diff --git a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/app.tsx/01M4YT6XB7NQ89E6F4P375REE7-all-projects-and-project-vie.md b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/app.tsx/01M4YT6XB7NQ89E6F4P375REE7-all-projects-and-project-vie.md
index bc3a23f7..d84bcf82 100644
--- a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/app.tsx/01M4YT6XB7NQ89E6F4P375REE7-all-projects-and-project-vie.md
+++ b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/app.tsx/01M4YT6XB7NQ89E6F4P375REE7-all-projects-and-project-vie.md
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ anchor: function App
 created: 2026-10-15T03:38:04Z
 norm: '1'
 sig: 063d0f00fea02511
-body_hash: 83384f8adacc5fe0
-raw_hash: 8ef778bdb202cc6b
-vouched: 2026-10-22T21:26:46Z
+body_hash: b43eff10846d0cd3
+raw_hash: c90b02e06b07e972
+vouched: 2026-10-22T22:08:11Z
 lines: 235-824
 ---
 
diff --git a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/app.tsx/01M5JMVG9G87F31FGVV571Y6BJ-the-project-list-is-built-on.md b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/app.tsx/01M5JMVG9G87F31FGVV571Y6BJ-the-project-list-is-built-on.md
index 624fa5e4..84a56e07 100644
--- a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/app.tsx/01M5JMVG9G87F31FGVV571Y6BJ-the-project-list-is-built-on.md
+++ b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/app.tsx/01M5JMVG9G87F31FGVV571Y6BJ-the-project-list-is-built-on.md
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ anchor: function App
 created: 2026-10-22T20:29:16Z
 norm: '1'
 sig: 063d0f00fea02511
-body_hash: 83384f8adacc5fe0
-raw_hash: 8ef778bdb202cc6b
-vouched: 2026-10-22T21:26:46Z
+body_hash: b43eff10846d0cd3
+raw_hash: c90b02e06b07e972
+vouched: 2026-10-22T22:08:11Z
 lines: 330-1237
 ---
 
diff --git a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/dashboard.tsx/01M5AYX7CX6GW2PYNTV3BS5F91-with-no-usable-model-on-this.md b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/dashboard.tsx/01M5AYX7CX6GW2PYNTV3BS5F91-with-no-usable-model-on-this.md
index 319c8f41..a03f5a0b 100644
--- a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/dashboard.tsx/01M5AYX7CX6GW2PYNTV3BS5F91-with-no-usable-model-on-this.md
+++ b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/dashboard.tsx/01M5AYX7CX6GW2PYNTV3BS5F91-with-no-usable-model-on-this.md
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ anchor: function Dashboard
 created: 2026-10-19T20:51:03Z
 norm: '1'
 sig: 4bfb45497157c0e0
-body_hash: 7bc89e0d12e7b984
-raw_hash: cc8a4b9d6c396b11
-vouched: 2026-10-22T20:44:27Z
+body_hash: e77359bc3330d503
+raw_hash: 7884a688975d2f4c
+vouched: 2026-10-22T22:08:11Z
 lines: 256-606
 ---
 
diff --git a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/open-project.tsx/01M5JNQ72H3WS44JG82D60Q37M-a-folder-without-a-commit-is.md b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/open-project.tsx/01M5JNQ72H3WS44JG82D60Q37M-a-folder-without-a-commit-is.md
index ef9e2203..83cf4438 100644
--- a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/open-project.tsx/01M5JNQ72H3WS44JG82D60Q37M-a-folder-without-a-commit-is.md
+++ b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/open-project.tsx/01M5JNQ72H3WS44JG82D60Q37M-a-folder-without-a-commit-is.md
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@ id: 01M5JNQ72H3WS44JG82D60Q37M
 anchor: function InitGit
 created: 2026-10-22T20:44:24Z
 norm: '1'
-sig: e05f5c81094473f3
-body_hash: faffdcfc736d2780
-raw_hash: e2bf3f4586e0df5c
+sig: bbe6f480fcc6cbd1
+body_hash: 0fc448d2189f968d
+raw_hash: 517902d11c496496
+vouched: 2026-10-22T22:08:11Z
 lines: 52-111
 ---
 
