/lib/modules/platform/github/index.spec.ts
@@ -2181,6 +2181,55 @@ describe('modules/platform/github/index', () => {
       expect(pr).toMatchObject({ number: 123 });
     });
 
+    it('should allow maintainer edits if enabled via options', async () => {
+      const scope = httpMock.scope(githubApiHost);
+      initRepoMock(scope, 'some/repo');
+      scope
+        .post(
+          '/repos/some/repo/pulls',
+          // Ensure the `maintainer_can_modify` option is set in the REST API request.
+          (body) => body.maintainer_can_modify === true
+        )
+        .reply(200, {
+          number: 123,
+          head: { repo: { full_name: 'some/repo' }, ref: 'some-branch' },
+        });
+      await github.initRepo({ repository: 'some/repo' });
+      const pr = await github.createPr({
+        sourceBranch: 'some-branch',
+        targetBranch: 'main',
+        prTitle: 'PR title',
+        prBody: 'PR can be edited by maintainers.',
+        labels: null,
+        allowMaintainerEdits: true,
+      });
+      expect(pr).toMatchObject({ number: 123 });
+    });
+
+    it('should not allow maintainer edits if not explicitly set', async () => {
+      const scope = httpMock.scope(githubApiHost);
+      initRepoMock(scope, 'some/repo');
+      scope
+        .post(
+          '/repos/some/repo/pulls',
+          // Ensure the `maintainer_can_modify` option is unset in the REST API request.
+          (body) => body.maintainer_can_modify === undefined
+        )
+        .reply(200, {
+          number: 123,
+          head: { repo: { full_name: 'some/repo' }, ref: 'some-branch' },
+        });
+      await github.initRepo({ repository: 'some/repo' });
+      const pr = await github.createPr({
+        sourceBranch: 'some-branch',
+        targetBranch: 'main',
+        prTitle: 'PR title',
+        prBody: 'PR *cannot* be edited by maintainers.',
+        labels: null,
+      });
+      expect(pr).toMatchObject({ number: 123 });
+    });
+
     describe('automerge', () => {
       const createdPrResp = {
         number: 123,
diff --git a/lib/modules/platform/github/index.ts b/lib/modules/platform/github/index.ts
index 1ce38129842978b..6a97d2de690360c 100644
--- a/lib/modules/platform/github/index.ts
+++ b/lib/modules/platform/github/index.ts
@@ -1479,6 +1479,7 @@ export async function createPr({
   prBody: rawBody,
   labels,
   draftPR = false,
+  allowMaintainerEdits,
   platformOptions,
 }: CreatePRConfig): Promise<GhPr | null> {
   const body = sanitize(rawBody);
@@ -1494,12 +1495,12 @@ export async function createPr({
       base,
       body,
       draft: draftPR,
+      maintainer_can_modify: allowMaintainerEdits,
     },
   };
   // istanbul ignore if
   if (config.forkToken) {
     options.token = config.forkToken;
-    options.body.maintainer_can_modify = true;
   }
   logger.debug({ title, head, base, draft: draftPR }, 'Creating PR');
   const ghPr = (