diff --git a/.github/aw/.gitignore b/.github/aw/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a7fe32e7e32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/aw/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+imports/
diff --git a/pkg/cli/git.go b/pkg/cli/git.go
index 0ca4c85b406..fd0b81f6b3c 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/git.go
+++ b/pkg/cli/git.go
@@ -334,6 +334,74 @@ func ensureLogsGitignore() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// awGitignoreEntries lists all entries that must be present in .github/aw/.gitignore.
+// Note: the logs/ directory is handled separately by ensureLogsGitignore() which creates
+// .github/aw/logs/.gitignore so that the directory itself remains tracked by git.
+var awGitignoreEntries = []string{"imports/"}
+
+// ensureAwGitignore ensures that .github/aw/.gitignore exists and contains the required entries.
+// If the file already exists, any missing entries are appended.
+func ensureAwGitignore() error {
+	gitLog.Print("Ensuring .github/aw/.gitignore exists")
+	gitRoot, err := findGitRoot()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	awDir := filepath.Join(gitRoot, ".github", "aw")
+	gitignorePath := filepath.Join(awDir, ".gitignore")
+
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(awDir, 0755); err != nil {
+		gitLog.Printf("Failed to create .github/aw directory: %v", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create .github/aw directory: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Read existing content (if any)
+	existing, readErr := os.ReadFile(gitignorePath)
+	existingContent := ""
+	if readErr == nil {
+		existingContent = string(existing)
+		gitLog.Print(".github/aw/.gitignore already exists, checking for missing entries")
+	}
+
+	// Collect any entries that are not yet present
+	var missing []string
+	for _, entry := range awGitignoreEntries {
+		if !strings.Contains(existingContent, entry) {
+			missing = append(missing, entry)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if len(missing) == 0 {
+		gitLog.Print(".github/aw/.gitignore already contains all required entries")
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Append missing entries (ensure file ends with a newline before appending)
+	appendContent := ""
+	if existingContent != "" && !strings.HasSuffix(existingContent, "\n") {
+		appendContent = "\n"
+	}
+	for _, entry := range missing {
+		appendContent += entry + "\n"
+	}
+
+	f, err := os.OpenFile(gitignorePath, os.O_CREATE|os.O_WRONLY|os.O_APPEND, 0600)
+	if err != nil {
+		gitLog.Printf("Failed to open .gitignore for writing: %v", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to write .github/aw/.gitignore: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer f.Close()
+
+	if _, err := f.WriteString(appendContent); err != nil {
+		gitLog.Printf("Failed to write .gitignore: %v", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to write .github/aw/.gitignore: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	gitLog.Printf("Successfully updated .github/aw/.gitignore (added: %v)", missing)
+	return nil
+}
+
 // getCurrentBranch gets the current git branch name
 func getCurrentBranch() (string, error) {
 	gitLog.Print("Getting current git branch")
diff --git a/pkg/cli/init.go b/pkg/cli/init.go
index 21cb5453b3e..dcd7aa50cf4 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/init.go
+++ b/pkg/cli/init.go
@@ -58,6 +58,16 @@ func InitRepository(opts InitOptions) error {
 		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, console.FormatSuccessMessage("Configured .gitattributes"))
 	}
 
+	// Ensure .github/aw/.gitignore exists with imports/ entry
+	initLog.Print("Ensuring .github/aw/.gitignore exists")
+	if err := ensureAwGitignore(); err != nil {
+		initLog.Printf("Failed to ensure .github/aw/.gitignore: %v", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to ensure .github/aw/.gitignore: %w", err)
+	}
+	if opts.Verbose {
+		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, console.FormatSuccessMessage("Ensured .github/aw/.gitignore"))
+	}
+
 	// Write dispatcher agent
 	initLog.Print("Writing agentic workflows dispatcher agent")
 	if err := ensureAgenticWorkflowsDispatcher(opts.Verbose, false); err != nil {