diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/repositories-settings-tab.test.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/repositories-settings-tab.test.tsx
index c223e4b..69e5304 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/repositories-settings-tab.test.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/repositories-settings-tab.test.tsx
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ afterEach(() => {
 });
 
 describe("RepositoriesSettingsTab", () => {
-  it("opens create dialog and submits a repository", async () => {
+  it("opens create dialog and clones an existing repository", async () => {
     const listMock = vi.spyOn(gitRepositoriesApi, "listRepositories").mockResolvedValue(mockRepositories);
     const createMock = vi.spyOn(gitRepositoriesApi, "createRepository").mockResolvedValue(mockRepositories[0]);
 
@@ -46,14 +46,34 @@ describe("RepositoriesSettingsTab", () => {
     fireEvent.change(screen.getByPlaceholderText(/repository-name/i), {
       target: { value: "New Repo" },
     });
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /create/i }));
+    fireEvent.change(screen.getByPlaceholderText(/github.com\/user\/repo.git/i), {
+      target: { value: "https://github.com/user/repo.git" },
+    });
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /clone repository/i }));
 
     await waitFor(() => {
       expect(createMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith("proj-1", {
         name: "New Repo",
-        remote_url: undefined,
+        remote_url: "https://github.com/user/repo.git",
       });
     });
     expect(listMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
   });
+
+  it("shows validation when cloning without a remote url", async () => {
+    vi.spyOn(gitRepositoriesApi, "listRepositories").mockResolvedValue(mockRepositories);
+    render(<RepositoriesSettingsTab />);
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(screen.getByText("Main Repo")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /add repository/i }));
+    fireEvent.change(screen.getByPlaceholderText(/repository-name/i), {
+      target: { value: "New Repo" },
+    });
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /clone repository/i }));
+
+    expect(screen.getByText(/remote url is required/i)).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
 });
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/repositories-settings-tab.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/repositories-settings-tab.tsx
index 7ff9a62..c7545ee 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/repositories-settings-tab.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/repositories-settings-tab.tsx
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ export const RepositoriesSettingsTab: React.FC = () => {
   const [repositories, setRepositories] = useState<GitRepository[]>([]);
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
   const [showCreate, setShowCreate] = useState(false);
+  const [createMode, setCreateMode] = useState<"clone" | "blank">("clone");
   const [formName, setFormName] = useState("");
   const [formRemoteUrl, setFormRemoteUrl] = useState("");
   const [error, setError] = useState("");
@@ -49,6 +50,10 @@ export const RepositoriesSettingsTab: React.FC = () => {
       setError("Repository name is required");
       return;
     }
+    if (createMode === "clone" && !formRemoteUrl.trim()) {
+      setError("Remote URL is required to clone an existing repository");
+      return;
+    }
 
     try {
       const input: GitRepositoryCreate = {
@@ -57,6 +62,7 @@ export const RepositoriesSettingsTab: React.FC = () => {
       };
       await createRepository(projectId, input);
       setShowCreate(false);
+      setCreateMode("clone");
       setFormName("");
       setFormRemoteUrl("");
       await loadRepositories();
@@ -82,7 +88,11 @@ export const RepositoriesSettingsTab: React.FC = () => {
     <div className="repositories-settings-tab">
       <div className="page-header">
         <h2>Repositories</h2>
-        <button className="primary-button" onClick={() => setShowCreate(true)} type="button">
+        <button
+          className="primary-button"
+          onClick={() => setShowCreate(true)}
+          type="button"
+        >
           <Icon name="add" size="sm" />
           Add Repository
         </button>
@@ -117,9 +127,32 @@ export const RepositoriesSettingsTab: React.FC = () => {
         <div className="dialog-overlay" role="dialog" aria-modal="true">
           <div className="dialog">
             <h3>Add Repository</h3>
+            <p className="muted">
+              Clone an existing repository from a git server, or create a blank bare repo here.
+            </p>
             <form onSubmit={handleCreate} className="stack">
+              <div className="form-field">
+                <label>
+                  <input
+                    type="radio"
+                    name="repository-mode"
+                    checked={createMode === "clone"}
+                    onChange={() => setCreateMode("clone")}
+                  />
+                  Clone existing repository
+                </label>
+                <label>
+                  <input
+                    type="radio"
+                    name="repository-mode"
+                    checked={createMode === "blank"}
+                    onChange={() => setCreateMode("blank")}
+                  />
+                  Create blank repository
+                </label>
+              </div>
               <label className="form-field">
-                Name
+                Repository name
                 <input
                   type="text"
                   value={formName}
@@ -128,7 +161,7 @@ export const RepositoriesSettingsTab: React.FC = () => {
                 />
               </label>
               <label className="form-field">
-                Remote URL (optional)
+                Remote URL {createMode === "clone" ? "(required)" : "(optional)"}
                 <input
                   type="text"
                   value={formRemoteUrl}
@@ -141,7 +174,7 @@ export const RepositoriesSettingsTab: React.FC = () => {
                   Cancel
                 </button>
                 <button className="primary-button" type="submit">
-                  Create
+                  {createMode === "clone" ? "Clone Repository" : "Create Blank Repository"}
                 </button>
               </div>
             </form>