diff --git a/src/machinable/interface.py b/src/machinable/interface.py
index d9b66b3d..3de9e4ee 100644
--- a/src/machinable/interface.py
+++ b/src/machinable/interface.py
@@ -289,6 +289,17 @@ def push_related(self, key: str, value: "Interface") -> None:
             self.__related__[key] = value
         self._relation_cache[key] = True
 
+    def is_staged(self):
+        return self.__model__.uuid[-12:] != "0" * 12
+
+    def stage(self):
+        self.__model__.context = context = self.compute_context()
+        self.__model__.uuid = update_uuid_payload(self.__model__.uuid, context)
+
+        # ensure that configuration and predicate has been computed
+        assert self.config is not None
+        self.__model__.predicate = self.compute_predicate()
+
     def is_committed(self) -> bool:
         from machinable.index import Index
 
@@ -307,12 +318,8 @@ def commit(self) -> Self:
             # allow on_before_commit to abort
             return self
 
-        self.__model__.context = context = self.compute_context()
-        self.__model__.uuid = update_uuid_payload(self.__model__.uuid, context)
-
-        # ensure that configuration and predicate has been computed
-        assert self.config is not None
-        self.__model__.predicate = self.compute_predicate()
+        if not self.is_staged():
+            self.stage()
 
         if self.on_commit() is False:
             # allow on_commit to abort
diff --git a/tests/test_interface.py b/tests/test_interface.py
index 0f9df5c2..3ba0f146 100644
--- a/tests/test_interface.py
+++ b/tests/test_interface.py
@@ -191,6 +191,11 @@ def test_interface_commit(tmp_storage):
     with Project("./tests/samples/project"):
         Interface.make("interface.dummy").commit()
 
+    i = Interface()
+    assert not i.is_staged()
+    i.commit()
+    assert i.is_staged()
+
 
 def tes_interface_save_file(tmp_storage):
     component = Interface().commit()