diff --git a/bin/gs b/bin/gs
index 9b085f4..6f869ed 100755
--- a/bin/gs
+++ b/bin/gs
@@ -24,8 +24,9 @@ gs - gentle-shell on main, plus one disposable worktree per PR
   gs pr [repo] <n>         One step to review PR <n>: worktree (reused and
                            updated if it exists), then Pi on it for shell PRs
   gs issue [repo] <n>      One step to start issue <n>: race check (stops if the
-                           issue is closed, assigned, or referenced by a PR; GS_FORCE=1
-                           skips it), branch <type>/<n>-<slug> from origin/main,
+                           issue is closed, assigned to someone other than you,
+                           or referenced by a PR; GS_FORCE=1 skips it),
+                           branch <type>/<n>-<slug> from origin/main,
                            then Pi on it for shell issues
 
   gs new <repo> <name>     New branch <name> from fresh origin/main
@@ -231,7 +232,11 @@ cmd_issue() {
   fi
   if [ "${GS_FORCE:-}" != 1 ]; then
     [ "$state" = OPEN ] || die "$gh_repo#$NUM is $state (GS_FORCE=1 to continue)"
-    [ -z "$assignees" ] || die "$gh_repo#$NUM is assigned to $assignees (GS_FORCE=1 to continue)"
+    # Your own assignment is your claim, not a race: only others block.
+    local me others=""
+    me=$(gh api user --jq .login 2>/dev/null || true)
+    others=$(printf '%s' "$assignees" | tr ',' '\n' | grep -vxF -- "${me:-}" | paste -sd, - || true)
+    [ -z "$others" ] || die "$gh_repo#$NUM is assigned to $others (GS_FORCE=1 to continue)"
     prs=$(gh pr list -R "$gh_repo" --state all --search "$NUM in:title,body" --json number,state,title \
       --jq '.[] | "  #\(.number) \(.state) \(.title)"')
     [ -z "$prs" ] || die "PRs may already reference #$NUM (GS_FORCE=1 to continue):
diff --git a/tests/gs_test.sh b/tests/gs_test.sh
index 18adb46..a80a96d 100755
--- a/tests/gs_test.sh
+++ b/tests/gs_test.sh
@@ -144,6 +144,32 @@ check "workshop: gs issue reuses the worktree and opens it isolated, never --lin
 check "workshop: gs issue kickoff names the cortex skill without a legacy home path" \
   '[[ "$L" == *"cortex-maintainer-delivery skill"* ]] && [[ "$L" != *".pi/agent"* ]]'
 
+# gs issue race check: only someone else's assignment blocks a new worktree.
+race_stub() {
+  cat > "$S/gh" <<EOF
+#!/bin/sh
+case "\$1 \$2" in
+  "issue view") printf 'OPEN\037$1\037fix: thing\037type:bug\n' ;;
+  "api user") echo me ;;
+  "pr list") echo "pr list" >> "$CALLS" ;;
+esac
+exit 0
+EOF
+  chmod +x "$S/gh"
+}
+setup workshop; race_stub me
+OUT=$("$GS" issue shell 9 2>&1); L=$(cat "$CALLS" 2>/dev/null)
+check "workshop: gs issue assigned only to you passes the race check" \
+  '[[ "$OUT" != *"is assigned"* ]] && [[ "$L" == *"pr list"* ]]'
+setup workshop; race_stub other
+OUT=$("$GS" issue shell 9 2>&1); rc=$?
+check "workshop: gs issue assigned to someone else still stops" \
+  '[ "$rc" = 1 ] && [[ "$OUT" == *"#9 is assigned to other (GS_FORCE=1 to continue)"* ]]'
+setup workshop; race_stub me,other
+OUT=$("$GS" issue shell 9 2>&1); rc=$?
+check "workshop: gs issue shared with someone else stops and names only them" \
+  '[ "$rc" = 1 ] && [[ "$OUT" == *"#9 is assigned to other (GS_FORCE=1 to continue)"* ]]'
+
 # --- sync (workshop) ----------------------------------------------------------
 
 setup workshop