diff --git a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/projects.ts/01M4YQHHKT4G697PSH2EAWHFCK-a-peer-answers-project-repo.md b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/projects.ts/01M4YQHHKT4G697PSH2EAWHFCK-a-peer-answers-project-repo.md
index 8f6b299c..a1e0e945 100644
--- a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/projects.ts/01M4YQHHKT4G697PSH2EAWHFCK-a-peer-answers-project-repo.md
+++ b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/projects.ts/01M4YQHHKT4G697PSH2EAWHFCK-a-peer-answers-project-repo.md
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ anchor: function projects
 created: 2026-10-15T02:51:27Z
 norm: '1'
 sig: a2ec110fa31d81ee
-body_hash: b6503a52b484f8c1
-raw_hash: 512eae2c23a06106
-vouched: 2026-10-22T14:33:26Z
+body_hash: 61e3738b3ac3c6ad
+raw_hash: edf6c307fa9849bb
+vouched: 2026-10-22T22:08:11Z
 lines: 42-91
 ---
 
diff --git a/apps/app/src/app.tsx b/apps/app/src/app.tsx
index c7e8aadd..b814c311 100644
--- a/apps/app/src/app.tsx
+++ b/apps/app/src/app.tsx
@@ -689,14 +689,16 @@ export function App() {
 		}
 	}
 
-	async function init(path: string) {
+	async function init(path: string, empty?: boolean) {
 		try {
 			await host.request<Project>({ op: "project-init", path });
-			toast.success("Initialized Git", {
+			toast.success(empty ? "Made the first commit" : "Initialized Git", {
 				description: "Committed the folder's files as Initial commit. Channels can start here now.",
 			});
 		} catch (error) {
-			toast.error("Could not initialize Git", { description: (error as Error).message });
+			toast.error(empty ? "Could not make the first commit" : "Could not initialize Git", {
+				description: (error as Error).message,
+			});
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -1068,7 +1070,7 @@ export function App() {
 									local={local}
 									connected={connected}
 									onSetup={!local && current.repo ? () => startSetup(current) : undefined}
-									onInit={() => init(current.path)}
+									onInit={() => init(current.path, current.empty)}
 									onProject={chooseProject}
 									onRemove={removeRepo}
 									onOpen={() => void choose()}
@@ -1128,10 +1130,11 @@ export function App() {
 										<div className="w-full max-w-[34rem]">
 											<InitGit
 												name={current.label}
+												empty={current.empty}
 												ignored={current.ignored}
 												disabled={!connected}
 												path={current.path}
-												onInit={() => init(current.path)}
+												onInit={() => init(current.path, current.empty)}
 											/>
 										</div>
 									)}
diff --git a/apps/app/src/dashboard.tsx b/apps/app/src/dashboard.tsx
index 19d21ff6..5ababd68 100644
--- a/apps/app/src/dashboard.tsx
+++ b/apps/app/src/dashboard.tsx
@@ -441,6 +441,7 @@ export function Dashboard(
 					<InitGit
 						path={project.path}
 						name={project.label}
+						empty={project.empty}
 						ignored={project.ignored}
 						disabled={!connected}
 						onInit={onInit}
diff --git a/apps/app/src/open-project.tsx b/apps/app/src/open-project.tsx
index e1586a03..ff50c853 100644
--- a/apps/app/src/open-project.tsx
+++ b/apps/app/src/open-project.tsx
@@ -49,9 +49,11 @@ export function EmptyProjects({ onOpen, onClone, disabled }: {
 }
 
 /** Lanes are Git worktrees, so a folder needs a commit before it can start channels. */
-export function InitGit({ path, name, ignored, disabled, onInit }: {
+export function InitGit({ path, name, empty, ignored, disabled, onInit }: {
 	path: string;
 	name: string;
+	/** The folder is already a Git repository and needs only its first commit. */
+	empty?: boolean;
 	/** Ace won't commit under a folder's own `.gitignore`, so the person commits it themselves. */
 	ignored?: boolean;
 	disabled: boolean;
@@ -77,32 +79,47 @@ export function InitGit({ path, name, ignored, disabled, onInit }: {
 		}
 	}
 
