diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index a28dd2b8..3ddeca05 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ FROM alpine:3.19.1 as dev
 ARG GH_CLI_VER=2.34.0
 
 # install packages
-RUN apk add --update --no-cache bash make git zsh curl tmux musl openssh git-lfs vim yq
+RUN apk add --update --no-cache bash make git zsh curl tmux musl openssh git-lfs vim yq gnupg tig
 
 RUN wget https://github.com/cli/cli/releases/download/v${GH_CLI_VER}/gh_${GH_CLI_VER}_linux_386.tar.gz -O ghcli.tar.gz
 RUN tar --strip-components=1 -xf ghcli.tar.gz
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ RUN sh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/robbyrussell/oh-my-zsh
 ADD src/*.sh /bin/
 RUN chmod +x /bin/entrypoint.sh \
   && chmod +x /bin/sync_template.sh \
-  && chmod +x /bin/sync_common.sh
+  && chmod +x /bin/sync_common.sh \
+  && chmod +x /bin/gpg_no_tty.sh
 
 RUN mkdir -p /root/.ssh \
   && ssh-keyscan -t rsa github.com >> /root/.ssh/known_hosts
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 95d3cd06..5060ec00 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ markdownlint: ## Validate markdown files
 zsh: ## open dev container with build environment
 	docker-compose run --service-ports dev /bin/zsh
 
+.PHONY: prod
+prod: ## run the prod docker image with bash
+	docker-compose run prod
+
 .PHONY: prune
 prune: ## delete the whole environment
 	docker-compose down -v --rmi all --remove-orphans
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 103a5464..3bcd5486 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -252,6 +252,7 @@ jobs:
 | git_user_name               | `[optional]` set the committer git user.name                                                                  | `false`  | `${GITHUB_ACTOR}`                                                     |
 | git_user_email              | `[optional]` set the committer git user.email                                                                 | `false`  | `github-action@actions-template-sync.noreply.${SOURCE_REPO_HOSTNAME}` |
 | git_remote_pull_params      | `[optional]` set remote pull parameters                                                                       | `false`  | `--allow-unrelated-histories --squash --strategy=recursive -X theirs` |
+| gpg_private_key | `[optional]` set if you want to sign commits | `false` | |
 
