diff --git a/src/commands/suggest.ts b/src/commands/suggest.ts
index 85f3ac6..fa361f5 100644
--- a/src/commands/suggest.ts
+++ b/src/commands/suggest.ts
@@ -388,8 +388,12 @@ export async function suggestCommand(
       }
 
       if (shouldCommit) {
-        await acceptAndCommit(selected, config, diffResult.diff);
-      } else {
+  if (!diffResult.staged) {
+    outro(pc.red('Commit requires staged changes. Stage your changes with `git add` and try again.'));
+    return;
+  }
+  await acceptAndCommit(selected, config, diffResult.diff);
+} else {
         console.log(`\n  ${pc.green('Selected:')} ${pc.bold(selected.message)}`);
         if (selected.body) {
           console.log(`  ${pc.dim(selected.body)}`);