diff --git a/lib/commands/verify.js b/lib/commands/verify.js
index 34cb3b9..298ec77 100644
--- a/lib/commands/verify.js
+++ b/lib/commands/verify.js
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@
  * SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
  */
 'use strict';
+var fs = require('fs');
+var path = require('path');
 
 var Bluebird = require('bluebird');
 
@@ -62,6 +64,16 @@ function getPullRequestId() {
 }
 
 function verify(cwd, pkg, options) {
+  try {
+    fs.readdirSync(path.join(cwd, '.git'));
+  } catch (err) {
+    if (err.code === 'ENOENT') {
+      console.log('[nlm] Not a git checkout, skipping');
+      return Bluebird.resolve();
+    }
+    throw err;
+  }
+
   // Not making this configurable to prevent some possible abuse
   options.pr = getPullRequestId();
 
diff --git a/test/commands/verify.test.js b/test/commands/verify.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..674ef31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/commands/verify.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2015, Groupon, Inc.
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ * are met:
+ *
+ * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice,
+ * this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *
+ * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ * documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ *
+ * Neither the name of GROUPON nor the names of its contributors may be
+ * used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without
+ * specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS
+ * IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
+ * TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
+ * PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+ * HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ * SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
+ * TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR
+ * PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF
+ * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING
+ * NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
+ * SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+'use strict';
+var assert = require('assertive');
+
+var run = require('../../lib/run');
+
+var withFixture = require('../fixture');
+
+var CLI_PATH = require.resolve('../../lib/cli');
+
+describe('nlm verify', function () {
+  describe('in non-git directory', function () {
+    var dirname = withFixture('non-git');
+    var output = {};
+
+    before(function () {
+      return run(process.execPath, [CLI_PATH, 'verify'], {
+        cwd: dirname,
+      }).then(function (stdout) {
+        output.stdout = stdout;
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('ignores directories that are not git repos', function () {
+      assert.include('Not a git checkout', output.stdout);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('in git directory', function () {
+    var dirname = withFixture('released');
+    var output = {};
+
+    before(function () {
+      return run(process.execPath, [CLI_PATH, 'verify'], {
+        cwd: dirname,
+      }).then(function (stdout) {
+        output.stdout = stdout;
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('reports the change type', function () {
+      assert.include('Changes are "none"', output.stdout);
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/test/fixtures/non-git b/test/fixtures/non-git
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..413f0a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixtures/non-git
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -e
+echo '{
+  "name": "nlm-test-pkg",
+  "version": "99.6.2",
+  "repository": {
+    "type": "git",
+    "url": "git+ssh://git@github.example.com/some-org/nlm-test-pkg"
+  },
+  "publishConfig": {
+    "registry": "http://127.0.0.1:3000"
+  }
+}' >package.json
diff --git a/test/fixtures/released b/test/fixtures/released
index 7a53572..58c56b6 100755
--- a/test/fixtures/released
+++ b/test/fixtures/released
@@ -5,9 +5,14 @@ bash $(dirname $0)"/multiple-commits"
 echo '{
   "name": "nlm-test-pkg",
   "version": "1.0.0",
+  "repository": {
+    "type": "git",
+    "url": "git+ssh://git@github.example.com/some-org/nlm-test-pkg"
+  },
   "publishConfig": {
     "registry": "http://127.0.0.1:3000"
   }
 }' >package.json
 git add package.json
 git commit -m 'v1.0.0'
+git tag 'v1.0.0'