diff --git a/pkg/gui/files_panel.go b/pkg/gui/files_panel.go
index 9877d1602..a689de6c9 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/files_panel.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/files_panel.go
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ func (gui *Gui) handleStageAll(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
 
 func (gui *Gui) handleIgnoreFile(g *gocui.Gui, v *gocui.View) error {
 	file := gui.getSelectedFile()
-	if file == nil {
+	if file == nil || file.Name == ".gitignore" {
 		return nil
 	}