 ### Docker
 
@@ -293,6 +294,65 @@ E.g. when you like to disable the sync for all files with exceptions, you need t
 *
 ```
 
+## Sign commits
+
+It is recommended to [sign your commits][devto-sign-commits]. This action is able to sign commits.
+
+First, [generate a GPG key][github-create-gpg-key] and export the GPG private key as an ASCII armored version to your clipboard:
+
+```bash
+# macOS
+gpg --armor --export-secret-key jon@doe.example | pbcopy
+
+# Ubuntu (assuming GNU base64)
+gpg --armor --export-secret-key jon@doe.example -w0 | xclip
+
+# Arch
+gpg --armor --export-secret-key jon@doe.example | xclip -selection clipboard -i
+
+# FreeBSD (assuming BSD base64)
+gpg --armor --export-secret-key jon@doe.example | xclip
+```
+
+:warning: the gpg username and email must match the `git_user_name` and `git_user_email` parameters.
+Paste your clipboard as a [secret][github-create-secret] named `GPG_PRIVATE_KEY` for example.
+:warning: currently a pgp key with passphrase is not supported (yet).
+
+```yaml
+# File: .github/workflows/template-sync.yml
+
+on:
+    # cronjob trigger
+  schedule:
+  - cron:  "0 0 1 * *"
+  # manual trigger
+  workflow_dispatch:
+jobs:
+  repo-sync:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    # https://docs.github.com/en/actions/using-jobs/assigning-permissions-to-jobs
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
+      pull-requests: write
+
+    steps:
+      # To use this repository's private action, you must check out the repository
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: actions-template-sync
+        uses: AndreasAugustin/actions-template-sync@v1
+        with:
+          github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          source_repo_path: <owner/repo>
+          git_user_name: # add the gpg username
+          git_user_email: # add the gpg email
+          gpg_private_key: ${{ secrets.GPG_PRIVATE_KEY }}
+          # uncomment if your key has a passpharse
+          # gpg_passpharse: ${{ secrets.GPG_PASSPHRASE }}
+
+```
+
 ## Lifecycle hooks
 
 Different lifecycle hooks are supported. You need to enable the functionality with the option `is_allow_hooks` and set it to `true`
@@ -443,6 +503,7 @@ There are other great tools available within GitHub. Here you can find a compari
 | dry run | :heavy_check_mark: | :x: | :x: | :heavy_check_mark:  |
 | ignore files | :heavy_check_mark: | :x: | :x: | :heavy_check_mark: |
 | creates a PR | :heavy_check_mark: | :heavy_check_mark: | :x: | :heavy_check_mark: |
+| sign commits | :heavy_check_mark: | :x: | :x: | :x: |
 | remarks | The action is placed within the target repositories | The action is placed within the target repositories | CLI meant for local use | The action will be based within the base repository with a list of dependent repositories |
 
 ## DEV
@@ -516,6 +577,7 @@ specification. Contributions of any kind are welcome!
 [self-usage]: https://github.com/AndreasAugustin/actions-template-sync/blob/main/.github/workflows/actions_template_sync.yml
 [pr-labels]: https://docs.github.com/en/issues/using-labels-and-milestones-to-track-work/managing-labels
 [devto-example]: https://dev.to/andreasaugustin/github-actions-template-sync-1g9k
+[devto-sign-commits]: https://dev.to/andreasaugustin/git-how-and-why-to-sign-commits-35dn
 [github-example]: https://github.com/AndreasAugustin/teaching/blob/main/docs/git/git_action_sync.md
 [github-app]: https://docs.github.com/en/developers/apps/getting-started-with-apps/about-apps#about-github-apps
 [glob-pattern]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glob_(programming)
@@ -530,3 +592,4 @@ specification. Contributions of any kind are welcome!
 [dotdc-blog]: https://0xdc.me/blog/github-templates-and-repository-sync/
 [github-create-pat]: https://docs.github.com/en/authentication/keeping-your-account-and-data-secure/managing-your-personal-access-tokens#creating-a-fine-grained-personal-access-token
 [github-create-secret]: https://docs.github.com/en/actions/security-guides/using-secrets-in-github-actions#creating-secrets-for-a-repository
+[github-create-gpg-key]: https://docs.github.com/en/authentication/managing-commit-signature-verification/generating-a-new-gpg-key
diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index f3f654d1..9479443c 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ inputs:
     description: "[optional] set the committer git user.email for the merge commit"
   git_remote_pull_params:
     description: "[optional] set the pull parameters for the remote repository"
