diff --git a/builtin/apply.c b/builtin/apply.c
index f38c1f7b88..470520bde7 100644
--- a/builtin/apply.c
+++ b/builtin/apply.c
@@ -3606,11 +3606,11 @@ static int option_parse_directory(const struct option *opt,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int cmd_apply(int argc, const char **argv, const char *unused_prefix)
+int cmd_apply(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix_)
 {
 	int i;
 	int errs = 0;
-	int is_not_gitdir;
+	int is_not_gitdir = !startup_info->have_repository;
 	int binary;
 	int force_apply = 0;
 
@@ -3683,7 +3683,7 @@ int cmd_apply(int argc, const char **argv, const char *unused_prefix)
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 
-	prefix = setup_git_directory_gently(&is_not_gitdir);
+	prefix = prefix_;
 	prefix_length = prefix ? strlen(prefix) : 0;
 	git_config(git_apply_config, NULL);
 	if (apply_default_whitespace)
diff --git a/builtin/bundle.c b/builtin/bundle.c
index 2006cc5cd5..80649ba0b2 100644
--- a/builtin/bundle.c
+++ b/builtin/bundle.c
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ static const char builtin_bundle_usage[] =
 int cmd_bundle(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
 	struct bundle_header header;
-	int nongit;
 	const char *cmd, *bundle_file;
 	int bundle_fd = -1;
 	char buffer[PATH_MAX];
@@ -31,7 +30,6 @@ int cmd_bundle(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	argc -= 2;
 	argv += 2;
 
-	prefix = setup_git_directory_gently(&nongit);
 	if (prefix && bundle_file[0] != '/') {
 		snprintf(buffer, sizeof(buffer), "%s/%s", prefix, bundle_file);
 		bundle_file = buffer;
@@ -54,11 +52,11 @@ int cmd_bundle(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		return !!list_bundle_refs(&header, argc, argv);
 	}
 	if (!strcmp(cmd, "create")) {
-		if (nongit)
+		if (!startup_info->have_repository)
 			die("Need a repository to create a bundle.");
 		return !!create_bundle(&header, bundle_file, argc, argv);
 	} else if (!strcmp(cmd, "unbundle")) {
-		if (nongit)
+		if (!startup_info->have_repository)
 			die("Need a repository to unbundle.");
 		return !!unbundle(&header, bundle_fd) ||
 			list_bundle_refs(&header, argc, argv);
diff --git a/builtin/config.c b/builtin/config.c
index 79fee767b8..ca4a0db4a7 100644
--- a/builtin/config.c
+++ b/builtin/config.c
@@ -331,11 +331,10 @@ static int get_colorbool(int print)
 		return get_colorbool_found ? 0 : 1;
 }
 
-int cmd_config(int argc, const char **argv, const char *unused_prefix)
+int cmd_config(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
-	int nongit;
+	int nongit = !startup_info->have_repository;
 	char *value;
-	const char *prefix = setup_git_directory_gently(&nongit);
 
 	config_exclusive_filename = getenv(CONFIG_ENVIRONMENT);
 
diff --git a/builtin/grep.c b/builtin/grep.c
index b725ede0f7..da32f3df34 100644
--- a/builtin/grep.c
+++ b/builtin/grep.c
@@ -839,7 +839,7 @@ int cmd_grep(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	struct string_list path_list = STRING_LIST_INIT_NODUP;
 	int i;
 	int dummy;
-	int nongit = 0, use_index = 1;
+	int use_index = 1;
 	struct option options[] = {
 		OPT_BOOLEAN(0, "cached", &cached,
 			"search in index instead of in the work tree"),
@@ -930,8 +930,6 @@ int cmd_grep(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 
-	prefix = setup_git_directory_gently(&nongit);
-
 	/*
 	 * 'git grep -h', unlike 'git grep -h <pattern>', is a request
 	 * to show usage information and exit.
@@ -976,7 +974,7 @@ int cmd_grep(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			     PARSE_OPT_STOP_AT_NON_OPTION |
 			     PARSE_OPT_NO_INTERNAL_HELP);
 
