diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index 3900e4947b..cc637363bb 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ static int include_by_branch(const char *cond, size_t cond_len)
 	int flags;
 	int ret;
 	struct strbuf pattern = STRBUF_INIT;
-	const char *refname = !the_repository || !the_repository->gitdir ?
+	const char *refname = !the_repository->gitdir ?
 		NULL : resolve_ref_unsafe("HEAD", 0, NULL, &flags);
 	const char *shortname;
 
diff --git a/t/t1309-early-config.sh b/t/t1309-early-config.sh
index eeb60e4143..3a0de0ddaa 100755
--- a/t/t1309-early-config.sh
+++ b/t/t1309-early-config.sh
@@ -94,4 +94,9 @@ test_expect_success 'early config and onbranch' '
 	test_with_config "[includeif \"onbranch:master\"]path=../broken"
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'onbranch config outside of git repo' '
+	test_config_global includeIf.onbranch:master.path non-existent &&
+	nongit git help
+'
+
 test_done