diff --git a/docs/specs/DEVX-174.md b/docs/specs/DEVX-174.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..561acba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/specs/DEVX-174.md
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+# DEVX-174: Set git identity in dep-PR target clone
+
+## Problem
+
+`create_dependency_pr` commits the manifest bump in a fresh clone of the
+target repo. The clone has no `user.name`/`user.email`, so `git commit`
+exits 128 ("Please tell me who you are") — observed in sso-bridge
+post-merge run 6284 after the digest and manifest bump both succeeded.
+
+## Approach
+
+REQ-1: Pass a CI bot identity inline (`git -c user.name=... -c
+user.email=... commit`) so the commit works in any environment without
+mutating global git config.
+
+## Test Plan
+
+- Unit test asserting the commit invocation carries `-c user.name` /
+  `-c user.email` arguments.
+
+## Deploy Plan
+
+devx release; sso-bridge picks it up via its devx pin on next bump.
+
+## Rollback Plan
+
+Revert; dep-PR commit fails again in containers without git identity.
+
+## Acceptance Criteria
+
+- [x] REQ-1: dep-PR commit supplies explicit identity flags.
diff --git a/src/devx/ci/create_dependency_pr.py b/src/devx/ci/create_dependency_pr.py
index 70c8156..13f082b 100644
--- a/src/devx/ci/create_dependency_pr.py
+++ b/src/devx/ci/create_dependency_pr.py
@@ -505,7 +505,22 @@ def cli(
         add_files.append(spec_rel)
     subprocess.run(["git", "add", *add_files], check=True, cwd=workdir)  # nosec B603 B607
     commit_msg = f"deps: bump {package} from {old_version} to {new_version}"
-    subprocess.run(["git", "commit", "-m", commit_msg], check=True, cwd=workdir)  # nosec B603 B607
+    # Implements: REQ-1 — the fresh clone has no git identity in CI
+    # containers; supply it inline (same bot identity as push_badges).
+    subprocess.run(  # nosec B603 B607
+        [
+            "git",
+            "-c",
+            "user.name=gitea-actions-bot",
+            "-c",
+            "user.email=actions@oblachno.fyi",
+            "commit",
+            "-m",
+            commit_msg,
+        ],
+        check=True,
+        cwd=workdir,
+    )
     subprocess.run(  # nosec B603 B607
         ["git", "-c", auth_cfg, "push", "origin", branch_name],
         check=True,
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_create_dependency_pr.py b/tests/unit/test_create_dependency_pr.py
index e45b982..135d5b6 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_create_dependency_pr.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_create_dependency_pr.py
@@ -661,6 +661,10 @@ class TestBranchCreation:
         # PR title carries the task ID
         assert client.create_pr.call_args.kwargs["title"] == "OBL-INFRA-581: Bump sso_bridge to 0.9.1"
         mock_task.assert_called_once()
+        # Commit supplies an explicit identity (fresh clones have none)
+        commit = next(c for c in subprocess.run.call_args_list if "commit" in c.args[0])
+        assert "user.name=gitea-actions-bot" in commit.args[0]
+        assert "user.email=actions@oblachno.fyi" in commit.args[0]
 
     def test_retries_404_until_published(self) -> None:
         import requests