diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 1801d8f..4b3e647 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -27,3 +27,6 @@ Thumbs.db
 !.mcp/
 !.mcp.json
 !MEMORY.md
+
+# runtime advisory lock (poller repo-lock) — must not count as tree dirt
+.tasks/.lock