+	const lanes = empty
+		? `Channels work in lanes, which are Git worktrees, and ${name} has no commit yet.`
+		: "Channels work in lanes, which are Git worktrees.";
 	return (
 		<div className="flex w-full flex-col items-center gap-3 rounded-lg border border-border/70 bg-muted/30 px-5 py-6 text-center">
 			<IconBranch className="size-5 text-muted-foreground" aria-hidden />
-			<h2 className="text-sm font-medium">Initialize a Git repository to get started</h2>
+			<h2 className="text-sm font-medium">
+				{empty
+					? "Make the first commit to get started"
+					: "Initialize a Git repository to get started"}
+			</h2>
 			{ignored
 				? (
 					<p className="max-w-[30rem] text-pretty text-xs leading-5 text-muted-foreground">
-						Channels work in lanes, which are Git worktrees. {name} already has a{" "}
-						<code>.gitignore</code>, so Ace won't commit under its rules. Run <code>git init</code>
-						{" "}
-						and commit its files yourself, then channels can start here.
+						{lanes} {name} already has a{" "}
+						<code>.gitignore</code>, so Ace won't commit under its rules. {empty ? "Commit" : (
+							<>
+								Run <code>git init</code> and commit
+							</>
+						)} its files yourself, then channels can start here.
 					</p>
 				)
 				: (
 					<>
 						<p className="max-w-[30rem] text-pretty text-xs leading-5 text-muted-foreground">
-							Channels work in lanes, which are Git worktrees. Ace will run <code>git init</code> in
-							{" "}
-							{name}, add a <code>.gitignore</code> that leaves out secrets such as{" "}
+							{lanes} Ace will {empty ? "add" : (
+								<>
+									run <code>git init</code> in {name}, add
+								</>
+							)} a <code>.gitignore</code> that leaves out secrets such as{" "}
 							<code>.env</code>, dependencies, and build output, and commit the rest.
 						</p>
 						<Button
 							disabled={disabled || busy}
 							onClick={() => void init()}
 						>
-							{busy ? "Initializing…" : "Initialize Git"}
+							{busy
+								? empty ? "Committing…" : "Initializing…"
+								: empty
+								? "Make first commit"
+								: "Initialize Git"}
 						</Button>
 					</>
 				)}
diff --git a/apps/app/src/projects.ts b/apps/app/src/projects.ts
index b686368d..7702620e 100644
--- a/apps/app/src/projects.ts
+++ b/apps/app/src/projects.ts
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ export function projects(opened: Project[], channels: Listing[], host: string):
 			};
 			if (repo) created.repo = repo;
 			if (opened?.git === false) created.git = false;
+			if (opened?.empty) created.empty = true;
 			if (opened?.ignored) created.ignored = true;
 			return void values.set(id, created);
 		}
diff --git a/apps/host/src/projects.ts b/apps/host/src/projects.ts
index 86ce51aa..027e591b 100644
--- a/apps/host/src/projects.ts
+++ b/apps/host/src/projects.ts
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ async function project(path: string): Promise<Project> {
 	if (repo) value.repo = repo;
 	if (!commit) {
 		value.git = false;
+		if (existsSync(join(root, ".git"))) value.empty = true;
 		if (existsSync(join(root, ".gitignore"))) value.ignored = true;
 	}
 	return value;
diff --git a/apps/host/src/protocol.ts b/apps/host/src/protocol.ts
index 9739d4b3..a3865893 100644
--- a/apps/host/src/protocol.ts
+++ b/apps/host/src/protocol.ts
@@ -269,6 +269,8 @@ export type Project = {
 	repo?: string;
 	/** False until the folder is a Git repository with a commit, which lanes start from. */
 	git?: false;
+	/** The folder is already a Git repository and needs only its first commit. */
+	empty?: true;
 	/** The folder without a commit already has a `.gitignore`, so Ace leaves initializing it to its owner. */
 	ignored?: true;
 };