diff --git a/src/commands/squash.ts b/src/commands/squash.ts
index 6ab91c5..443ced9 100644
--- a/src/commands/squash.ts
+++ b/src/commands/squash.ts
@@ -12,20 +12,20 @@ export async function action(branch: string) {
     die(`Branch "${branch}" has unsaved changes. Run "sandlot save ${branch}" first.`)
   }
 
+  const main = await git.mainBranch(worktree)
+
   if (!await git.hasNewCommits(worktree)) {
-    const main = await git.mainBranch(worktree)
     die(`Branch "${branch}" has no commits beyond ${main}.`)
   }
 
-  const main = await git.mainBranch(worktree)
   const base = await git.mergeBase(main, "HEAD", worktree)
   const originalHead = await git.headRef(worktree)
 
   const spin = spinner("Squashing", branch)
 
-  await git.resetSoft(base, worktree)
-
   try {
+    await git.resetSoft(base, worktree)
+
     spin.text = "Starting container"
     await vm.ensure((msg) => { spin.text = msg })
 
@@ -43,17 +43,16 @@ export async function action(branch: string) {
       "Write a commit message summarizing all changes. Subject line: imperative mood, max 72 characters, no period. Add a blank line then a concise body with the key changes as bullet points. Output only the raw commit message, no quotes or markdown.",
     )
 
-    if (gen.exitCode === 0 && gen.stdout.trim()) {
-      await git.commit(gen.stdout.trim(), worktree)
-    } else {
-      await git.commit(`squash ${branch}`, worktree)
-    }
+    const msg = (gen.exitCode === 0 && gen.stdout.trim()) || `squash ${branch}`
+    await git.commit(msg, worktree)
 
     spin.succeed(`Squashed ${branch} into a single commit`)
   } catch (err) {
-    await git.resetSoft(originalHead, worktree).catch(() => {})
+    const restored = await git.resetSoft(originalHead, worktree).then(() => true).catch(() => false)
     const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err)
-    spin.fail(`Squash failed, changes restored: ${message}`)
+    spin.fail(restored
+      ? `Squash failed, changes restored: ${message}`
+      : `Squash failed and rollback failed — check "git reflog" in the worktree: ${message}`)
     process.exit(1)
   }
 }