-	if (use_index && nongit)
+	if (use_index && !startup_info->have_repository)
 		/* die the same way as if we did it at the beginning */
 		setup_git_directory();
 
diff --git a/builtin/index-pack.c b/builtin/index-pack.c
index 96333d48cd..2e680d7a7a 100644
--- a/builtin/index-pack.c
+++ b/builtin/index-pack.c
@@ -880,14 +880,12 @@ int cmd_index_pack(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	char *index_name_buf = NULL, *keep_name_buf = NULL;
 	struct pack_idx_entry **idx_objects;
 	unsigned char pack_sha1[20];
-	int nongit;
 
 	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
 		usage(index_pack_usage);
 
 	read_replace_refs = 0;
 
-	prefix = setup_git_directory_gently(&nongit);
 	git_config(git_index_pack_config, NULL);
 	if (prefix && chdir(prefix))
 		die("Cannot come back to cwd");
diff --git a/builtin/ls-remote.c b/builtin/ls-remote.c
index 34480cfad6..97eed4012b 100644
--- a/builtin/ls-remote.c
+++ b/builtin/ls-remote.c
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ int cmd_ls_remote(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
 	int i;
 	const char *dest = NULL;
-	int nongit;
 	unsigned flags = 0;
 	int quiet = 0;
 	const char *uploadpack = NULL;
@@ -42,8 +41,6 @@ int cmd_ls_remote(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	struct transport *transport;
 	const struct ref *ref;
 
-	setup_git_directory_gently(&nongit);
-
 	for (i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
 		const char *arg = argv[i];
 
diff --git a/builtin/merge-file.c b/builtin/merge-file.c
index b8e9e5ba01..b6664d49be 100644
--- a/builtin/merge-file.c
+++ b/builtin/merge-file.c
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ int cmd_merge_file(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	xmparam_t xmp = {{0}};
 	int ret = 0, i = 0, to_stdout = 0;
 	int quiet = 0;
-	int nongit;
 	struct option options[] = {
 		OPT_BOOLEAN('p', "stdout", &to_stdout, "send results to standard output"),
 		OPT_SET_INT(0, "diff3", &xmp.style, "use a diff3 based merge", XDL_MERGE_DIFF3),
@@ -50,8 +49,7 @@ int cmd_merge_file(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	xmp.style = 0;
 	xmp.favor = 0;
 
-	prefix = setup_git_directory_gently(&nongit);
-	if (!nongit) {
+	if (startup_info->have_repository) {
 		/* Read the configuration file */
 		git_config(git_xmerge_config, NULL);
 		if (0 <= git_xmerge_style)
diff --git a/builtin/shortlog.c b/builtin/shortlog.c
index 0a9681ba7e..2135b0dde1 100644
--- a/builtin/shortlog.c
+++ b/builtin/shortlog.c
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ int cmd_shortlog(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
 	static struct shortlog log;
 	static struct rev_info rev;
-	int nongit;
+	int nongit = !startup_info->have_repository;
 
 	static const struct option options[] = {
 		OPT_BOOLEAN('n', "numbered", &log.sort_by_number,
@@ -265,7 +265,6 @@ int cmd_shortlog(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 
 	struct parse_opt_ctx_t ctx;
 
-	prefix = setup_git_directory_gently(&nongit);
 	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	shortlog_init(&log);
 	init_revisions(&rev, prefix);
diff --git a/builtin/var.c b/builtin/var.c
index 70fdb4dec7..0744bb8318 100644
--- a/builtin/var.c
+++ b/builtin/var.c
@@ -74,14 +74,9 @@ static int show_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 
 int cmd_var(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
-	const char *val;
-	int nongit;
-	if (argc != 2) {
+	const char *val = NULL;
+	if (argc != 2)
 		usage(var_usage);
-	}
-
-	setup_git_directory_gently(&nongit);
-	val = NULL;
 
 	if (strcmp(argv[1], "-l") == 0) {
 		git_config(show_config, NULL);
diff --git a/cache.h b/cache.h
index eb77e1df48..733d4d1c81 100644
--- a/cache.h
+++ b/cache.h
@@ -1102,6 +1102,12 @@ int split_cmdline(char *cmdline, const char ***argv);
 /* Takes a negative value returned by split_cmdline */
 const char *split_cmdline_strerror(int cmdline_errno);
 