+  gpg_private_key:
+    description: "[optional] set the gpg private key if you want to sign your commits"
 runs:
   using: "docker"
   image: "src/Dockerfile"
@@ -74,3 +76,4 @@ runs:
     GIT_USER_NAME: ${{ inputs.git_user_name }}
     GIT_USER_EMAIL: ${{ inputs.git_user_email }}
     GIT_REMOTE_PULL_PARAMS: ${{ inputs.git_remote_pull_params }}
+    GPG_PRIVATE_KEY: ${{ inputs.gpg_private_key }}
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index a72254db..2ab78b42 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -23,3 +23,9 @@ services:
     volumes:
       - .:/app/
     working_dir: /app/
+
+  prod:
+    build:
+      context: ./src/
+    tty: true
+    entrypoint: ["/bin/bash"]
diff --git a/src/Dockerfile b/src/Dockerfile
index 11fee153..3799db38 100644
--- a/src/Dockerfile
+++ b/src/Dockerfile
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ LABEL org.opencontainers.image.title="actions-template-sync image"
 LABEL org.opencontainers.image.description="contains actions-template-sync"
 
 # install packages
-RUN apk add --update --no-cache bash git curl musl openssh git-lfs yq
+RUN apk add --update --no-cache bash git curl musl openssh git-lfs yq gnupg tig
 
 RUN wget https://github.com/cli/cli/releases/download/v${GH_CLI_VER}/gh_${GH_CLI_VER}_linux_386.tar.gz -O ghcli.tar.gz
 RUN tar --strip-components=1 -xf ghcli.tar.gz
@@ -23,9 +23,10 @@ RUN tar --strip-components=1 -xf ghcli.tar.gz
 ADD *.sh /bin/
 RUN chmod +x /bin/entrypoint.sh \
   && chmod +x /bin/sync_template.sh \
-  && chmod +x /bin/sync_common.sh
+  && chmod +x /bin/sync_common.sh \
+  && chmod +x /bin/gpg_no_tty.sh
 
 RUN mkdir -p /root/.ssh \
   && ssh-keyscan -t rsa github.com >> /root/.ssh/known_hosts
 
-ENTRYPOINT ["/bin/entrypoint.sh"]
+ENTRYPOINT ["/bin/bash", "/bin/entrypoint.sh"]
diff --git a/src/entrypoint.sh b/src/entrypoint.sh
index c5c34869..4d788e13 100644
--- a/src/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/src/entrypoint.sh
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#! /usr/bin/env bash
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
 set -e
 # set -u
 # set -x
@@ -41,6 +41,21 @@ function ssh_setup() {
   echo "::endgroup::"
 }
 
+function gpg_setup() {
+  echo "::group::gpg setup"
+  info "start prepare gpg"
+  echo -e "$GPG_PRIVATE_KEY" | gpg --import --batch
+  for fpr in $(gpg --list-key --with-colons "${GIT_USER_EMAIL}"  | awk -F: '/fpr:/ {print $10}' | sort -u); do  echo -e "5\ny\n" |  gpg --no-tty --command-fd 0 --expert --edit-key "$fpr" trust; done
+
+  KEY_ID="$(gpg --list-secret-key --with-colons "${GIT_USER_EMAIL}" | awk -F: '/sec:/ {print $5}')"
+  git config --global user.signingkey "${KEY_ID}"
+  git config --global commit.gpgsign true
+  git config --global gpg.program /bin/gpg_no_tty.sh
+
+  info "done prepare gpg"
+  echo "::endgroup::"for fpr in
+}
+
 # Forward to /dev/null to swallow the output of the private key
 if [[ -n "${SSH_PRIVATE_KEY_SRC}" ]] &>/dev/null; then
   ssh_setup
@@ -73,5 +88,9 @@ function git_init() {
 
 git_init
 
+if [[ -n "${GPG_PRIVATE_KEY}" ]] &>/dev/null; then
+  gpg_setup
+fi
+
 # shellcheck source=src/sync_template.sh
 source sync_template.sh
diff --git a/src/gpg_no_tty.sh b/src/gpg_no_tty.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e742a973
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/gpg_no_tty.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+if [[ -n "${GPG_PASSPHRASE}" ]]  &>/dev/null;  then
+    # echo -e "${GPG_PASSPHRASE}" |  gpg --pinentry-mode loopback --batch --yes --passphrase-fd 0 "$@" <&0
+    echo "::error::currently gpg with passphrase is not supported"
+    exit 1
+else
+  gpg --pinentry-mode loopback --yes --batch "$@" <&0
+fi
+
+exit $?
diff --git a/src/sync_common.sh b/src/sync_common.sh
index 8677a408..e8abc366 100755
--- a/src/sync_common.sh
+++ b/src/sync_common.sh
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#! /usr/bin/env bash
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
 
 set -e
 # set -u
diff --git a/src/sync_template.sh b/src/sync_template.sh
index 7894a55c..d4cb6921 100644
--- a/src/sync_template.sh
+++ b/src/sync_template.sh
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#! /usr/bin/env bash
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
 
 set -e
 # set -u
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ if git diff --quiet && git diff --staged --quiet; then
   exit 0
 fi
 
-git commit -m "${PR_COMMIT_MSG}"
+git commit --signoff -m "${PR_COMMIT_MSG}"
 
 echo "::endgroup::"