diff --git a/.githooks/pre-push b/.githooks/pre-push
index a7e920f..20d2baf 100755
--- a/.githooks/pre-push
+++ b/.githooks/pre-push
@@ -1,6 +1,26 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 # Pre-push hook — runs all check scripts before allowing a push.
 # Install with: git config core.hooksPath .githooks
+#
+# git feeds one line per ref being pushed on stdin:
+#   <local ref> <local sha> <remote ref> <remote sha>
+# A branch deletion has local ref "(delete)" and an all-zero local sha. Deletes
+# push no commits, so there is nothing to lint or signature-check — skip the
+# checks when every ref is a delete (or nothing is being pushed at all).
+set -euo pipefail
 
 REPO_ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/.." && pwd)"
+ZERO_SHA="0000000000000000000000000000000000000000"
+
+pushing_commits=0
+while read -r _local_ref local_sha _remote_ref _remote_sha; do
+	if [ "$local_sha" != "$ZERO_SHA" ]; then
+		pushing_commits=1
+	fi
+done
+
+if [ "$pushing_commits" -eq 0 ]; then
+	exit 0
+fi
+
 exec "$REPO_ROOT/scripts/runChecks.sh"