diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
index 55ae20da8df..6b3532f7f31 100644
--- a/.github/dependabot.yml
+++ b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -9,18 +9,22 @@ updates:
     directory: "/"
     schedule:
       interval: "weekly"
+    target-branch: "dependabot-updates"
 
   - package-ecosystem: "docker"
     directory: "/lambdas/thumbnail"
     schedule:
       interval: "daily"
+    target-branch: "dependabot-updates"
 
   - package-ecosystem: "docker"
     directory: "/catalog"
     schedule:
       interval: "daily"
+    target-branch: "dependabot-updates"
 
   - package-ecosystem: "docker"
     directory: "/s3-proxy"
     schedule:
       interval: "daily"
+    target-branch: "dependabot-updates"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/dependabot-merge.yaml b/.github/workflows/dependabot-merge.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..62ef7bc29c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/dependabot-merge.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - master
+      - dependabot-updates  # Add Dependabot updates branch
+    tags:
+      - "*"
+  pull_request:
+
+jobs:
+  dependabot-auto-merge:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/dependabot-updates'
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        with:
+          python-version: '3.11'
+      - name: Install dependencies
+        run: |
+          python -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools
+          python -m pip install -r requirements.txt
+      - name: Run tests
+        run: pytest
+      - name: Auto-merge into integration branch
+        if: success()
+        run: |
+          git config user.name "devops-automation[bot]"
+          git config user.email "dev@quiltdata.io"
+          git checkout -b dependabot-integration
+          git merge --no-ff dependabot-updates -m "Auto-merge Dependabot updates"
+          git push origin dependabot-integration