diff --git a/.github/workflows/bump-consumers.yml b/.github/workflows/bump-consumers.yml
index 29bbfdd..98ad27d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/bump-consumers.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/bump-consumers.yml
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 # One pin-bump PR per consumer after a release (scripts/bump-consumers.sh). release.yml calls it
 # once the release is published; dispatch it by hand to retry or to bump to an older tag.
-# It reuses the org secret MAROLA_CROSS_REPO_PAT, which needs Contents, Pull requests and
-# Workflows write on every repo in .github/consumers.txt: a PR opened with GITHUB_TOKEN would start
-# no CI in the consumer, and could not reach it anyway.
+# It commits and opens the PRs as the org's GitHub App marola-bot (org variable
+# MAROLA_BOT_APP_ID, org secret MAROLA_BOT_PRIVATE_KEY), installed with Contents, Pull requests
+# and Workflows write: a PR opened with GITHUB_TOKEN would start no CI in the consumer, and could
+# not reach it anyway.
 name: bump consumers
 
 on:
@@ -10,7 +11,7 @@ on:
     inputs:
       version: { type: string, required: true }
     secrets:
-      MAROLA_CROSS_REPO_PAT: { required: true }
+      MAROLA_BOT_PRIVATE_KEY: { required: true }
   workflow_dispatch:
     inputs:
       version: { description: "X.Y.Z, an existing tag without the v", required: true }
@@ -30,7 +31,16 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v7
       - uses: DeterminateSystems/nix-installer-action@v23
+      - id: app
+        uses: actions/create-github-app-token@v2
+        with:
+          app-id: ${{ vars.MAROLA_BOT_APP_ID }}
+          private-key: ${{ secrets.MAROLA_BOT_PRIVATE_KEY }}
+          owner: marola-dev
       - env:
-          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.MAROLA_CROSS_REPO_PAT }}
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}
+          BOT: ${{ steps.app.outputs.app-slug }}[bot]
           VERSION: ${{ inputs.version }}
-        run: scripts/bump-consumers.sh "$VERSION"
+        run: |
+          BUMP_GIT_NAME="$BOT" BUMP_GIT_EMAIL="$(gh api "/users/$BOT" -q .id)+$BOT@users.noreply.github.com" \
+            scripts/bump-consumers.sh "$VERSION"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index d50fdf6..7fec8bc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -31,4 +31,4 @@ jobs:
     with:
       version: ${{ github.ref_name }}
     secrets:
-      MAROLA_CROSS_REPO_PAT: ${{ secrets.MAROLA_CROSS_REPO_PAT }}
+      MAROLA_BOT_PRIVATE_KEY: ${{ secrets.MAROLA_BOT_PRIVATE_KEY }}
diff --git a/docs/3-development.md b/docs/3-development.md
index d95bb2c..01fa97b 100644
--- a/docs/3-development.md
+++ b/docs/3-development.md
@@ -63,9 +63,13 @@ step 1 is skipped.
 Once the release is published, `release.yml` calls `bump-consumers.yml`, which opens one PR in
 each repo of `.github/consumers.txt` on `chore/devkit-vX.Y.Z`: the flake input and its
 `flake.lock` node, every devkit workflow `@v…`, `devkit-ref` and docs-lint clone, and the
-marketplace `ref`. A person merges each. It uses the org secret `MAROLA_CROSS_REPO_PAT`, so the
-PRs are authored by that token's owner; the token needs Contents, Pull requests and Workflows
-write on every listed repo. h0ffmann/ww3-gpu is outside the org token's reach and not listed: bump
+marketplace `ref`. A person merges each. The commits and PRs are marola-bot's, the org's GitHub
+App, through a short-lived token `actions/create-github-app-token` mints per run. Setting it up
+once: in marola-dev's Settings → Developer settings → GitHub Apps, create `marola-bot` (webhook
+off) with Repository permissions Contents, Pull requests and Workflows: Read and write; install
+it on the repos in `.github/consumers.txt`; put its App ID in the org variable
+`MAROLA_BOT_APP_ID` and a generated private key in the org secret `MAROLA_BOT_PRIVATE_KEY`, both
+visible to marola-devkit. h0ffmann/ww3-gpu is outside the org and not listed: bump
 the `@v…` and `devkit-ref` in its `skills.yml` by hand. Dispatch
 `bump-consumers.yml` by hand to retry a version: it updates the open PRs instead of adding more.
 Adding a consumer is one line in `.github/consumers.txt`.
diff --git a/scripts/bump-consumers.sh b/scripts/bump-consumers.sh
index a3e918d..6423b75 100755
--- a/scripts/bump-consumers.sh
+++ b/scripts/bump-consumers.sh
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # bump-consumers: after a devkit release, one PR per repo in .github/consumers.txt on
 # chore/devkit-vX.Y.Z, moving its pins (release.py --consumer) and, where it commits one, the
 # flake.lock's devkit node. A re-run force-updates the branch and edits the open PR. GH_TOKEN must
-# reach every repo; the PRs are authored by its owner. One repo failing doesn't stop the others.
+# reach every repo; BUMP_GIT_NAME/BUMP_GIT_EMAIL author the commits (bump-consumers.yml sets marola-bot's). One repo failing doesn't stop the others.
 #   scripts/bump-consumers.sh X.Y.Z
 #   scripts/bump-consumers.sh --self-test
 set -euo pipefail
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ bump() {
     echo "bump-consumers: $repo already pins $tag" >&2
     return 0
   fi
-  git -c user.name="github-actions[bot]" -c user.email="41898282+github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com" \
+  git -c user.name="${BUMP_GIT_NAME:-github-actions[bot]}" -c user.email="${BUMP_GIT_EMAIL:-41898282+github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com}" \
     commit -qam "chore: marola-devkit $tag" \
     -m "Tested: release.py --consumer moved the pins${lock:+, nix flake update marola-devkit the lock}; this repo's CI gates the rest
 Cost: n/a (automation)
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ if [ -n "$one" ]; then
   exit
 fi
 
-[ -n "${GH_TOKEN:-}" ] || { echo "bump-consumers: GH_TOKEN is empty; give marola-devkit access to the org secret MAROLA_CROSS_REPO_PAT (docs/3-development.md, Releases)" >&2; exit 1; }
+[ -n "${GH_TOKEN:-}" ] || { echo "bump-consumers: GH_TOKEN is empty; set up the marola-bot GitHub App (docs/3-development.md, Releases)" >&2; exit 1; }
 # Each repo in its own process: set -e does not apply inside a function called from `||`.
 gh auth setup-git
 failed=()