+/* git.c */
+struct startup_info {
+	int have_repository;
+};
+extern struct startup_info *startup_info;
+
 /* builtin/merge.c */
 int checkout_fast_forward(const unsigned char *from, const unsigned char *to);
 
diff --git a/environment.c b/environment.c
index 83d38d3c23..eeb26876a1 100644
--- a/environment.c
+++ b/environment.c
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ enum object_creation_mode object_creation_mode = OBJECT_CREATION_MODE;
 char *notes_ref_name;
 int grafts_replace_parents = 1;
 int core_apply_sparse_checkout;
+struct startup_info *startup_info;
 
 /* Parallel index stat data preload? */
 int core_preload_index = 0;
diff --git a/git.c b/git.c
index 12d2952e07..8de48107e0 100644
--- a/git.c
+++ b/git.c
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ const char git_usage_string[] =
 const char git_more_info_string[] =
 	"See 'git help COMMAND' for more information on a specific command.";
 
+static struct startup_info git_startup_info;
 static int use_pager = -1;
 struct pager_config {
 	const char *cmd;
@@ -230,13 +231,14 @@ static int handle_alias(int *argcp, const char ***argv)
 
 const char git_version_string[] = GIT_VERSION;
 
-#define RUN_SETUP	(1<<0)
-#define USE_PAGER	(1<<1)
+#define RUN_SETUP		(1<<0)
+#define RUN_SETUP_GENTLY	(1<<1)
+#define USE_PAGER		(1<<2)
 /*
  * require working tree to be present -- anything uses this needs
  * RUN_SETUP for reading from the configuration file.
  */
-#define NEED_WORK_TREE	(1<<2)
+#define NEED_WORK_TREE		(1<<3)
 
 struct cmd_struct {
 	const char *cmd;
@@ -255,8 +257,12 @@ static int run_builtin(struct cmd_struct *p, int argc, const char **argv)
 	if (!help) {
 		if (p->option & RUN_SETUP)
 			prefix = setup_git_directory();
+		if (p->option & RUN_SETUP_GENTLY) {
+			int nongit_ok;
+			prefix = setup_git_directory_gently(&nongit_ok);
+		}
 
