diff --git a/deploy b/deploy
index 911d054..08b95d0 100755
--- a/deploy
+++ b/deploy
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ collect_garbage () {
 
 rebuild_flake () {
 	# make sure all changes are visible to nixos
-	git add . --verbose
+	# (--intent-to-add tracks files but DOES NOT stage them)
+	git add . --intent-to-add --verbose
 	local FLAGS=
 	if [ "$1" = "reinstall-bootloader" ]; then
 		FLAGS="--install-bootloader"