diff --git a/changes/unreleased/skip-empty-push.yaml b/changes/unreleased/skip-empty-push.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5e4b1813
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/unreleased/skip-empty-push.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+kind: bugfix
+description: >
+  Harness skips the branch push when a run produced no commits beyond its
+  checkout point, so no-op, refused, and skill-less runs no longer litter
+  remote repositories with empty branches. A workflow stage that adds no
+  new commits on the shared branch skips its push the same way. Run
+  notices report a skipped push honestly (no changes to push) instead of
+  claiming results landed on the branch.
diff --git a/harness/cmd/migration-harness/main.go b/harness/cmd/migration-harness/main.go
index d8c0196c..5297334f 100644
--- a/harness/cmd/migration-harness/main.go
+++ b/harness/cmd/migration-harness/main.go
@@ -124,6 +124,15 @@ func runStage(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	}
 	logging.Ok("cloned to %s, branch %s", cloneDir, creds.Branch)
 
+	// Base of this stage run: everything past this commit is work the run
+	// produced. Push compares HEAD against it so runs that produce no
+	// commits do not create empty remote branches.
+	baseSHA, err := git.HeadSHA(repo)
+	if err != nil {
+		// Fail open — an unknown base must never block a push of real work.
+		logging.Warn("resolve base commit: %v", err)
+	}
+
 	// 4. Discover skills early — controls which setup steps run
 	skillPaths, err := discoverSkills()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -255,7 +264,7 @@ func runStage(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		})
 	}
 	var pushSeq atomic.Int64
-	emitPush := func(title string, fn func() error) error {
+	emitPush := func(title string, fn func() (bool, error)) (bool, error) {
 		if teeSrv == nil {
 			return fn()
 		}
@@ -264,7 +273,7 @@ func runStage(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			"sessionUpdate": "tool_call", "toolCallId": id, "title": title,
 			"kind": "execute", "status": "in_progress",
 		})
-		err := fn()
+		pushed, err := fn()
 		status := "completed"
 		if err != nil {
 			status = "failed"
@@ -272,7 +281,7 @@ func runStage(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		teeSrv.EmitRunUpdate(map[string]any{
 			"sessionUpdate": "tool_call_update", "toolCallId": id, "status": status,
 		})
-		return err
+		return pushed, err
 	}
 	emitNotice := func(format string, args ...any) {
 		if teeSrv == nil {
@@ -294,9 +303,10 @@ func runStage(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 
 	// 8. Start filesystem watcher BEFORE blocking prompt
 	pushFn := func() error {
-		return emitPush("git push (auto-commit watcher)", func() error {
-			return git.Push(ctx, creds, repo, creds.Branch)
+		_, err := emitPush("git push (auto-commit watcher)", func() (bool, error) {
+			return git.Push(ctx, creds, repo, creds.Branch, baseSHA)
 		})
+		return err
 	}
 	w, err := watcher.New(cloneDir, pushFn)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -355,27 +365,37 @@ func runStage(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	logging.Header("Final Push")
 	pushCtx, pushCancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 25*time.Second)
 	defer pushCancel()
-	if err := emitPush("git push (final)", func() error {
-		return git.Push(pushCtx, creds, repo, creds.Branch)
-	}); err != nil {
+	pushed, err := emitPush("git push (final)", func() (bool, error) {
+		return git.Push(pushCtx, creds, repo, creds.Branch, baseSHA)
+	})
+	if err != nil {
 		emitNotice("stage failed — final push error: %v", err)
 		return fmt.Errorf("final push: %w", err)
 	}
 	emitPlan("completed", "completed", "completed")
 
-	// 15. Exit
+	// 15. Exit. pushed is false when the run produced no commits, so the
+	// notices must not claim work landed on the branch.
 	if stageFailed {
 		switch {
-		case cancelled:
+		case cancelled && pushed:
 			emitNotice("run cancelled by viewer — partial work pushed to branch %s", creds.Branch)
-		default:
+		case cancelled:
+			emitNotice("run cancelled by viewer — no commits to push")
+		case pushed:
 			emitNotice("stage failed — partial work pushed to branch %s", creds.Branch)
+		default:
+			emitNotice("stage failed — no commits to push")
 		}
 		logging.Err("stage failed")
 		return fmt.Errorf("stage failed")
 	}
 	stageSucceeded = true
-	emitNotice("stage succeeded — results pushed to branch %s", creds.Branch)
+	if pushed {
+		emitNotice("stage succeeded — results pushed to branch %s", creds.Branch)
+	} else {
+		emitNotice("stage succeeded — no changes to push")
+	}
 	logging.Ok("stage succeeded")
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/harness/internal/git/git.go b/harness/internal/git/git.go
index 52e2c7e6..76e96728 100644
--- a/harness/internal/git/git.go
+++ b/harness/internal/git/git.go
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ import (
 	gogit "github.com/go-git/go-git/v5"
 	gogitcfg "github.com/go-git/go-git/v5/config"
 	"github.com/go-git/go-git/v5/plumbing"
+
+	"github.com/konveyor/migration-harness/internal/logging"
 )
 
