diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
index 4bcb5e5..a9c7d0a 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -155,6 +155,11 @@ 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: |
@@ -208,8 +213,8 @@ jobs:
       - id: check-readme
         name: Check for README changes
         run: |
-          if git diff --quiet "$README_PATH"; then
-            echo "✅ No changes in README"
+          if cmp --silent "$README_PATH" "${README_PATH}.bak"; then
+            echo "✅ README unchanged"
             echo "changed=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
           else
             echo "⚠️ README was modified"