diff --git a/apps/api/src/utils/git_files.py b/apps/api/src/utils/git_files.py
index ebe0cd0..d98cfa3 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/utils/git_files.py
+++ b/apps/api/src/utils/git_files.py
@@ -72,7 +72,15 @@ def list_tree(repo_path: str, branch: str = "main", path: str = "") -> list[File
     except RuntimeError:
         # Try with HEAD if branch doesn't exist
         tree_path = f"HEAD:{path}" if path else "HEAD"
-        output = _run_git_command(repo_path, "ls-tree", "-l", tree_path)
+        try:
+            output = _run_git_command(repo_path, "ls-tree", "-l", tree_path)
+        except RuntimeError as e:
+            # Check if this is an empty repository (no commits yet)
+            error_msg = str(e).lower()
+            if "not a valid object name" in error_msg or "does not exist" in error_msg:
+                # Empty repository - return empty list
+                return []
+            raise
 
     entries = []
     for line in output.strip().split("\n"):
diff --git a/apps/web/src/pages/repo-workspace.tsx b/apps/web/src/pages/repo-workspace.tsx
index dcb58b7..b013f52 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/pages/repo-workspace.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/pages/repo-workspace.tsx
@@ -364,6 +364,9 @@ const FileBrowser = ({
           <Icon name="folder" size="sm" /> ..
         </button>
       )}
+      {entries.length === 0 && (
+        <p className="muted">No files in this repository yet.</p>
+      )}
       {entries.map((entry) => {
         const fileStatus = entry.type === "file" ? getFileStatus(entry.path) : null;
         return (