diff --git a/actions/setup/js/update_handler_factory.cjs b/actions/setup/js/update_handler_factory.cjs
index 49ec276c99..f25e866d64 100644
--- a/actions/setup/js/update_handler_factory.cjs
+++ b/actions/setup/js/update_handler_factory.cjs
@@ -117,8 +117,12 @@ function createUpdateHandlerFactory(handlerConfig) {
       const updateData = updateDataResult.data;
 
       // Validate that we have something to update
+      // Note: Fields starting with "_" are internal (e.g., _rawBody, _operation)
+      // and will be processed by executeUpdate. We should NOT skip if _rawBody exists.
       const updateFields = Object.keys(updateData).filter(k => !k.startsWith("_"));
-      if (updateFields.length === 0) {
+      const hasRawBody = updateData._rawBody !== undefined;
+
+      if (updateFields.length === 0 && !hasRawBody) {
         core.info(`No update fields provided for ${itemTypeName} #${itemNumber} - treating as no-op (skipping update)`);
         return {
           success: true,
diff --git a/actions/setup/js/update_handler_factory.test.cjs b/actions/setup/js/update_handler_factory.test.cjs
index d7dbf19c4c..ad3b6ebdfe 100644
--- a/actions/setup/js/update_handler_factory.test.cjs
+++ b/actions/setup/js/update_handler_factory.test.cjs
@@ -233,6 +233,35 @@ describe("update_handler_factory.cjs", () => {
       expect(mockCore.info).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining('["title"]'));
     });
 
+    it("should NOT skip when _rawBody is present (body updates)", async () => {
+      const mockResolveItemNumber = vi.fn().mockReturnValue({ success: true, number: 42 });
+      const mockBuildUpdateData = vi.fn().mockReturnValue({
+        success: true,
+        data: { _rawBody: "New body content", _operation: "append" },
+      });
+      const mockExecuteUpdate = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ html_url: "https://example.com" });
+      const mockFormatSuccessResult = vi.fn().mockReturnValue({ success: true });
+
+      const handlerFactory = factoryModule.createUpdateHandlerFactory({
+        itemType: "update_issue",
+        itemTypeName: "issue",
+        supportsPR: false,
+        resolveItemNumber: mockResolveItemNumber,
+        buildUpdateData: mockBuildUpdateData,
+        executeUpdate: mockExecuteUpdate,
+        formatSuccessResult: mockFormatSuccessResult,
+      });
+
+      const handler = await handlerFactory({});
+      const result = await handler({ body: "New body content" });
+
+      // Should NOT skip - _rawBody indicates a body update
+      expect(result.success).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.skipped).toBeUndefined();
+      // Should proceed to execute the update
+      expect(mockExecuteUpdate).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
     it("should handle execution errors gracefully", async () => {
       const mockResolveItemNumber = vi.fn().mockReturnValue({ success: true, number: 42 });
       const mockBuildUpdateData = vi.fn().mockReturnValue({ success: true, data: { title: "Test" } });