diff --git a/apps/api/src/api/git_repositories.py b/apps/api/src/api/git_repositories.py
index 05b00f0..0b3892d 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/api/git_repositories.py
+++ b/apps/api/src/api/git_repositories.py
@@ -10,7 +10,12 @@ from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict
 from sqlalchemy import select
 from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncSession
 
-from src.auth.dependencies import _get_owned_project, _get_user, get_current_user_id, get_db_session
+from src.auth.dependencies import (
+    _get_owned_project,
+    _get_user,
+    get_current_user_id,
+    get_db_session,
+)
 from src.config import Settings
 from src.models.git_repository import GitRepository
 from src.models.ssh_key import SSHKey
@@ -62,19 +67,19 @@ def _build_provider_clone_url(owner: str, repo: str) -> str:
 
 def _prepare_ssh_env(ssh_key: SSHKey | None) -> dict | None:
     """Prepare environment variables for git commands with SSH authentication.
-    
+
     Returns a dict of extra env vars, or None if no SSH key provided.
     The caller is responsible for cleaning up the temporary key file.
     """
     if ssh_key is None:
         return None
-    
+
     import tempfile
-    
+
     # Decrypt private key
     fernet = _get_fernet()
     private_key = fernet.decrypt(ssh_key.private_key_encrypted.encode()).decode()
-    
+
     # Write to temp file with restricted permissions
     fd, key_path = tempfile.mkstemp(prefix="ssh_key_")
     try:
@@ -82,7 +87,7 @@ def _prepare_ssh_env(ssh_key: SSHKey | None) -> dict | None:
     finally:
         os.close(fd)
     os.chmod(key_path, 0o600)
-    
+
     # Return env vars and the key path for cleanup
     env = {
         "GIT_SSH_COMMAND": f"ssh -i {key_path} -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null"
@@ -90,16 +95,18 @@ def _prepare_ssh_env(ssh_key: SSHKey | None) -> dict | None:
     return env, key_path
 
 
-def _preflight_remote_repository(remote_url: str, ssh_key: SSHKey | None = None) -> None:
+def _preflight_remote_repository(
+    remote_url: str, ssh_key: SSHKey | None = None
+) -> None:
     """Verify a remote repository is reachable before cloning."""
     env = None
     key_path = None
-    
+
     if ssh_key is not None:
         ssh_result = _prepare_ssh_env(ssh_key)
         if ssh_result:
             env, key_path = ssh_result
-    
+
     try:
         result = subprocess.run(
             ["git", "ls-remote", remote_url],
@@ -109,30 +116,40 @@ def _preflight_remote_repository(remote_url: str, ssh_key: SSHKey | None = None)
             env={**os.environ, **env} if env else None,
         )
     except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST, detail="remote repository check timed out")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
+            detail="remote repository check timed out",
+        )
     except FileNotFoundError:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_500_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR, detail="git command not found")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_500_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR,
+            detail="git command not found",
+        )
     finally:
         if key_path and os.path.exists(key_path):
             os.unlink(key_path)
 
     if result.returncode != 0:
-        logger.error("Preflight check failed for %s: stderr=%s", remote_url, result.stderr)
+        logger.error(
+            "Preflight check failed for %s: stderr=%s", remote_url, result.stderr
+        )
         raise HTTPException(
             status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
             detail=f"repository not found or inaccessible: {result.stderr}",
         )
 
 
-def _clone_working_repository(remote_url: str, repo_path: str, ssh_key: SSHKey | None = None) -> None:
+def _clone_working_repository(
+    remote_url: str, repo_path: str, ssh_key: SSHKey | None = None
+) -> None:
     env = None
     key_path = None
-    
+
     if ssh_key is not None:
         ssh_result = _prepare_ssh_env(ssh_key)
         if ssh_result:
             env, key_path = ssh_result
-    
+
     try:
         result = subprocess.run(
             ["git", "clone", remote_url, repo_path],
@@ -142,9 +159,14 @@ def _clone_working_repository(remote_url: str, repo_path: str, ssh_key: SSHKey |
             env={**os.environ, **env} if env else None,
         )
     except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST, detail="clone operation timed out")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST, detail="clone operation timed out"
+        )
     except FileNotFoundError:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_500_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR, detail="git command not found")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_500_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR,
+            detail="git command not found",
+        )
     finally:
         if key_path and os.path.exists(key_path):
             os.unlink(key_path)
@@ -165,7 +187,10 @@ def _init_working_repository(repo_path: str) -> None:
             text=True,
         )
     except FileNotFoundError:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_500_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR, detail="git command not found")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_500_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR,
+            detail="git command not found",
+        )
 
     if result.returncode == 0:
         return
@@ -310,7 +335,10 @@ async def create_external_repository(
         )
     )
     if existing.scalar_one_or_none():
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST, detail="repository name already exists")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
+            detail="repository name already exists",
+        )
 
