diff --git a/core/utils.py b/core/utils.py
index a76f41f..88a4b1b 100644
--- a/core/utils.py
+++ b/core/utils.py
@@ -180,7 +180,9 @@ def write_and_commit(files, message):
                 cmd_add = [git, "add", filename]
                 cp_add = subprocess.run(cmd_add, cwd=cwd, capture_output=True, text=True)
                 commands.append(cmd_add)
+                git_add_returncode = ""
                 if cp_add.returncode != 0:
+                    git_add_returncode = cp_add.returncode
                     msgdata = (
                         "Ask a nerd to fix this.\n\n"
                         + cp_add.stderr
@@ -190,7 +192,7 @@ def write_and_commit(files, message):
                         + str(cp_add.returncode)
                     )
                     raise WriteAndCommitError(
-                        f"CANNOT git on server for this file {filename}. Edits saved but not added to git.\n\n"
+                        f"PROBLEM with git on server for {filename}. Edits saved but [possibly] not added to git.\n\n"
                         + msgdata
                     )
             else:
@@ -199,7 +201,7 @@ def write_and_commit(files, message):
         cmd_commit = [git, "commit"] + filepaths + ["-m", message]
         cm_status = subprocess.run(cmd_commit, cwd=cwd, capture_output=True, text=True)
         commands.append(cmd_commit)
-        if cm_status == 0:
+        if cm_status.returncode != 0:
             msgdata = (
                 "Commands: " + str(commands) +
                 "Ask a nerd to fix this.\n\n"
@@ -207,9 +209,10 @@ def write_and_commit(files, message):
                 + "\n\n"
                 + "Stdout: " + cp_status.stdout
                 + "\n\nreturn code: " + str(cp_status.returncode)
+                + "\n\ngit add return code in previous operation was: " + git_add_returncode
             )
             raise WriteAndCommitError(
-                f"Error committing. Edits saved, added to git, but NOT committed.\n\n"
+                f"ERROR committing. Edits saved, [maybe] added to git, but NOT committed.\n\n"
                 + msgdata
             )     
         cmd_status = [git, "status"] + filepaths   
@@ -226,7 +229,7 @@ def write_and_commit(files, message):
                 + "\n\nreturn code: " + str(cp_status.returncode)
             )
             raise WriteAndCommitError(
-                f"Error code with git on server for this file {filename}. Edits saved, added to git, but NOT committed.\n\n"
+                f"Error code with git on server for this file {filename}. Edits saved, added to git, but NOT committed. Git status not clean.\n\n"
                 + msgdata
             )
     except subprocess.SubprocessError: