diff --git a/src/agents.py b/src/agents.py
index 396cdf9..b131444 100644
--- a/src/agents.py
+++ b/src/agents.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
     get_repository,
     get_issue_comments,
 )
+from branch_handler import get_current_branch
 from github.Issue import Issue
 import random
 import string
@@ -150,6 +151,36 @@ def create_agent(agent_name: str, llm_config: dict) -> AssistantAgent:
 ############################################################
 
 
+def can_push_to_branch(repo_path: str, branch_name: str = None) -> bool:
+    """
+    Check if the branch can be pushed to the remote repository.
+
+    Args:
+        repo_path: Path to the local repository.
+        branch_name: Name of the branch to check. If None, uses current branch.
+
+    Returns:
+        True if the branch can be pushed, False otherwise.
+    """
+    try:
+        if branch_name is None:
+            branch_name = get_current_branch(repo_path)
+
+        # Use git push --dry-run to check pushability
+        result = subprocess.run(
+            ['git', 'push', '--dry-run', 'origin', branch_name],
+            cwd=repo_path,
+            check=True,
+            capture_output=True,
+            text=True
+        )
+        # If "Everything up-to-date" is in the output, there's nothing to push
+        # If there's no error and something to push, we can push
+        return "Everything up-to-date" not in result.stdout
+    except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
+        return False
+
+
 def parse_comments(repo_name: str, repo_path: str, details: dict, issue: Issue) -> str:
     """Parse comments for the issue or pull request"""
     from git_utils import has_linked_pr, get_linked_pr
diff --git a/src/response_agent.py b/src/response_agent.py
index 0c68f88..f1fe700 100644
--- a/src/response_agent.py
+++ b/src/response_agent.py
@@ -601,7 +601,12 @@ def check_triggers(issue: Issue) -> str:
     Returns:
         The trigger phrase found in the issue
     """
-    if triggers.has_generate_edit_command_trigger(issue):
+    has_edit_trigger, error_msg = triggers.has_generate_edit_command_trigger(
+        issue)
+    if has_edit_trigger:
+        if error_msg:
+            tab_print(f'Triggered by generate_edit_command but: {error_msg}')
+            return None
         tab_print('Triggered by generate_edit_command')
         return "generate_edit_command"
     elif triggers.has_user_feedback(issue):
diff --git a/src/triggers.py b/src/triggers.py
index d5f1da4..3b61aea 100644
--- a/src/triggers.py
+++ b/src/triggers.py
@@ -18,18 +18,41 @@ def has_blech_bot_tag(issue: Issue) -> bool:
     return any(label.name == "blech_bot" for label in issue.labels)
 
 
-def has_generate_edit_command_trigger(issue: Issue) -> bool:
+def has_generate_edit_command_trigger(issue: Issue) -> tuple[bool, str]:
     """
     Check if the issue comments contain the trigger for generate_edit_command
+    and if the current branch can be pushed
 
     Args:
         issue: The GitHub issue to check
 
     Returns:
-        True if the trigger phrase is found in any comment
+        Tuple of (trigger_found, error_message)
+        - trigger_found: True if the trigger phrase is found in any comment
+        - error_message: Error message if branch can't be pushed, empty string otherwise
     """
+    from agents import can_push_to_branch
+    from git_utils import get_development_branch
+    import os
+
     comments = get_issue_comments(issue)
-    return any("[ generate_edit_command ]" in comment.body for comment in comments)
+    trigger_found = any(
+        "[ generate_edit_command ]" in comment.body for comment in comments)
+
+    if trigger_found:
+        # Get the repository path from the issue
+        from bot_tools import get_local_repo_path
+
+        # Extract repo name from issue URL
+        repo_name = issue.repository.full_name
+        repo_path = get_local_repo_path(repo_name)
+
+        # Check if the branch can be pushed
+        branch_name = get_development_branch(issue, repo_path, create=False)
+        if branch_name and not can_push_to_branch(repo_path, branch_name):
+            return True, f"Cannot push to branch {branch_name}"
+
+    return trigger_found, ""
 
 
 def has_bot_response(issue: Issue) -> bool: