diff --git a/lua/persistence/init.lua b/lua/persistence/init.lua
index 1acf0b1..7d1f502 100644
--- a/lua/persistence/init.lua
+++ b/lua/persistence/init.lua
@@ -120,7 +120,10 @@ end
 --- get current branch name
 ---@return string?
 function M.branch()
-  return vim.fn.systemlist("git branch --show-current")[1]
+  if uv.fs_stat(".git") then
+    local ret = vim.fn.systemlist("git branch --show-current")[1]
+    return vim.v.shell_error == 0 and ret or nil
+  end
 end
 
 return M