diff --git a/cmd/ninja/cmd/plugin.go b/cmd/ninja/cmd/plugin.go
index 689e9df..240977c 100644
--- a/cmd/ninja/cmd/plugin.go
+++ b/cmd/ninja/cmd/plugin.go
@@ -303,6 +303,17 @@ func newPluginPublishCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				if len(strings.TrimSpace(string(out))) > 0 {
 					return fmt.Errorf("working tree dirty; commit or pass --allow-dirty")
 				}
+			} else {
+				// `git stash create` only captures tracked content, so untracked
+				// files would be silently dropped from the archive. Warn loudly.
+				out, _ := exec.Command("git", "ls-files", "--others", "--exclude-standard").Output()
+				if names := strings.TrimSpace(string(out)); names != "" {
+					fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "warning: --allow-dirty: these untracked files will NOT be in the archive:")
+					for _, n := range strings.Split(names, "\n") {
+						fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "  "+n)
+					}
+					fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "  (run `git add <file>` if they should be shipped)")
+				}
 			}
 
 			out, _ := exec.Command("git", "ls-files", "--cached", "--ignored", "--exclude-standard").Output()