Don't issue pull requests that you don't want merged. It's really that simple. The maintainer could easily merge it by accident by absentmindedly clicking the b

Don't issue pull requests that you don't want merged. It's really that simple. The maintainer could easily merge it by accident by absentmindedly clicking the button they normally click in response to well-formed pull requests while thinking they'd rejected it. Maybe they have a cat, or a toddler, who knows? Don't put your name on stuff you don't want merged.