     # Validate and potentially correct the URL
     remote_url = data.remote_url
@@ -336,13 +364,21 @@ async def create_external_repository(
         try:
             ssh_key_id = uuid.UUID(data.ssh_key_id)
         except ValueError:
-            raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST, detail="invalid ssh_key_id format")
-        
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
+                detail="invalid ssh_key_id format",
+            )
+
         ssh_key = await session.get(SSHKey, ssh_key_id)
         if ssh_key is None:
-            raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="ssh key not found")
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="ssh key not found"
+            )
         if ssh_key.user_id != user_id:
-            raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN, detail="ssh key does not belong to user")
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN,
+                detail="ssh key does not belong to user",
+            )
 
     if remote_url:
         _preflight_remote_repository(remote_url, ssh_key)
@@ -369,7 +405,10 @@ async def create_external_repository(
             repo.is_mirror = False
         except Exception as exc:
             await session.rollback()
-            raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_500_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR, detail=f"Failed to clone repository: {exc}")
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=status.HTTP_500_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR,
+                detail=f"Failed to clone repository: {exc}",
+            )
     else:
         # Initialize empty repo
         os.makedirs(repo_path, exist_ok=True)
@@ -438,7 +477,9 @@ async def delete_repository(
 
     repo = await session.get(GitRepository, repo_id)
     if repo is None or repo.project_id != project_id:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found"
+        )
 
     # Remove from disk
     if os.path.exists(repo.path):
@@ -484,7 +525,10 @@ async def create_repository(
         )
     )
     if existing.scalar_one_or_none():
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST, detail="repository name already exists")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
+            detail="repository name already exists",
+        )
 
     # Validate and potentially correct the URL
     remote_url = data.remote_url
@@ -511,13 +555,21 @@ async def create_repository(
         try:
             ssh_key_id = uuid.UUID(data.ssh_key_id)
         except ValueError:
-            raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST, detail="invalid ssh_key_id format")
-        
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
+                detail="invalid ssh_key_id format",
+            )
+
         ssh_key = await session.get(SSHKey, ssh_key_id)
         if ssh_key is None:
-            raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="ssh key not found")
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="ssh key not found"
+            )
         if ssh_key.user_id != user_id and ssh_key.project_id != project_id:
-            raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN, detail="ssh key does not belong to user or project")
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN,
+                detail="ssh key does not belong to user or project",
+            )
 
     if remote_url:
         _preflight_remote_repository(remote_url, ssh_key)
@@ -581,20 +633,30 @@ async def update_repository_ssh_key(
 
     repo = await session.get(GitRepository, repo_id)
     if repo is None or repo.project_id != project_id:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found"
+        )
 
     # Validate SSH key if provided
     if data.ssh_key_id:
         try:
             ssh_key_id = uuid.UUID(data.ssh_key_id)
         except ValueError:
-            raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST, detail="invalid ssh_key_id format")
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
+                detail="invalid ssh_key_id format",
+            )
 
         ssh_key = await session.get(SSHKey, ssh_key_id)
         if ssh_key is None:
-            raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="ssh key not found")
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="ssh key not found"
+            )
         if ssh_key.user_id != user_id and ssh_key.project_id != project_id:
-            raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN, detail="ssh key does not belong to user or project")
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN,
+                detail="ssh key does not belong to user or project",
+            )
 
         repo.ssh_key_id = ssh_key_id
     else:
@@ -640,16 +702,24 @@ async def get_repository_history(
 
     repo = await session.get(GitRepository, repo_id)
     if repo is None or repo.project_id != project_id:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found"
+        )
 
     if not os.path.exists(repo.path):
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk"
+        )
 
     try:
-        history = get_commit_history(repo.path, branch=branch, limit=limit, offset=offset)
+        history = get_commit_history(
+            repo.path, branch=branch, limit=limit, offset=offset
+        )
         return history
     except RuntimeError as e:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_500_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR, detail=str(e))
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_500_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR, detail=str(e)
+        )
 
