diff --git a/files_panel.go b/files_panel.go
index ad4f9e809..50d6b64e2 100644
--- a/files_panel.go
+++ b/files_panel.go
@@ -160,8 +160,8 @@ func handleCommitPress(g *gocui.Gui, filesView *gocui.View) error {
 		if message == "" {
 			return createErrorPanel(g, "You cannot commit without a commit message")
 		}
-		if err := gitCommit(message); err != nil {
-			panic(err)
+		if output, err := gitCommit(message); err != nil {
+			return createErrorPanel(g, output)
 		}
 		refreshFiles(g)
 		return refreshCommits(g)
diff --git a/gitcommands.go b/gitcommands.go
index 719a8ceb0..d537672a0 100644
--- a/gitcommands.go
+++ b/gitcommands.go
@@ -445,9 +445,8 @@ func removeFile(file GitFile) error {
 	return err
 }
 
-func gitCommit(message string) error {
-	_, err := runDirectCommand("git commit -m \"" + message + "\"")
-	return err
+func gitCommit(message string) (string, error) {
+	return runCommand("git commit -m \"" + message + "\"")
 }
 
 func gitPull() (string, error) {