diff --git a/aider/commands.py b/aider/commands.py
index 5d79b2717..d332d946e 100644
--- a/aider/commands.py
+++ b/aider/commands.py
@@ -582,15 +582,23 @@ class Commands:
                 all_matched_files.update(matched_files)
                 continue
 
+            if "*" in str(fname) or "?" in str(fname):
+                self.io.tool_error(
+                    f"No match, and cannot create file with wildcard characters: {fname}"
+                )
+                continue
+
+            if fname.exists() and fname.is_dir() and self.coder.repo:
+                self.io.tool_error(f"Directory {fname} is not in git.")
+                self.io.tool_error(f"You can add to git with: /git add {fname}")
+                continue
+
             if self.io.confirm_ask(f"No files matched '{word}'. Do you want to create {fname}?"):
-                if "*" in str(fname) or "?" in str(fname):
-                    self.io.tool_error(f"Cannot create file with wildcard characters: {fname}")
-                else:
-                    try:
-                        fname.touch()
-                        all_matched_files.add(str(fname))
-                    except OSError as e:
-                        self.io.tool_error(f"Error creating file {fname}: {e}")
+                try:
+                    fname.touch()
+                    all_matched_files.add(str(fname))
+                except OSError as e:
+                    self.io.tool_error(f"Error creating file {fname}: {e}")
 
         for matched_file in all_matched_files:
             abs_file_path = self.coder.abs_root_path(matched_file)