diff --git a/git.go b/git.go
index ad4f63a..fbe88ac 100644
--- a/git.go
+++ b/git.go
@@ -87,9 +87,10 @@ func GitPull(cfg *Config) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// GitStatusChanged reports true when the working tree has uncommitted changes.
+// GitStatusChanged reports true when there are changes in the machine-managed
+// dynamic directory. Unrelated repository changes are intentionally ignored.
 func GitStatusChanged(cfg *Config) (bool, error) {
-	out, err := gitOutput(cfg, "status", "--porcelain")
+	out, err := gitOutput(cfg, "status", "--porcelain", "--", cfg.DynamicDir)
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, err
 	}
diff --git a/reconcile.go b/reconcile.go
index f3b470b..68f7469 100644
--- a/reconcile.go
+++ b/reconcile.go
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ func Reconcile(cfg *Config) {
 		return
 	}
 	if !changed {
-		slog.Info("reconcile complete — no changes to commit")
+		slog.Info("reconcile complete — no dynamic DNS changes to commit")
 		return
 	}