diff --git a/lib/git/base.rb b/lib/git/base.rb
index 068d7931..895c1e50 100644
--- a/lib/git/base.rb
+++ b/lib/git/base.rb
@@ -291,6 +291,8 @@ def revert(commitish = nil, opts = {})
     #
     def commit(message, opts = {})
       self.lib.commit(message, opts)
+
+      gcommit('HEAD')
     end
         
     # commits all pending changes in the index file to the git repository,
@@ -299,6 +301,8 @@ def commit(message, opts = {})
     def commit_all(message, opts = {})
       opts = {:add_all => true}.merge(opts)
       self.lib.commit(message, opts)
+
+      gcommit('HEAD')
     end
 
     # checks out a branch as the new git working directory
diff --git a/tests/units/test_base.rb b/tests/units/test_base.rb
index 08f651a4..19fbd3d7 100644
--- a/tests/units/test_base.rb
+++ b/tests/units/test_base.rb
@@ -91,9 +91,11 @@ def test_commit
 
       base_commit_id = git.log[0].objectish
 
-      git.commit("Test Commit")
+      o = git.commit("Test Commit")
+      assert(o.is_a?(Git::Object::Commit))
 
       original_commit_id = git.log[0].objectish
+      assert(o.sha == original_commit_id)
 
       create_file('test_commit/test_file_3', 'content test_file_3')