diff --git a/scripts/run_daily.sh b/scripts/run_daily.sh
index a661bbe..17409c3 100755
--- a/scripts/run_daily.sh
+++ b/scripts/run_daily.sh
@@ -61,7 +61,20 @@ TRACKER_ARGS=()
 if [[ -n "${STORES:-}" ]]; then
   TRACKER_ARGS+=(--stores "${STORES}")
 fi
+set +e
 "$NODE_BIN" bin/tracker.js "${TRACKER_ARGS[@]}"
+rc=$?
+set -e
+
+if [[ $rc -eq 3 ]]; then
+  echo "No meaningful changes; resetting worktree and skipping commit." >&2
+  git reset --hard -q
+  git clean -fdq -- reports data/db viz/data
+  exit 0
+fi
+if [[ $rc -ne 0 ]]; then
+  exit $rc
+fi
 
 # Build viz artifacts on the data branch
 "$NODE_BIN" tools/build_viz_index.js
diff --git a/src/main.js b/src/main.js
index 02ce290..feb5703 100644
--- a/src/main.js
+++ b/src/main.js
@@ -156,12 +156,25 @@ async function main() {
 
   const report = await runAllStores(storesToRun, { config, logger, http });
 
+  const meaningful =
+    (report?.totals?.newCount || 0) +
+      (report?.totals?.updatedCount || 0) +
+      (report?.totals?.removedCount || 0) +
+      (report?.totals?.restoredCount || 0) >
+    0;
+
   const reportTextColor = renderFinalReport(report, {
     dbDir: config.dbDir,
     colorize: logger.colorize,
   });
   process.stdout.write(reportTextColor);
 
+  if (!meaningful) {
+    logger.ok("No meaningful changes; skipping report write.");
+    process.exitCode = 3; // special "no-op" code
+    return;
+  }
+
   const reportTextPlain = renderFinalReport(report, {
     dbDir: config.dbDir,
     colorize: false,