diff --git a/src/branch_handler.py b/src/branch_handler.py
index 96e827e..e5f4aae 100644
--- a/src/branch_handler.py
+++ b/src/branch_handler.py
@@ -179,6 +179,90 @@ def back_to_master_branch(repo_path: str) -> None:
     print(f"Checked out {main_branch} branch")
 
 
+def merge_master(repo_path: str, issue=None) -> bool:
+    """
+    Merge the main/master branch into the current branch with error handling.
+
+    Args:
+        repo_path: Path to local git repository
+        issue: The GitHub issue to log errors to (optional)
+
+    Returns:
+        True if merge was successful, False otherwise
+    """
+    from src.git_utils import write_issue_response, add_signature_to_comment
+    import traceback
+
+    repo = git.Repo(repo_path)
+    current_branch = repo.active_branch.name
+
+    # Determine main branch (main or master)
+    if 'main' in repo.heads:
+        main_branch = 'main'
+    elif 'master' in repo.heads:
+        main_branch = 'master'
+    else:
+        error_msg = "Neither 'main' nor 'master' branch found in repository"
+        print(error_msg)
+        if issue:
+            try:
+                from response_agent import llm_config
+                error_msg_with_signature = add_signature_to_comment(
+                    error_msg, llm_config['model'])
+            except (ImportError, KeyError):
+                error_msg_with_signature = error_msg + \
+                    "\n\n---\n*This response was automatically generated by blech_bot*"
+            write_issue_response(issue, error_msg_with_signature)
+        return False
+
+    # Don't try to merge if we're already on the main branch
+    if current_branch == main_branch:
+        print(f"Already on {main_branch} branch, no merge needed")
+        return True
+
+    try:
+        # Make sure main branch is up to date
+        repo.git.checkout(main_branch)
+        repo.git.pull('origin', main_branch)
+
+        # Go back to feature branch
+        repo.git.checkout(current_branch)
+
+        # Merge main into current branch
+        repo.git.merge(main_branch)
+        print(f"Successfully merged {main_branch} into {current_branch}")
+        return True
+    except Exception as e:
+        error_msg = f"Error merging {main_branch} into {current_branch}: {str(e)}\n\n```\n{traceback.format_exc()}\n```"
+        print(error_msg)
+
+        # Try to abort the merge if it's in progress
+        try:
+            repo.git.merge('--abort')
+            print("Merge aborted")
+        except:
+            print("Could not abort merge, it may not have been in progress")
+
+        # Log error to issue if provided
+        if issue:
+            try:
+                from response_agent import llm_config
+                error_msg_with_signature = add_signature_to_comment(
+                    error_msg, llm_config['model'])
+            except (ImportError, KeyError):
+                error_msg_with_signature = error_msg + \
+                    "\n\n---\n*This response was automatically generated by blech_bot*"
+            write_issue_response(issue, error_msg_with_signature)
+
+        # Make sure we're back on the feature branch
+        try:
+            repo.git.checkout(current_branch)
+        except:
+            print(f"Could not checkout {current_branch} after failed merge")
+
+        return False
+
+
 def push_changes(repo_path: str, branch_name: Optional[str] = None, force: bool = False) -> None:
     """
     Push local changes to remote repository
diff --git a/src/git_utils.py b/src/git_utils.py
index b4edb82..c01eaf1 100644
--- a/src/git_utils.py
+++ b/src/git_utils.py
@@ -233,6 +233,7 @@ def update_repository(repo_path: str) -> None:
     git_repo = git.Repo(repo_path)
     origin = git_repo.remotes.origin
     origin.pull()
+    print("Repository updated with the latest changes from remote")
 
 
 def get_pr_branch(pr: PullRequest) -> str:
@@ -265,6 +266,8 @@ def get_development_branch(issue: Issue, repo_path: str, create: bool = False) -
         ValueError: If gh CLI is not installed
         RuntimeError: If multiple branches exist for the issue
     """
+    # Update repository before any branch operations
+    update_repository(repo_path)
     try:
         # Check for existing branches related to this issue
         related_branches = get_issue_related_branches(repo_path, issue)
@@ -470,8 +473,12 @@ def push_changes_with_authentication(
 
     Args:
         repo_path: Path to the local git repository
+        out_thread: The issue or PR to log errors to
         branch_name: Name of the branch to push (default: current branch)
     """
+    # Try to merge master/main branch first
+    from src.branch_handler import merge_master
+    merge_master(repo_path, out_thread)
     load_dotenv()
     token = os.getenv('GITHUB_TOKEN')