diff --git a/.github/workflows/quality_check.yml b/.github/workflows/quality_check.yml
index d80f943..f444e29 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/quality_check.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/quality_check.yml
@@ -36,11 +36,11 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Check for secret files
         run: |
-          if [ -f "lib/secrets.local.dart" ]; then
-            echo "secrets.local.dart found in repository! This file contains API keys and must not be committed."
+          if git ls-files --error-unmatch lib/secrets.local.dart 2>/dev/null; then
+            echo "ERROR: secrets.local.dart is tracked by git! This file contains API keys and must not be committed."
             exit 1
           else
-            echo "secrets.local.dart is properly excluded"
+            echo "secrets.local.dart is properly excluded from git tracking"
           fi
           if grep -r "AIzaSy" lib/ --include="*.dart" 2>/dev/null; then
             echo "Possible API key found in source code!"