 
 @router.get(
@@ -681,10 +751,14 @@ async def get_repository_commit(
 
     repo = await session.get(GitRepository, repo_id)
     if repo is None or repo.project_id != project_id:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found"
+        )
 
     if not os.path.exists(repo.path):
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk"
+        )
 
     try:
         detail = get_commit_detail(repo.path, commit_hash)
@@ -763,10 +837,14 @@ async def list_repository_files(
 
     repo = await session.get(GitRepository, repo_id)
     if repo is None or repo.project_id != project_id:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found"
+        )
 
     if not os.path.exists(repo.path):
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk"
+        )
 
     try:
         entries = list_tree(repo.path, branch=branch, path=path)
@@ -829,10 +907,14 @@ async def get_repository_file_content(
 
     repo = await session.get(GitRepository, repo_id)
     if repo is None or repo.project_id != project_id:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found"
+        )
 
     if not os.path.exists(repo.path):
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk"
+        )
 
     try:
         file_content = get_file_content(repo.path, branch=branch, path=path)
@@ -847,7 +929,9 @@ async def get_repository_file_content(
             last_commit=file_content.last_commit,
         )
     except FileNotFoundError:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="file not found")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="file not found"
+        )
     except RuntimeError as e:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST, detail=str(e))
 
@@ -880,10 +964,14 @@ async def get_repository_branches(
 
     repo = await session.get(GitRepository, repo_id)
     if repo is None or repo.project_id != project_id:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found"
+        )
 
-    # Try local repo first
-    is_valid_git_repo = os.path.isdir(os.path.join(repo.path, ".git"))
+    # Try local repo first (.git subdir for normal repos, HEAD for bare)
+    is_valid_git_repo = os.path.isdir(
+        os.path.join(repo.path, ".git")
+    ) or os.path.isfile(os.path.join(repo.path, "HEAD"))
 
     if is_valid_git_repo:
         try:
@@ -906,16 +994,29 @@ async def get_repository_branches(
                 str(e),
                 exc_info=True,
             )
-            raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_500_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR, detail=str(e)) from e
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=status.HTTP_500_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR, detail=str(e)
+            ) from e
 
     # Local repo missing/corrupt — try remote if available
     if repo.remote_url:
+        ssh_key = None
+        if repo.ssh_key_id:
+            ssh_key = await session.get(SSHKey, repo.ssh_key_id)
+
+        ssh_result = _prepare_ssh_env(ssh_key)
+        env = None
+        key_path = None
+        if ssh_result:
+            env, key_path = ssh_result
+
         try:
             result = subprocess.run(
                 ["git", "ls-remote", "--heads", repo.remote_url],
                 capture_output=True,
                 text=True,
                 timeout=30,
+                env={**os.environ, **env} if env else None,
             )
             if result.returncode == 0:
                 remote_branches = []
@@ -926,9 +1027,9 @@ async def get_repository_branches(
                         if len(parts) == 2:
                             ref = parts[1]
                             if ref.startswith("refs/heads/"):
-                                branch_name = ref[len("refs/heads/"):]
+                                branch_name = ref[len("refs/heads/") :]
                                 remote_branches.append(branch_name)
-                                if branch_name == "main" or branch_name == "master":
+                                if branch_name in ("main", "master"):
                                     default_branch = branch_name
                 if remote_branches:
                     return BranchesResponse(
@@ -942,10 +1043,20 @@ async def get_repository_branches(
                         ],
                         default_branch=default_branch,
                     )
+            else:
+                logger.warning(
+                    "ls-remote returned %d for repo %s: %s",
+                    result.returncode,
+                    repo_id,
+                    result.stderr,
+                )
         except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
             logger.warning("ls-remote timed out for repo %s", repo_id)
         except Exception as e:
             logger.warning("ls-remote failed for repo %s: %s", repo_id, str(e))
+        finally:
+            if key_path and os.path.exists(key_path):
+                os.unlink(key_path)
 
     raise HTTPException(
         status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND,
@@ -983,10 +1094,14 @@ async def update_repository_file(
 
     repo = await session.get(GitRepository, repo_id)
     if repo is None or repo.project_id != project_id:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found"
+        )
 
     if not os.path.exists(repo.path):
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk"
+        )
 
