diff --git a/bin/hledger-git b/bin/hledger-git
index 3160a6676..0e9c8ed65 100755
--- a/bin/hledger-git
+++ b/bin/hledger-git
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ record() {
     ensure_git
     ensure_git_repo
     cd "$DIR"
-    for F in $FILES; do $GIT add -f "$F"; done
+    for F in $FILES; do $GIT add "$F"; done || echo "(ignored)"
     MSG=${1:-$(date +'%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S %Z')}
     if [ $# -ge 1 ]; then
         shift