diff --git a/src/vcs/git/ignore/writer.js b/src/vcs/git/ignore/writer.js
index fb9a0773..0729e3b2 100644
--- a/src/vcs/git/ignore/writer.js
+++ b/src/vcs/git/ignore/writer.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import {promises as fs} from 'node:fs';
 
 export default function ({projectRoot, files = [], directories = []}) {
-  return fs.writeFile(`${projectRoot}/.gitignore`, `${directories.join('\n')}\n\n${files.join('\n')}`);
+  return fs.appendFile(`${projectRoot}/.gitignore`, `\n${directories.join('\n')}\n\n${files.join('\n')}`);
 }
diff --git a/src/vcs/git/ignore/writer.test.js b/src/vcs/git/ignore/writer.test.js
index 4c3d2ba3..1ffdf6eb 100644
--- a/src/vcs/git/ignore/writer.test.js
+++ b/src/vcs/git/ignore/writer.test.js
@@ -16,15 +16,15 @@ describe('gitignore writer', () => {
 
     await write({projectRoot, directories, files});
 
-    expect(fs.writeFile).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+    expect(fs.appendFile).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       `${projectRoot}/.gitignore`,
-      `${directories.join('\n')}\n\n${files.join('\n')}`
+      `\n${directories.join('\n')}\n\n${files.join('\n')}`
     );
   });
 
   it('should not throw an error if directories nor files are provided', async () => {
     await write({projectRoot});
 
-    expect(fs.writeFile).toHaveBeenCalledWith(`${projectRoot}/.gitignore`, '\n\n');
+    expect(fs.appendFile).toHaveBeenCalledWith(`${projectRoot}/.gitignore`, '\n\n\n');
   });
 });
diff --git a/test/integration/features/git.feature b/test/integration/features/git.feature
index 2d3f6222..9486076f 100644
--- a/test/integration/features/git.feature
+++ b/test/integration/features/git.feature
@@ -7,9 +7,11 @@ Feature: Git Repository
 
   Scenario: to be versioned
     Given the project should be versioned in git
+    And a language scaffolder is chosen
     When the project is scaffolded
     Then the directory is initialized as a git repository
     And the base git files should be present
+    And the ignores are defined in the gitignore
 
   Scenario: to be versioned and hosted
     Given the project should be versioned in git
@@ -19,14 +21,16 @@ Feature: Git Repository
 
   Scenario: already versioned
     Given the project root is already initialized as a git repository
+    And a language scaffolder is chosen
     When the project is scaffolded
     Then the base git files should be present
-    And the gitignore file is unchanged
+    And the additional ignores are added to the gitignore
 
   @wip
   Scenario: already versioned without an existing gitignore
     Given the project root is already initialized as a git repository
+    And a language scaffolder is chosen
     But there is no preexisting gitignore
     When the project is scaffolded
     Then the base git files should be present
-    And the gitignore file is unchanged
+    And the gitignore file is added
diff --git a/test/integration/features/step_definitions/common-steps.js b/test/integration/features/step_definitions/common-steps.js
index b544871b..af7477f1 100644
--- a/test/integration/features/step_definitions/common-steps.js
+++ b/test/integration/features/step_definitions/common-steps.js
@@ -89,13 +89,14 @@ When(/^the project is scaffolded$/, async function () {
 });
 
 When('the project is lifted', async function () {
+  this.existingVcsIgnoredFiles = any.listOf(any.word);
+  this.existingVcsIgnoredDirectories = any.listOf(any.word);
+
   await Promise.all([
     fs.writeFile(`${process.cwd()}/README.md`, this.existingReadmeContent || ''),
     fs.writeFile(
       `${process.cwd()}/.gitignore`,
-      (this.existingVcsIgnoredFiles && this.existingVcsIgnoredDirectories)
-        ? `${this.existingVcsIgnoredDirectories.join('\n')}\n\n${this.existingVcsIgnoredFiles.join('\n')}`
-        : ''
+      `${this.existingVcsIgnoredDirectories.join('\n')}\n\n${this.existingVcsIgnoredFiles.join('\n')}`
     )
   ]);
 
diff --git a/test/integration/features/step_definitions/language-steps.js b/test/integration/features/step_definitions/language-steps.js
index bb961fbe..20cb7621 100644
--- a/test/integration/features/step_definitions/language-steps.js
+++ b/test/integration/features/step_definitions/language-steps.js
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ function generateBadgeWithNoLink() {
 
 Given('a language scaffolder is chosen', async function () {
   this.setAnswerFor(questionNames.PROJECT_LANGUAGE, any.word());
+  this.vcsIgnoreDirectories = any.listOf(any.word, {min: 1});
+  this.vcsIgnoreFiles = any.listOf(any.word, {min: 1});
 
   this.languageScaffolderResults = {
     badges: {
@@ -35,6 +37,10 @@ Given('a language scaffolder is chosen', async function () {
         [any.word()]: generateFullBadge(),
         [any.word()]: generateBadgeWithNoLink()
       }
+    },
+    vcsIgnore: {
+      directories: this.vcsIgnoreDirectories,
+      files: this.vcsIgnoreFiles
     }
   };
 });
diff --git a/test/integration/features/step_definitions/vcs/git-steps.js b/test/integration/features/step_definitions/vcs/git-steps.js
index 9647a686..d3b2ca91 100644
--- a/test/integration/features/step_definitions/vcs/git-steps.js
+++ b/test/integration/features/step_definitions/vcs/git-steps.js
@@ -84,10 +84,24 @@ Then(/^the base git files should not be present$/, async function () {
   assert.isFalse(await fileExists(`${process.cwd()}/.gitignore`));
 });
 
+Then('the ignores are defined in the gitignore', async function () {
+  const gitIgnoreContent = await fs.readFile(`${process.cwd()}/.gitignore`, 'utf-8');
+
+  assert.include(gitIgnoreContent, `${this.vcsIgnoreDirectories.join('\n')}\n\n${this.vcsIgnoreFiles.join('\n')}`);
+});
+
 Then('the additional ignores are added to the gitignore', async function () {
   const gitIgnoreContent = await fs.readFile(`${process.cwd()}/.gitignore`, 'utf-8');
 
-  assert.equal(gitIgnoreContent, `${this.vcsIgnoreDirectories.join('\n')}\n\n${this.vcsIgnoreFiles.join('\n')}`);
+  assert.equal(
+    gitIgnoreContent,
+    `${this.existingVcsIgnoredDirectories.join('\n')}
+
+${this.existingVcsIgnoredFiles.join('\n')}
+${this.vcsIgnoreDirectories.join('\n')}
+
+${this.vcsIgnoreFiles.join('\n')}`
+  );
 });
 
 Then('the gitignore file is unchanged', async function () {
@@ -96,3 +110,10 @@ Then('the gitignore file is unchanged', async function () {
     `${this.existingVcsIgnoredDirectories.join('\n')}\n\n${this.existingVcsIgnoredFiles.join('\n')}`
   );
 });
+
+Then('the gitignore file is added', async function () {
+  assert.equal(
+    await fs.readFile(`${process.cwd()}/.gitignore`, 'utf-8'),
+    `${this.vcsIgnoreDirectories.join('\n')}\n\n${this.vcsIgnoreFiles.join('\n')}`
+  );
+});