diff --git a/crates/relicario-cli/src/main.rs b/crates/relicario-cli/src/main.rs
index 370c378..2a27f2a 100644
--- a/crates/relicario-cli/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/relicario-cli/src/main.rs
@@ -992,9 +992,32 @@ fn cmd_restore(query: String) -> Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
-fn cmd_purge(query: String) -> Result<()> {
+/// Inner purge: assumes vault is already unlocked and manifest is loaded.
+/// Caller is responsible for saving the manifest and committing afterwards.
+fn purge_item(
+    vault: &crate::session::UnlockedVault,
+    manifest: &mut relicario_core::Manifest,
+    id: &relicario_core::ItemId,
+    title: &str,
+) -> Result<()> {
     use std::fs;
 
+    let item_path = vault.item_path(id);
+    if item_path.exists() { fs::remove_file(&item_path)?; }
+    let att_dir = vault.root().join("attachments").join(id.as_str());
+    if att_dir.exists() { fs::remove_dir_all(&att_dir)?; }
+    manifest.remove(id);
+
+    let _ = crate::helpers::git_command(vault.root(), &["rm", "-rf", "--ignore-unmatch",
+        &format!("items/{}.enc", id.as_str()),
+        &format!("attachments/{}", id.as_str()),
+    ]).status()?;
+    // Note: caller adds+commits manifest.enc after processing all purges.
+    eprintln!("Purged: {title}");
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+fn cmd_purge(query: String) -> Result<()> {
     let vault = crate::session::UnlockedVault::unlock_interactive()?;
     let mut manifest = vault.load_manifest()?;
     let entry = resolve_query(&manifest, &query)?;
@@ -1002,25 +1025,14 @@ fn cmd_purge(query: String) -> Result<()> {
     let title = entry.title.clone();
     let _ = entry;
 
-    // Remove the item file, its attachments directory, and drop the manifest entry.
-    let item_path = vault.item_path(&id);
-    if item_path.exists() { fs::remove_file(&item_path)?; }
-    let att_dir = vault.root().join("attachments").join(id.as_str());
-    if att_dir.exists() { fs::remove_dir_all(&att_dir)?; }
-    manifest.remove(&id);
+    purge_item(&vault, &mut manifest, &id, &title)?;
     vault.save_manifest(&manifest)?;
 
-    // `git rm -rf --ignore-unmatch` stages the deletions. Then add manifest and commit.
-    let _ = crate::helpers::git_command(vault.root(), &["rm", "-rf", "--ignore-unmatch",
-        &format!("items/{}.enc", id.as_str()),
-        &format!("attachments/{}", id.as_str()),
-    ]).status()?;
     let status = crate::helpers::git_command(vault.root(), &["add", "manifest.enc"]).status()?;
     if !status.success() { anyhow::bail!("git add manifest.enc failed"); }
     let status = crate::helpers::git_command(vault.root(),
         &["commit", "-m", &format!("purge: {} ({})", title, id.as_str())]).status()?;
     if !status.success() { anyhow::bail!("git commit failed"); }
-    eprintln!("Purged: {title}");
     Ok(())
 }
 
@@ -1033,8 +1045,9 @@ fn cmd_trash(action: TrashAction) -> Result<()> {
 
 fn cmd_trash_empty() -> Result<()> {
     use relicario_core::time::now_unix;
+
     let vault = crate::session::UnlockedVault::unlock_interactive()?;
-    let manifest = vault.load_manifest()?;
+    let mut manifest = vault.load_manifest()?;
     let settings = vault.load_settings()?;
     let now = now_unix();
 
@@ -1051,10 +1064,20 @@ fn cmd_trash_empty() -> Result<()> {
         return Ok(());
     }
 
+    let mut purged_titles = Vec::new();
     for (id, title) in purgeable {
-        cmd_purge(id.as_str().to_string())?;
-        eprintln!("  purged {title}");
+        purge_item(&vault, &mut manifest, &id, &title)?;
+        purged_titles.push(title);
     }
+
+    vault.save_manifest(&manifest)?;
+    let status = crate::helpers::git_command(vault.root(), &["add", "manifest.enc"]).status()?;
+    if !status.success() { anyhow::bail!("git add manifest.enc failed"); }
+    let status = crate::helpers::git_command(vault.root(),
+        &["commit", "-m", &format!("trash empty: purged {} item(s)", purged_titles.len())]).status()?;
+    if !status.success() { anyhow::bail!("git commit failed"); }
+
+    eprintln!("Emptied trash: {} item(s)", purged_titles.len());
     Ok(())
 }
 fn cmd_attach(_q: String, _file: PathBuf) -> Result<()> { bail!("not yet implemented"); }