diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fbfdc128a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+pixi.lock linguist-language=YAML
diff --git a/src/cli/init.rs b/src/cli/init.rs
index bb5cec14f..05e0c42a3 100644
--- a/src/cli/init.rs
+++ b/src/cli/init.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,10 @@ use miette::IntoDiagnostic;
 use minijinja::{context, Environment};
 use rattler_conda_types::Platform;
 use std::io::{Error, ErrorKind};
-use std::{fs, path::PathBuf};
+use std::{
+    fs,
+    path::{Path, PathBuf},
+};
 
 /// Creates a new project
 #[derive(Parser, Debug)]
@@ -42,11 +45,17 @@ const GITIGNORE_TEMPLATE: &str = r#"# pixi environments
 
 "#;
 
+const GITATTRIBUTES_TEMPLATE: &str = r#"# GitHub syntax highlighting
+pixi.lock linguist-language=YAML
+
+"#;
+
 pub async fn execute(args: Args) -> miette::Result<()> {
     let env = Environment::new();
     let dir = get_dir(args.path).into_diagnostic()?;
     let manifest_path = dir.join(consts::PROJECT_MANIFEST);
     let gitignore_path = dir.join(".gitignore");
+    let gitattributes_path = dir.join(".gitattributes");
 
     // Check if the project file doesnt already exist. We don't want to overwrite it.
     if fs::metadata(&manifest_path).map_or(false, |x| x.is_file()) {
@@ -92,10 +101,17 @@ pub async fn execute(args: Args) -> miette::Result<()> {
 
     // create a .gitignore if one is missing
     if !gitignore_path.is_file() {
-        let rv = env
-            .render_named_str("gitignore.txt", GITIGNORE_TEMPLATE, ())
-            .into_diagnostic()?;
-        fs::write(&gitignore_path, rv).into_diagnostic()?;
+        write_contextless_file(&env, gitignore_path, "gitignore.txt", GITIGNORE_TEMPLATE)?;
+    }
+
+    // create a .gitattributes if one is missing
+    if !gitattributes_path.is_file() {
+        write_contextless_file(
+            &env,
+            gitattributes_path,
+            "gitattributes.txt",
+            GITATTRIBUTES_TEMPLATE,
+        )?;
     }
 
     // Emit success
@@ -128,6 +144,17 @@ fn get_dir(path: PathBuf) -> Result<PathBuf, Error> {
     }
 }
 
+fn write_contextless_file<P: AsRef<Path>>(
+    env: &Environment,
+    path: P,
+    name: &str,
+    template: &str,
+) -> miette::Result<()> {
+    let rv = env.render_named_str(name, template, ()).into_diagnostic()?;
+    fs::write(&path, rv).into_diagnostic()?;
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use crate::cli::init::get_dir;