diff --git a/contribute.py b/contribute.py
index 0bb6202fdd..c04f64a75f 100755
--- a/contribute.py
+++ b/contribute.py
@@ -27,9 +27,14 @@ def main(def_args=sys.argv[1:]):
     days_after = args.days_after
     if days_after < 0:
         sys.exit('days_after must not be negative')
-    os.mkdir(directory)
+    if os.path.exists(directory):
+        print('Directory already exists, continuing in existing repository...')
+    else:
+        os.mkdir(directory)
     os.chdir(directory)
-    run(['git', 'init', '-b', 'main'])
+
+    if not os.path.exists('.git'):
+        run(['git', 'init', '-b', 'main'])
 
     if user_name is not None:
         run(['git', 'config', 'user.name', user_name])
@@ -38,16 +43,26 @@ def main(def_args=sys.argv[1:]):
         run(['git', 'config', 'user.email', user_email])
 
     start_date = curr_date.replace(hour=20, minute=0) - timedelta(days_before)
-    for day in (start_date + timedelta(n) for n
-                in range(days_before + days_after)):
+    days = list(start_date + timedelta(n) for n in range(days_before + days_after))
+    total = len(days)
+    for i, day in enumerate(days):
+        print('\rGenerating commits... %d/%d' % (i + 1, total), end='', flush=True)
         if (not no_weekends or day.weekday() < 5) \
                 and randint(0, 100) < frequency:
             for commit_time in (day + timedelta(minutes=m)
                                 for m in range(contributions_per_day(args))):
                 contribute(commit_time)
 
+    print()
     if repository is not None:
-        run(['git', 'remote', 'add', 'origin', repository])
+        existing_remotes = []
+        try:
+            from subprocess import check_output
+            existing_remotes = check_output(['git', 'remote']).decode().split()
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+        if 'origin' not in existing_remotes:
+            run(['git', 'remote', 'add', 'origin', repository])
         run(['git', 'branch', '-M', 'main'])
         run(['git', 'push', '-u', 'origin', 'main'])