diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
index 759b87b..93c7e56 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -186,11 +186,6 @@ jobs:
         with:
           token: ${{ secrets.TOKEN }}
 
-      - id: backup-original-readme
-        name: Backup existing README
-        run: |
-          cp "$README_PATH" "${README_PATH}.bak" || true
-
       - id: generate-readme
         name: Generate README
         run: |
@@ -242,14 +237,22 @@ jobs:
           EOF
 
       - id: check-readme
-        name: Check for README changes
+        name: Check for README changes (git)
         run: |
-          if cmp --silent "$README_PATH" "${README_PATH}.bak"; then
+          set -euo pipefail
+          # Make sure the workspace is considered safe by git inside containers
+          git config --global --add safe.directory "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE"
+
+          # Ensure diff works even if file were new (intent-to-add)
+          git add -N "$README_PATH" || true
+
+          if git diff --quiet -- "$README_PATH"; then
             echo "✅ README unchanged"
             echo "changed=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
           else
             echo "⚠️ README was modified"
             echo "changed=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+            git --no-pager diff --stat -- "$README_PATH" || true
           fi
 
       - id: upload-updated-readme