diff --git a/forwardport/models/project.py b/forwardport/models/project.py
index a5c60d8f..d4a30f21 100644
--- a/forwardport/models/project.py
+++ b/forwardport/models/project.py
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ from odoo.tools.misc import topological_sort, groupby, Reverse
 from odoo.tools.sql import reverse_order
 from odoo.tools.appdirs import user_cache_dir
 from odoo.addons.base.models.res_partner import Partner
-from odoo.addons.runbot_merge import git, utils
-from odoo.addons.runbot_merge.models.pull_requests import RPLUS, Branch
+from odoo.addons.runbot_merge import git
+from odoo.addons.runbot_merge.models.pull_requests import Branch
 from odoo.addons.runbot_merge.models.stagings_create import Message
 
 
@@ -258,12 +258,6 @@ class PullRequests(models.Model):
                         token_field='fp_github_token',
                         format_args={'pr': parent, 'child': p},
                     )
-        # if we change the policy to skip CI, schedule followups on existing FPs
-        if vals.get('fw_policy') == 'skipci' and self.state == 'merged':
-            self.env['runbot_merge.pull_requests'].search([
-                ('source_id', '=', self.id),
-                ('state', 'not in', ('closed', 'merged')),
-            ])._schedule_fp_followup()
         return r
 
     def _try_closing(self, by):
@@ -396,7 +390,7 @@ class PullRequests(models.Model):
             if not pr.parent_id:
                 _logger.info('-> no parent %s (%s)', pr.display_name, pr.parent_id)
                 continue
-            if not self.env.context.get('force_fw') and self.source_id.fw_policy != 'skipci' and pr.state not in ['validated', 'ready']:
+            if not self.env.context.get('force_fw') and self.source_id.batch_id.fw_policy != 'skipci' and pr.state not in ['validated', 'ready']:
                 _logger.info('-> wrong state %s (%s)', pr.display_name, pr.state)
                 continue
 
@@ -424,7 +418,7 @@ class PullRequests(models.Model):
             # check if batch-mate are all valid
             mates = batch.prs
             # wait until all of them are validated or ready
-            if not self.env.context.get('force_fw') and any(pr.source_id.fw_policy != 'skipci' and pr.state not in ('validated', 'ready') for pr in mates):
+            if not self.env.context.get('force_fw') and any(pr.source_id.batch_id.fw_policy != 'skipci' and pr.state not in ('validated', 'ready') for pr in mates):
                 _logger.info("-> not ready (%s)", [(pr.display_name, pr.state) for pr in mates])
                 continue
 
@@ -989,6 +983,16 @@ class Batch(models.Model):
 
         super().write(vals)
 
+        # if we change the policy to skip CI, schedule followups on existing FPs
+        # FIXME: although this should be managed by the command handler already,
+        #        this should probably allow setting the fw policy on any batch
+        #        of the sequence
+        if vals.get('fw_policy') == 'skipci' and self.merge_date:
+            self.env['runbot_merge.pull_requests'].search([
+                ('source_id', '=', self.prs[:1].id),
+                ('state', 'not in', ('closed', 'merged')),
+            ])._schedule_fp_followup()
+
         return True
 
 # ordering is a bit unintuitive because the lowest sequence (and name)
diff --git a/forwardport/tests/test_weird.py b/forwardport/tests/test_weird.py
index 8f7f8acd..0c2170b4 100644
--- a/forwardport/tests/test_weird.py
+++ b/forwardport/tests/test_weird.py
@@ -655,7 +655,7 @@ def test_skip_ci_all(env, config, make_repo):
     assert env['runbot_merge.pull_requests'].search([
         ('repository.name', '=', prod.name),
         ('number', '=', pr.number)
-    ]).fw_policy == 'skipci'
+    ]).batch_id.fw_policy == 'skipci'
 
     with prod:
         prod.post_status('staging.a', 'success', 'legal/cla')
@@ -695,7 +695,7 @@ def test_skip_ci_next(env, config, make_repo):
             'hansen fw=skipci',
             config['role_reviewer']['token']
         )
-    assert pr0_id.fw_policy == 'skipci'
+    assert pr0_id.batch_id.fw_policy == 'skipci'
     env.run_crons()
 
     _, _, pr2_id = env['runbot_merge.pull_requests'].search([], order='number')
diff --git a/runbot_merge/models/batch.py b/runbot_merge/models/batch.py
index a9f6a3d1..8e9a3674 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/models/batch.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/models/batch.py
@@ -20,6 +20,11 @@ class Batch(models.Model):
 
     prs = fields.One2many('runbot_merge.pull_requests', 'batch_id')
 
+    fw_policy = fields.Selection([
+        ('default', "Default"),
+        ('skipci', "Skip CI"),
+    ], required=True, default="default", string="Forward Port Policy")
+
     merge_date = fields.Datetime(tracking=True)
     skipchecks = fields.Boolean(
         string="Skips Checks",
diff --git a/runbot_merge/models/pull_requests.py b/runbot_merge/models/pull_requests.py
index eb28fe20..74f7dbe7 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/models/pull_requests.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/models/pull_requests.py
@@ -798,7 +798,7 @@ class PullRequests(models.Model):
                     feedback(close=True)
                 case commands.FW():
                     if source_reviewer or is_reviewer:
-                        (self.source_id or self).fw_policy = command.name.lower()
+                        (self.source_id or self).batch_id.fw_policy = command.name.lower()
                         match command:
                             case commands.FW.DEFAULT:
                                 message = "Waiting for CI to create followup forward-ports."
diff --git a/runbot_merge/views/mergebot.xml b/runbot_merge/views/mergebot.xml
index dc219101..f4a65b61 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/views/mergebot.xml
+++ b/runbot_merge/views/mergebot.xml
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@
                             <field name="squash"/>
                             <field name="draft"/>
                             <field string="Up To" name="limit_id"/>
-                            <field string="Forward-Port Policy" name="fw_policy"/>
+<!--                            <field string="Forward-Port Policy" name="fw_policy"/>-->
                         </group>
                     </group>
                     <!-- influencers -->