 func isChildOf(path, root string) bool {
@@ -187,7 +189,35 @@ func CheckoutBranch(repo *gogit.Repository, branch string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func Push(ctx context.Context, cred *Credentials, repo *gogit.Repository, branch string) error {
+// HeadSHA returns the hash of the current HEAD commit.
+func HeadSHA(repo *gogit.Repository) (string, error) {
+	head, err := repo.Head()
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("resolve HEAD: %w", err)
+	}
+	return head.Hash().String(), nil
+}
+
+// Push updates refs/heads/<branch> on origin. baseSHA is the commit the
+// run started from (HEAD after clone/checkout): when HEAD still equals
+// it the run produced no commits and the push is skipped, so no-op runs
+// do not litter the remote with empty branches. An empty baseSHA
+// disables the check — an unknown base must never block a push of real
+// work. The returned bool is false only when the push was skipped, so
+// callers can report the absence of results instead of claiming they
+// landed on the branch.
+func Push(ctx context.Context, cred *Credentials, repo *gogit.Repository, branch, baseSHA string) (bool, error) {
+	// Not redundant with the NoErrAlreadyUpToDate swallow below: when the
+	// remote branch does not exist yet, PushContext sends a create command
+	// (ZeroHash → local HEAD) instead of reporting already-up-to-date, so
+	// this guard is the only thing preventing empty branch creation.
+	if baseSHA != "" {
+		if head, err := repo.Head(); err == nil && head.Hash().String() == baseSHA {
+			logging.Info("no commits produced; skipping push of %s", branch)
+			return false, nil
+		}
+	}
+
 	refSpec := gogitcfg.RefSpec(fmt.Sprintf("refs/heads/%s:refs/heads/%s", branch, branch))
 
 	err := repo.PushContext(ctx, &gogit.PushOptions{
@@ -196,8 +226,8 @@ func Push(ctx context.Context, cred *Credentials, repo *gogit.Repository, branch
 		RefSpecs:   []gogitcfg.RefSpec{refSpec},
 	})
 	if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, gogit.NoErrAlreadyUpToDate) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("push %s: %w", branch, err)
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("push %s: %w", branch, err)
 	}
 
-	return nil
+	return true, nil
 }
diff --git a/harness/internal/git/git_test.go b/harness/internal/git/git_test.go
index 74388bac..3458bfcd 100644
--- a/harness/internal/git/git_test.go
+++ b/harness/internal/git/git_test.go
@@ -151,6 +151,11 @@ func TestFullLifecycle(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("CheckoutBranch: %v", err)
 	}
 
+	baseSHA, err := HeadSHA(repo)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("HeadSHA: %v", err)
+	}
+
 	os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(cloneDir, "migrated.java"), []byte("class Foo {}\n"), 0644)
 	wt, err := repo.Worktree()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -169,9 +174,13 @@ func TestFullLifecycle(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Error("expected commit hash")
 	}
 
-	if err := Push(ctx, cred, repo, cred.Branch); err != nil {
+	pushed, err := Push(ctx, cred, repo, cred.Branch, baseSHA)
+	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Push: %v", err)
 	}
+	if !pushed {
+		t.Error("Push reported skipped despite new commits")
+	}
 
 	// Verify the branch exists on the remote
 	remoteRepo, err := gogit.PlainOpen(remoteDir)
@@ -207,6 +216,7 @@ func TestPushWithoutCredsToStrippedRemoteFails(t *testing.T) {
 
 	StripCredentials(repo)
 	CheckoutBranch(repo, cred.Branch)
+	baseSHA, _ := HeadSHA(repo)
 
