diff --git a/isTracked.go b/isTracked.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 414414b..0000000
--- a/isTracked.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,62 +0,0 @@
-package main
-
-import (
-	"fmt"
-	"os"
-	"os/exec"
-
-	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/gitpb"
-)
-
-func isTracked(file string) (bool, error) {
-	cmd := exec.Command("git", "ls-files", "--error-unmatch", file)
-	err := cmd.Run()
-	if err == nil {
-		return true, nil
-	}
-	if exitError, ok := err.(*exec.ExitError); ok && exitError.ExitCode() == 1 {
-		return false, nil // File not tracked
-	}
-	return false, fmt.Errorf("error checking tracked status: %v", err)
-}
-
-func isIgnored(file string) (bool, error) {
-	cmd := exec.Command("git", "check-ignore", "-q", file)
-	err := cmd.Run()
-	if err == nil {
-		return true, nil
-	}
-	if exitError, ok := err.(*exec.ExitError); ok && exitError.ExitCode() == 1 {
-		return false, nil // File not ignored
-	}
-	return false, fmt.Errorf("error checking ignored status: %v", err)
-}
-
-func repoIgnoresGoMod(repo *gitpb.Repo) (bool, error) {
-	os.Chdir(repo.FullPath)
-	file := "go.mod"
-
-	tracked, err := isTracked(file)
-	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Printf("%s Error checking if tracked: %v\n", repo.GoPath, err)
-		return false, err
-	}
-
-	if tracked {
-		fmt.Printf("%s %s is tracked by Git.\n", repo.GoPath, file)
-		return false, nil
-	}
-
-	ignored, err := isIgnored(file)
-	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Printf("%s Error checking if ignored: %v\n", repo.GoPath, err)
-		return false, err
-	}
-
-	if ignored {
-		fmt.Printf("%s %s is ignored by Git.\n", repo.GoPath, file)
-		return true, nil
-	}
-	fmt.Printf("%s %s is neither tracked nor ignored by Git.\n", repo.GoPath, file)
-	return false, nil
-}
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 26616f5..c3e9634 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -145,6 +145,13 @@ func doMain(repo *gitpb.Repo) error {
 		repo.Run([]string{"git", "notes", "remove"})
 	}
 
+	if err := repo.RepoIgnoresGoMod(); err != nil {
+		log.Info("never modify go.mod or go.sum for this repo", repo.GoPath)
+		log.Info("We recommend you add 'go.*' to your .gitignore file and store those files as git tag metadata")
+		repo.ParseGoSum()
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	// erase the go.mod and go.sum files
 	eraseGoMod(repo)
 
@@ -184,26 +191,6 @@ func doMain(repo *gitpb.Repo) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	ok, err := repoIgnoresGoMod(repo)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Info(repo.GoPath, "some wierd git error happened. investigate.", err)
-		return err
-	}
-	// if ok, then git owns 'go.mod' and we can't really do anything
-	// todo: ignore this with --force
-	if ok {
-		log.Info(repo.GoPath, "git says it does not own go.mod")
-		// continue and attempt to create go.mod and go.sum
-	} else {
-		if forge.Config.IsReadOnly(repo.GoPath) {
-			log.Info("you can not push to read only repositories.", repo.GoPath)
-			log.Info("change your .config/forge/ to indicate you own this repository")
-			return nil
-		}
-		perfect = false
-		// continue and attempt to create go.mod and go.sum
-	}
-
 	if repo.CheckDirty() {
 		perfect = false
 		if argv.Strict {