diff --git a/load_tooltips.sh b/load_tooltips.sh
index a7ec461..3cd8696 100755
--- a/load_tooltips.sh
+++ b/load_tooltips.sh
@@ -24,6 +24,11 @@ grep -qxF "data/tooltips.json" .gitignore || echo "data/tooltips.json" >> .gitig
 echo "[7] Staging .gitignore only..."
 git add .gitignore
 
+if [ -n "$(git diff --cached --name-only -- ':!.gitignore')" ]; then
+    echo "[8] Found staged files other than .gitignore. Please commit or unstage them first."
+    exit 1
+fi
+
 if git diff --cached --quiet -- .gitignore; then
     echo "[8] No changes to commit; skipping git commit/push."
 else