diff --git a/ci/release_notes.md b/ci/release_notes.md
index 4087d99..b85e440 100644
--- a/ci/release_notes.md
+++ b/ci/release_notes.md
@@ -1 +1,3 @@
-Empty - please add release notes here
+## Misc
+
+- improve output when nothing to commit
diff --git a/src/repo.rs b/src/repo.rs
index d03e9e8..a69b1bb 100644
--- a/src/repo.rs
+++ b/src/repo.rs
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ impl Repo {
             private_key,
             ..
         }: GitConfig,
-    ) -> Result<()> {
+    ) -> Result<bool> {
         let callbacks = remote_callbacks(private_key.clone());
         let mut fo = git2::FetchOptions::new();
         fo.remote_callbacks(callbacks);
@@ -191,8 +191,10 @@ impl Repo {
                     Some(&mut push_options),
                 )
                 .context("Couldn't push to remote")?;
+            Ok(true)
+        } else {
+            Ok(false)
         }
-        Ok(())
     }
 
     pub fn open(gate: Option<String>) -> Result<Self> {
diff --git a/src/workspace.rs b/src/workspace.rs
index ea1ff49..ca0f01a 100644
--- a/src/workspace.rs
+++ b/src/workspace.rs
@@ -28,11 +28,7 @@ impl Workspace {
     pub fn ls(&self, env: &EnvironmentConfig, gate: Option<String>) -> Result<Vec<String>> {
         let repo = Repo::open(gate)?;
         let new_env_state = self.construct_env_state(&repo, env, false)?;
-        Ok(new_env_state
-            .files
-            .into_keys()
-            .map(|k| k.name())
-            .collect())
+        Ok(new_env_state.files.into_keys().map(|k| k.name()).collect())
     }
 
     pub fn check(
@@ -163,7 +159,9 @@ impl Workspace {
         }
         if let Some(config) = git_config {
             eprintln!("Pushing to remote");
-            repo.push(config)?;
+            if !repo.push(config)? {
+                eprintln!("... there was nothing new to push");
+            }
         }
         Ok((
             StateId {