diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 05b2795..e074b34 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -4,12 +4,15 @@ pdfs/
 # Generated OCR worklist (regenerated each run)
 needs-ocr.txt
 
-# Claude Code session/harness state (but version committed skills)
-.claude/*
-!.claude/skills/
-.claude/skills/*
-!.claude/skills/research/
-!.claude/skills/research/**
+# Claude Code session/harness state — ignored everywhere (incl. nested .claude/)
+.claude/
+# ...except the committed research skill at the REPO ROOT only (leading slash)
+!/.claude/
+/.claude/*
+!/.claude/skills/
+/.claude/skills/*
+!/.claude/skills/research/
+!/.claude/skills/research/**
 
 # Python
 .venv/