diff --git a/cdist/conf/type/__uci_commit/explorer/changes b/cdist/conf/type/__uci_commit/explorer/changes
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2690def7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cdist/conf/type/__uci_commit/explorer/changes
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+#
+# 2020 Dennis Camera (dennis.camera at ssrq-sds-fds.ch)
+#
+# This file is part of cdist.
+#
+# cdist is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# cdist is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with cdist. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+# This explorer outputs the uncommited UCI changes on the target.
+
+uci changes
diff --git a/cdist/conf/type/__uci_commit/gencode-remote b/cdist/conf/type/__uci_commit/gencode-remote
index 0332d7e0..dd1d839c 100755
--- a/cdist/conf/type/__uci_commit/gencode-remote
+++ b/cdist/conf/type/__uci_commit/gencode-remote
@@ -23,20 +23,29 @@ batchfile="${__global:?}/tmp/__uci/${transaction_name}.txt"
 
 test -s "${batchfile}" || exit 0
 
+if test -s "${__object:?}/explorer/changes"
+then
+	echo 'Uncommited UCI changes were found on the target:'
+	cat "${__object:?}/explorer/changes"
+	echo
+	echo 'This can be caused by manual changes or due to a previous failed run.'
+	echo 'Please investigate the situation, revert or commit the changes, and try again.'
+	exit 1
+fi >&2
+
 printf 'commit transaction %s\n' "${transaction_name}" >>"${__messages_out:?}"
 
-cat <<'EOF'
+cat <<CODE
 rollback() {
-	uci changes \
-	| sed -e 's/\..*$//' -e 's/^-//' \
+	uci changes \\
+	| sed -e 's/\..*\$//' -e 's/^-//' \\
 	| while read -r package
 	  do
-		  uci revert "${package}"
+		  uci revert "\${package}"
 	  done
 }
 
+uci batch <<'EOF' && uci commit || rollback
+$(cat "${batchfile}")
 EOF
-
-echo "uci batch <<'EOF' && uci commit || rollback"
-cat "${batchfile}"
-echo 'EOF'
+CODE