 	os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(cloneDir, "file.txt"), []byte("data\n"), 0644)
 	wt, _ := repo.Worktree()
@@ -216,7 +226,7 @@ func TestPushWithoutCredsToStrippedRemoteFails(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	// Push with nil credentials should fail
-	err = Push(ctx, &Credentials{RepoURL: remoteDir, Branch: cred.Branch}, repo, cred.Branch)
+	_, err = Push(ctx, &Credentials{RepoURL: remoteDir, Branch: cred.Branch}, repo, cred.Branch, baseSHA)
 	// For local bare repos, push still works without auth — this test verifies
 	// the function runs without panic. Real auth enforcement is server-side.
 	_ = err
@@ -294,3 +304,183 @@ func TestCommitFilesNoChanges(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Error("HEAD changed despite no files to commit")
 	}
 }
+
+func TestPushSkipsWhenNoNewCommits(t *testing.T) {
+	remoteDir, _ := setupBareRemote(t)
+	seedBareRepo(t, remoteDir)
+
+	cred := &Credentials{
+		Username: "test",
+		Token:    "token",
+		RepoURL:  remoteDir,
+		Branch:   "migration-noop",
+	}
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	cloneDir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "work")
+	repo, err := Clone(ctx, cred, cloneDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Clone: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := CheckoutBranch(repo, cred.Branch); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("CheckoutBranch: %v", err)
+	}
+	baseSHA, err := HeadSHA(repo)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("HeadSHA: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// No commits beyond the checkout point: the push must be skipped so
+	// no-op runs do not create empty branches on the remote.
+	pushed, err := Push(ctx, cred, repo, cred.Branch, baseSHA)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Push: %v", err)
+	}
+	if pushed {
+		t.Error("Push reported pushed despite no new commits")
+	}
+
+	remoteRepo, err := gogit.PlainOpen(remoteDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("open remote repo: %v", err)
+	}
+	if ref, err := remoteRepo.Reference(plumbing.NewBranchReferenceName(cred.Branch), false); err == nil {
+		t.Errorf("remote branch %s created at %s despite no commits", cred.Branch, ref.Hash())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPushWithNewCommitsPushes(t *testing.T) {
+	remoteDir, _ := setupBareRemote(t)
+	seedBareRepo(t, remoteDir)
+
+	cred := &Credentials{
+		Username: "test",
+		Token:    "token",
+		RepoURL:  remoteDir,
+		Branch:   "migration-work",
+	}
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	cloneDir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "work")
+	repo, err := Clone(ctx, cred, cloneDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Clone: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := CheckoutBranch(repo, cred.Branch); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("CheckoutBranch: %v", err)
+	}
+	baseSHA, err := HeadSHA(repo)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("HeadSHA: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(cloneDir, "migrated.java"), []byte("class Foo {}\n"), 0644)
+	wt, _ := repo.Worktree()
+	wt.Add("migrated.java")
+	hash, err := wt.Commit("migrate: Foo.java", &gogit.CommitOptions{
+		Author: &object.Signature{Name: "test", Email: "test@test.com", When: time.Now()},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("commit: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	pushed, err := Push(ctx, cred, repo, cred.Branch, baseSHA)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Push: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !pushed {
+		t.Error("Push reported skipped despite new commits")
+	}
+
+	remoteRepo, err := gogit.PlainOpen(remoteDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("open remote repo: %v", err)
+	}
+	ref, err := remoteRepo.Reference(plumbing.NewBranchReferenceName(cred.Branch), false)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("remote branch not found: %v", err)
+	}
+	if ref.Hash() != hash {
+		t.Errorf("remote hash = %s, want %s", ref.Hash(), hash)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPushSkipsWhenStageAddsNoNewCommits(t *testing.T) {
+	remoteDir, _ := setupBareRemote(t)
+	seedBareRepo(t, remoteDir)
+
+	cred := &Credentials{
+		Username: "test",
+		Token:    "token",
+		RepoURL:  remoteDir,
+		Branch:   "migration-stages",
+	}
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	// Stage 1: commit on the branch and push — creates the remote ref.
+	stage1Dir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "stage1")
+	repo1, err := Clone(ctx, cred, stage1Dir)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("stage 1 Clone: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := CheckoutBranch(repo1, cred.Branch); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("stage 1 CheckoutBranch: %v", err)
+	}
+	base1, err := HeadSHA(repo1)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("stage 1 HeadSHA: %v", err)
+	}
+	os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(stage1Dir, "PLAN.md"), []byte("# Plan\n"), 0644)
+	wt, _ := repo1.Worktree()
+	wt.Add("PLAN.md")
+	hash, err := wt.Commit("plan stage", &gogit.CommitOptions{
+		Author: &object.Signature{Name: "test", Email: "test@test.com", When: time.Now()},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("stage 1 commit: %v", err)
+	}
+	pushed1, err := Push(ctx, cred, repo1, cred.Branch, base1)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("stage 1 Push: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !pushed1 {
+		t.Error("stage 1 Push reported skipped despite new commits")
+	}
+
+	// Stage 2: fresh clone, checkout resolves the branch stage 1 pushed,
+	// so this stage's base is that tip. No new commits — skip the push.
+	stage2Dir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "stage2")
+	repo2, err := Clone(ctx, cred, stage2Dir)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("stage 2 Clone: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := CheckoutBranch(repo2, cred.Branch); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("stage 2 CheckoutBranch: %v", err)
+	}
+	base2, err := HeadSHA(repo2)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("stage 2 HeadSHA: %v", err)
+	}
+	if base2 != hash.String() {
+		t.Fatalf("stage 2 base = %s, want stage 1 tip %s", base2, hash)
+	}
+	pushed2, err := Push(ctx, cred, repo2, cred.Branch, base2)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("stage 2 Push: %v", err)
+	}
+	if pushed2 {
+		t.Error("stage 2 Push reported pushed despite no new commits")
+	}
+
+	remoteRepo, err := gogit.PlainOpen(remoteDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("open remote repo: %v", err)
+	}
+	ref, err := remoteRepo.Reference(plumbing.NewBranchReferenceName(cred.Branch), false)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("remote branch not found: %v", err)
+	}
+	if ref.Hash() != hash {
+		t.Errorf("remote hash = %s, want stage 1 tip %s", ref.Hash(), hash)
+	}
+}