diff --git a/cmd/new.go b/cmd/new.go
index baf9f31..09b3f3a 100644
--- a/cmd/new.go
+++ b/cmd/new.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package cmd
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"github.com/warrenronsiek/ctask/internal/config"
@@ -97,6 +98,20 @@ func runNew(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	if newProject {
+		if !workspace.GitAvailable() {
+			fmt.Println("[ctask] git not found; skipped repository initialization")
+		} else {
+			if err := workspace.RunGitInit(ws.Path); err != nil {
+				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "[ctask] warning: %v\n", err)
+			}
+		}
+		// Seed-wins: EnsureGitignore is a no-op when a seed provided .gitignore.
+		if err := workspace.EnsureGitignore(ws.Path); err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "[ctask] warning: failed to create .gitignore: %v\n", err)
+		}
+	}
+
 	relPath := workspace.RelativePath(root, ws.Path)
 	fmt.Printf("[ctask] created %s\n", relPath)