diff --git a/cmd/ninja/cmd/plugin.go b/cmd/ninja/cmd/plugin.go
index c3437b3..fbf67f1 100644
--- a/cmd/ninja/cmd/plugin.go
+++ b/cmd/ninja/cmd/plugin.go
@@ -235,6 +235,15 @@ func newPluginPublishCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				}
 			}
 
+			out, _ := exec.Command("git", "ls-files", "--cached", "--ignored", "--exclude-standard").Output()
+			if names := strings.TrimSpace(string(out)); names != "" {
+				fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "warning: these tracked files match .gitignore and will still be shipped:")
+				for _, n := range strings.Split(names, "\n") {
+					fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "  "+n)
+				}
+				fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "  (run `git rm --cached <file>` to drop)")
+			}
+
 			archiveBytes, err := archive.BuildSourceArchive(".")
 			if err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("build archive: %w", err)