diff --git a/builtin/bundle.c b/builtin/bundle.c
index 3ad11dc5d0..d5d41a8f67 100644
--- a/builtin/bundle.c
+++ b/builtin/bundle.c
@@ -140,6 +140,11 @@ static int cmd_bundle_verify(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix) {
 			builtin_bundle_verify_usage, options, &bundle_file);
 	/* bundle internals use argv[1] as further parameters */
 
+	if (!startup_info->have_repository) {
+		ret = error(_("need a repository to verify a bundle"));
+		goto cleanup;
+	}
+
 	if ((bundle_fd = open_bundle(bundle_file, &header, &name)) < 0) {
 		ret = 1;
 		goto cleanup;