     # Get user info for commit
     user = await _get_user(session, user_id)
@@ -1054,10 +1169,14 @@ async def get_repository_status(
 
     repo = await session.get(GitRepository, repo_id)
     if repo is None or repo.project_id != project_id:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found"
+        )
 
     if not os.path.exists(repo.path):
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk"
+        )
 
     try:
         status_result = get_status(repo.path)
@@ -1113,10 +1232,14 @@ async def create_repository_branch(
 
     repo = await session.get(GitRepository, repo_id)
     if repo is None or repo.project_id != project_id:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found"
+        )
 
     if not os.path.exists(repo.path):
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk"
+        )
 
     try:
         create_branch(repo.path, data.name, data.base_branch)
@@ -1156,10 +1279,14 @@ async def delete_repository_branch(
 
     repo = await session.get(GitRepository, repo_id)
     if repo is None or repo.project_id != project_id:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found"
+        )
 
     if not os.path.exists(repo.path):
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk"
+        )
 
     try:
         delete_branch(repo.path, branch_name, force)
@@ -1197,10 +1324,14 @@ async def checkout_repository_branch(
 
     repo = await session.get(GitRepository, repo_id)
     if repo is None or repo.project_id != project_id:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found"
+        )
 
     if not os.path.exists(repo.path):
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk"
+        )
 
     try:
         checkout_branch(repo.path, data.branch)
@@ -1249,10 +1380,14 @@ async def commit_repository_changes(
 
     repo = await session.get(GitRepository, repo_id)
     if repo is None or repo.project_id != project_id:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found"
+        )
 
     if not os.path.exists(repo.path):
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk"
+        )
 
     # Get user info for commit
     user = await _get_user(session, user_id)
@@ -1307,10 +1442,14 @@ async def fetch_repository(
 
     repo = await session.get(GitRepository, repo_id)
     if repo is None or repo.project_id != project_id:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found"
+        )
 
     if not os.path.exists(repo.path):
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk"
+        )
 
     try:
         fetch(repo.path)
@@ -1353,10 +1492,14 @@ async def pull_repository(
 
     repo = await session.get(GitRepository, repo_id)
     if repo is None or repo.project_id != project_id:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found"
+        )
 
     if not os.path.exists(repo.path):
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk"
+        )
 
     try:
         pull(repo.path, branch)
@@ -1399,10 +1542,14 @@ async def push_repository(
 
     repo = await session.get(GitRepository, repo_id)
     if repo is None or repo.project_id != project_id:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found"
+        )
 
     if not os.path.exists(repo.path):
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk"
+        )
 
     try:
         push(repo.path, branch)
@@ -1452,10 +1599,14 @@ async def merge_repository_branches(
 
     repo = await session.get(GitRepository, repo_id)
     if repo is None or repo.project_id != project_id:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found"
+        )
 
     if not os.path.exists(repo.path):
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="repository not found on disk"
+        )
 
     try:
         commit_hash = merge(
diff --git a/apps/web/src/hooks/use-git-repo.ts b/apps/web/src/hooks/use-git-repo.ts
index 404b2e1..2e5a64e 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/hooks/use-git-repo.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/hooks/use-git-repo.ts
@@ -93,6 +93,18 @@ export function useGitRepo(
 	const [loading, setLoading] = useState(false);
 	const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
 
+	const extractError = (err: unknown): string => {
+		if (typeof err === "object" && err !== null) {
+			const e = err as Record<string, unknown>;
+			const response = e.response as Record<string, unknown> | undefined;
+			const data = response?.data as Record<string, unknown> | undefined;
+			if (typeof data?.detail === "string") return data.detail;
+			if (typeof data?.message === "string") return data.message;
+			if (typeof e.message === "string") return e.message;
+		}
+		return "Git operation failed";
+	};
+
 	const withLoading = useCallback(
 		async <T>(fn: () => Promise<T>): Promise<T> => {
 			setLoading(true);
@@ -100,8 +112,7 @@ export function useGitRepo(
 			try {
 				return await fn();
 			} catch (err) {
-				const msg = err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Git operation failed";
-				setError(msg);
+				setError(extractError(err));
 				throw err;
 			} finally {
 				setLoading(false);