diff --git a/src/cli.ts b/src/cli.ts
index 67dc353..b982344 100755
--- a/src/cli.ts
+++ b/src/cli.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,58 @@ const program = new Command()
 
 program.name("sandlot").description("Branch-based development with git worktrees and Apple Container").version(pkg.version)
 
+// ── save helper ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+/** Stage all changes, generate a commit message, and commit. Returns true on success. */
+async function saveChanges(worktree: string, message?: string): Promise<boolean> {
+  const spin = spinner("Staging changes")
+
+  await $`git -C ${worktree} add .`.nothrow().quiet()
+
+  const check = await $`git -C ${worktree} diff --staged --quiet`.nothrow().quiet()
+  if (check.exitCode === 0) {
+    spin.fail("No changes to commit")
+    return false
+  }
+
+  let msg: string
+  if (message) {
+    msg = message
+  } else {
+    spin.text = "Starting container"
+    await vm.ensure((m) => { spin.text = m })
+
+    spin.text = "Generating commit message"
+    const diff = await $`git -C ${worktree} diff --staged`.nothrow().quiet().text()
+    const tmpPath = join(homedir(), '.sandlot', '.sandlot-diff-tmp')
+    await Bun.write(tmpPath, diff)
+
+    const gen = await vm.exec(
+      join(homedir(), '.sandlot'),
+      'cat /sandlot/.sandlot-diff-tmp | claude -p "write a short commit message summarizing these changes. output only the message, no quotes or extra text"',
+    )
+    await Bun.file(tmpPath).unlink().catch(() => {})
+
+    if (gen.exitCode !== 0) {
+      spin.fail("Failed to generate commit message")
+      if (gen.stderr) console.error(gen.stderr)
+      return false
+    }
+    msg = gen.stdout
+  }
+
+  spin.text = "Committing"
+  const commit = await $`git -C ${worktree} commit -m ${msg}`.nothrow().quiet()
+  if (commit.exitCode !== 0) {
+    spin.fail("Commit failed")
+    if (commit.stderr) console.error(commit.stderr.toString().trim())
+    return false
+  }
+
+  spin.succeed(`Saved: ${msg}`)
+  return true
+}
+
 // ── sandlot new <branch> ──────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 program
@@ -70,6 +122,8 @@ program
 
     if (opts.print) console.log(`Running prompt…`)
     await vm.claude(worktreeAbs, { prompt, print: opts.print })
+
+    await saveChanges(worktreeAbs)
   })
 
 // ── sandlot list ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -229,54 +283,8 @@ program
       process.exit(1)
     }
 
-    const wt = session.worktree
-    const spin = spinner("Staging changes")
-
-    // Run git on the host — the worktree's .git references host paths and
-    // ~/dev is mounted read-only in the container, so git must run here.
-    await $`git -C ${wt} add .`.nothrow().quiet()
-
-    const check = await $`git -C ${wt} diff --staged --quiet`.nothrow().quiet()
-    if (check.exitCode === 0) {
-      spin.fail("No changes to commit")
-      process.exit(1)
-    }
-
-    let msg: string
-    if (message) {
-      msg = message
-    } else {
-      spin.text = "Starting container"
-      await vm.ensure((m) => { spin.text = m })
-
-      spin.text = "Generating commit message"
-      const diff = await $`git -C ${wt} diff --staged`.nothrow().quiet().text()
-      const tmpPath = join(homedir(), '.sandlot', '.sandlot-diff-tmp')
-      await Bun.write(tmpPath, diff)
-
-      const gen = await vm.exec(
-        join(homedir(), '.sandlot'),
-        'cat /sandlot/.sandlot-diff-tmp | claude -p "write a short commit message summarizing these changes. output only the message, no quotes or extra text"',
-      )
-      await Bun.file(tmpPath).unlink().catch(() => {})
-
-      if (gen.exitCode !== 0) {
-        spin.fail("Failed to generate commit message")
-        if (gen.stderr) console.error(gen.stderr)
-        process.exit(1)
-      }
-      msg = gen.stdout
-    }
-
-    spin.text = "Committing"
-    const commit = await $`git -C ${wt} commit -m ${msg}`.nothrow().quiet()
-    if (commit.exitCode !== 0) {
-      spin.fail("Commit failed")
-      if (commit.stderr) console.error(commit.stderr.toString().trim())
-      process.exit(1)
-    }
-
-    spin.succeed(`Saved: ${msg}`)
+    const ok = await saveChanges(session.worktree, message)
+    if (!ok) process.exit(1)
   })
 
 // ── sandlot diff <branch> ───────────────────────────────────────────