diff --git a/bin/gstack-wtree b/bin/gstack-wtree
index a843f75d4..766e40072 100755
--- a/bin/gstack-wtree
+++ b/bin/gstack-wtree
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@
 # that index. An untracked `.bun/` folder at the repository root (Bun's install
 # cache, which a test run can create) is left out so a passing run does not
 # look like a mid-run edit (GST-421); tracked files under it still count, and a
-# tree without that folder hashes exactly as a plain `git add -A` would.
+# tree without that folder (or with it gitignored) hashes exactly as a plain
+# `git add -A` would.
 # Properties that make this the right staleness fingerprint, vs
 # `git rev-parse HEAD^{tree}`:
 #
@@ -87,7 +88,12 @@ if [ -n "$REAL_INDEX" ] && [ -f "$REAL_INDEX" ] && cp "$REAL_INDEX" "$TMPIDX" 2>
 else
   git -C "$TOP" read-tree HEAD 2>/dev/null || exit 1
 fi
-if ! ERR=$(git -C "$TOP" add -u 2>&1 >/dev/null) || ! ERR=$(git -C "$TOP" add -A -- . ':(exclude,top).bun' 2>&1 >/dev/null); then
+# The exclude is added only when the root .bun/ exists and is not ignored: an
+# exclude pathspec naming an ignored path makes `git add -A` exit 1 (GST-449),
+# and an ignored .bun/ stays out of a plain `git add -A` anyway.
+EXCLUDE_BUN=""
+if [ -e "$TOP/.bun" ] && ! git -C "$TOP" check-ignore -q .bun 2>/dev/null; then EXCLUDE_BUN=':(exclude,top).bun'; fi
+if ! ERR=$(git -C "$TOP" add -u 2>&1 >/dev/null) || ! ERR=$(git -C "$TOP" add -A -- . ${EXCLUDE_BUN:+"$EXCLUDE_BUN"} 2>&1 >/dev/null); then
   echo "gstack-wtree: cannot stage the working tree: $(printf '%s' "$ERR" | head -1)" >&2
   exit 1
 fi
diff --git a/changelog.d/gsta195-wtree-ignored-bun.md b/changelog.d/gsta195-wtree-ignored-bun.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f76824537
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/gsta195-wtree-ignored-bun.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+**`gstack-wtree` works again in a repository that gitignores `.bun/`.** Since GST-421, its `git add -A` carried an exclude pathspec naming `.bun`, and git refuses a pathspec naming an ignored path with exit 1. Every fingerprint call then failed, which broke `gstack-review-log --start`, the evidence checks and /ship in harness-evals (HARN-1, HARN-7, harness-evals#148; GST-449).
+
+### Fixed
+- **The `.bun/` exclude applies only when the root `.bun/` exists and is not ignored.** An ignored `.bun/` already stays out of `git add -A`, so the fingerprint is the same either way.
+
+### Tests
+- `test/evidence.test.ts`: with `.bun/` or `/.bun` in `.gitignore`, `gstack-wtree` prints a tree and a lane that writes `.bun/` grades FRESH. The existing unignored `.bun/` cases still pass.
diff --git a/test/evidence.test.ts b/test/evidence.test.ts
index 479095f6a..56e7bc1c0 100644
--- a/test/evidence.test.ts
+++ b/test/evidence.test.ts
@@ -304,6 +304,29 @@ describe('gstack-evidence check', () => {
     expect(chk.status).toBe(0);
   });
 
+  // Value: protects=a repository that gitignores .bun/ still gets a fingerprint (GST-449): an exclude pathspec naming an ignored path made
+  //   `git add -A` exit 1, so gstack-wtree failed and every review-log start and evidence check lost its fingerprint; fails_when=gstack-wtree
+  //   exits non-zero or the lane records no wtree with .bun/ (or /.bun) in .gitignore; why_new=the GST-421 test covered only an unignored
+  //   .bun/ (harness-evals#148); seam=none; no_claim=Windows git
+  test('GST-449: with .bun/ gitignored, gstack-wtree still fingerprints and a lane that writes .bun/ grades FRESH', () => {
+    for (const pattern of ['.bun/', '/.bun']) {
+      fs.writeFileSync(path.join(repoDir, '.gitignore'), `${pattern}\n`);
+      git('add .gitignore');
+      git(`commit -q -m "ignore ${pattern}"`);
+      fs.mkdirSync(path.join(repoDir, '.bun'), { recursive: true });
+      fs.writeFileSync(path.join(repoDir, '.bun', 'x'), 'cache\n');
+      const wt = runBin(path.join(ROOT, 'bin', 'gstack-wtree'), [], { cwd: repoDir });
+      expect(wt.stderr).toBe('');
+      expect(wt.status).toBe(0);
+      expect(wt.stdout.trim()).toMatch(/^[0-9a-f]{40}$/);
+      const r = run(['run', '--label', 'tests', '--', 'echo cache2 > .bun/y && echo green']);
+      expect(r.status).toBe(0);
+      expect(records().pop().wtree).toMatch(/^[0-9a-f]{40}$/);
+      expect(run(['check', '--label', 'tests']).stdout).toContain('EVIDENCE: FRESH label=tests');
+      fs.rmSync(path.join(repoDir, '.bun'), { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+
   test('GST-421: a lane that writes untracked source grades STALE and the reason names the path', () => {
     const r = run(['run', '--label', 'tests', '--', 'mkdir -p src && echo "export {}" > src/new.ts && echo green']);
     expect(r.status).toBe(0);