diff --git a/reusable_workflows/check_cla/check_cla_pr.py b/reusable_workflows/check_cla/check_cla_pr.py
index 75df967..efc2752 100644
--- a/reusable_workflows/check_cla/check_cla_pr.py
+++ b/reusable_workflows/check_cla/check_cla_pr.py
@@ -72,20 +72,20 @@ def create_cla_issue(self, user: str) -> GHIssue:
                 user, self.cla_link, user_agreement_message
             ),
         )
-        # replace with PENDING, once new bot has been released
-        issue.add_labels(GH_WORKFLOW_LABEL)
+        issue.add_labels(PENDING_LABEL)
         return issue
 
     def handle_cla_signed(self, issue: GHIssue, user: str) -> None:
         for label in issue.original_labels:
             if label.name == APPROVED_LABEL:
                 return
-            elif label.name == GH_WORKFLOW_LABEL:
-                agreement_message = messages.AGREED_MESSAGE.format(user)
-                issue.create_comment(agreement_message)
-                issue.remove_label(GH_WORKFLOW_LABEL)
-                issue.add_labels(APPROVED_LABEL)
-                return
+            for pending_label in [GH_WORKFLOW_LABEL, PENDING_LABEL]:
+                if label.name == pending_label:
+                    agreement_message = messages.AGREED_MESSAGE.format(user)
+                    issue.create_comment(agreement_message)
+                    issue.remove_label(pending_label)
+                    issue.add_labels(APPROVED_LABEL)
+                    return
         print(
             "No cla labels found - manually check the cla issue to see what state it is in. Exiting program."  # noqa
         )
diff --git a/reusable_workflows/tests/test_cla_pr.py b/reusable_workflows/tests/test_cla_pr.py
index 7eed40a..2344eda 100644
--- a/reusable_workflows/tests/test_cla_pr.py
+++ b/reusable_workflows/tests/test_cla_pr.py
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ def test_create_cla_issue():
         "cla: @username",
         body=cla_agreement_message,
     )
+    issue.add_labels.assert_called_with("cla:pending")
 
 
 def test_handle_cla_signed_with_agreed_label():
@@ -171,6 +172,19 @@ def test_handle_cla_signed_with_pending_label():
     issue.remove_label.assert_called_once()
     issue.add_labels.assert_called_once()
 
+def test_handle_cla_signed_with_new_pending_label():
+    issue = mock.Mock()
+    label = mock.Mock()
+    label.name = "cla:pending"
+    issue.original_labels = [label]
+    agreement_message = AGREED_MESSAGE.format("username")
+
+    cla = CLAHandler(mock.Mock())
+    cla.handle_cla_signed(issue, "username")
+
+    issue.create_comment.assert_called_with(agreement_message)
+    issue.remove_label.assert_called_once()
+    issue.add_labels.assert_called_once()
 
 def test_handle_cla_signed_with_no_label(capfd):
     issue = mock.Mock()