diff --git a/doStrict.go b/doStrict.go
index aeea171..2255582 100644
--- a/doStrict.go
+++ b/doStrict.go
@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@ func doStrict(repo *gitpb.Repo) error {
 
 	repo.Run([]string{"git", "notes", "remove"})
 
+	if err := repo.RepoIgnoresGoMod(); err != nil {
+		log.Info(repo.GetGoPath(), "git repo does not ignore go.mod. do nothing here", err)
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	// erase the go.mod and go.sum files
 	eraseGoMod(repo)
 
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index d43e230..f324596 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -52,6 +52,13 @@ func main() {
 		okExit(check, "go.mod and go.sum restored from ~/go/pkg/mod/")
 	}
 
+	if argv.Strict {
+		if err := doStrict(check); err != nil {
+			badExit(check, err)
+		}
+		okExit(check, "go.mod seems clean")
+	}
+
 	if err := doMain(check); err != nil {
 		badExit(check, err)
 	}
@@ -106,9 +113,6 @@ func saveAsMetadata(repo *gitpb.Repo) error {
 }
 
 func doMain(repo *gitpb.Repo) error {
-	if argv.Strict {
-		return doStrict(repo)
-	}
 	if argv.Force {
 		err := doForce(repo)
 		return err