diff --git a/lisp/scratch-pkgs.el b/lisp/scratch-pkgs.el
index 6e7bb6b..0fe168b 100644
--- a/lisp/scratch-pkgs.el
+++ b/lisp/scratch-pkgs.el
@@ -200,8 +200,14 @@ which ones are scratch by looking at the local repos."
         (error "Could not init repository for new package"))
       (unless (eq 0 (call-process git-bin nil output nil "add" (buffer-file-name)))
         (pop-to-buffer output)
-        (error "Could not add new package: %s" (buffer-file-name))))
-    (run-hooks 'scratch-pkgs-after-package-init-hook)))
+        (error "Could not add new package: %s" (buffer-file-name)))
+      (pcase scratch-pkgs-mode
+        ((or 'elpaca 'straight)
+         (unless (eq 0 (call-process git-bin nil output nil
+                                     "commit" "-m" "first commit"))
+           (pop-to-buffer output)
+           (error "Could not add new package: %s" (buffer-file-name)))))
+      (run-hooks 'scratch-pkgs-after-package-init-hook))))
 
 ;;;###autoload
 (defun scratch-pkgs-new (name)