-		if (use_pager == -1 && p->option & RUN_SETUP)
+		if (use_pager == -1 && p->option & (RUN_SETUP | RUN_SETUP_GENTLY))
 			use_pager = check_pager_config(p->cmd);
 		if (use_pager == -1 && p->option & USE_PAGER)
 			use_pager = 1;
@@ -296,12 +302,12 @@ static void handle_internal_command(int argc, const char **argv)
 		{ "add", cmd_add, RUN_SETUP | NEED_WORK_TREE },
 		{ "stage", cmd_add, RUN_SETUP | NEED_WORK_TREE },
 		{ "annotate", cmd_annotate, RUN_SETUP },
-		{ "apply", cmd_apply },
+		{ "apply", cmd_apply, RUN_SETUP_GENTLY },
 		{ "archive", cmd_archive },
 		{ "bisect--helper", cmd_bisect__helper, RUN_SETUP | NEED_WORK_TREE },
 		{ "blame", cmd_blame, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "branch", cmd_branch, RUN_SETUP },
-		{ "bundle", cmd_bundle },
+		{ "bundle", cmd_bundle, RUN_SETUP_GENTLY },
 		{ "cat-file", cmd_cat_file, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "checkout", cmd_checkout, RUN_SETUP | NEED_WORK_TREE },
 		{ "checkout-index", cmd_checkout_index,
@@ -314,7 +320,7 @@ static void handle_internal_command(int argc, const char **argv)
 		{ "clean", cmd_clean, RUN_SETUP | NEED_WORK_TREE },
 		{ "commit", cmd_commit, RUN_SETUP | NEED_WORK_TREE },
 		{ "commit-tree", cmd_commit_tree, RUN_SETUP },
-		{ "config", cmd_config },
+		{ "config", cmd_config, RUN_SETUP_GENTLY },
 		{ "count-objects", cmd_count_objects, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "describe", cmd_describe, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "diff", cmd_diff },
@@ -331,21 +337,21 @@ static void handle_internal_command(int argc, const char **argv)
 		{ "fsck-objects", cmd_fsck, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "gc", cmd_gc, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "get-tar-commit-id", cmd_get_tar_commit_id },
-		{ "grep", cmd_grep },
+		{ "grep", cmd_grep, RUN_SETUP_GENTLY },
 		{ "hash-object", cmd_hash_object },
 		{ "help", cmd_help },
-		{ "index-pack", cmd_index_pack },
+		{ "index-pack", cmd_index_pack, RUN_SETUP_GENTLY },
 		{ "init", cmd_init_db },
 		{ "init-db", cmd_init_db },
 		{ "log", cmd_log, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "ls-files", cmd_ls_files, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "ls-tree", cmd_ls_tree, RUN_SETUP },
-		{ "ls-remote", cmd_ls_remote },
+		{ "ls-remote", cmd_ls_remote, RUN_SETUP_GENTLY },
 		{ "mailinfo", cmd_mailinfo },
 		{ "mailsplit", cmd_mailsplit },
 		{ "merge", cmd_merge, RUN_SETUP | NEED_WORK_TREE },
 		{ "merge-base", cmd_merge_base, RUN_SETUP },
-		{ "merge-file", cmd_merge_file },
+		{ "merge-file", cmd_merge_file, RUN_SETUP_GENTLY },
 		{ "merge-index", cmd_merge_index, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "merge-ours", cmd_merge_ours, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "merge-recursive", cmd_merge_recursive, RUN_SETUP | NEED_WORK_TREE },
@@ -361,7 +367,7 @@ static void handle_internal_command(int argc, const char **argv)
 		{ "pack-objects", cmd_pack_objects, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "pack-redundant", cmd_pack_redundant, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "patch-id", cmd_patch_id },
-		{ "peek-remote", cmd_ls_remote },
+		{ "peek-remote", cmd_ls_remote, RUN_SETUP_GENTLY },
 		{ "pickaxe", cmd_blame, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "prune", cmd_prune, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "prune-packed", cmd_prune_packed, RUN_SETUP },
@@ -371,7 +377,7 @@ static void handle_internal_command(int argc, const char **argv)
 		{ "reflog", cmd_reflog, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "remote", cmd_remote, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "replace", cmd_replace, RUN_SETUP },
-		{ "repo-config", cmd_config },
+		{ "repo-config", cmd_config, RUN_SETUP_GENTLY },
 		{ "rerere", cmd_rerere, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "reset", cmd_reset, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "rev-list", cmd_rev_list, RUN_SETUP },
@@ -379,7 +385,7 @@ static void handle_internal_command(int argc, const char **argv)
 		{ "revert", cmd_revert, RUN_SETUP | NEED_WORK_TREE },
 		{ "rm", cmd_rm, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "send-pack", cmd_send_pack, RUN_SETUP },
-		{ "shortlog", cmd_shortlog, USE_PAGER },
+		{ "shortlog", cmd_shortlog, RUN_SETUP_GENTLY | USE_PAGER },
 		{ "show-branch", cmd_show_branch, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "show", cmd_show, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "status", cmd_status, RUN_SETUP | NEED_WORK_TREE },
@@ -393,7 +399,7 @@ static void handle_internal_command(int argc, const char **argv)
 		{ "update-ref", cmd_update_ref, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "update-server-info", cmd_update_server_info, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "upload-archive", cmd_upload_archive },
-		{ "var", cmd_var },
+		{ "var", cmd_var, RUN_SETUP_GENTLY },
 		{ "verify-tag", cmd_verify_tag, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "version", cmd_version },
 		{ "whatchanged", cmd_whatchanged, RUN_SETUP },
@@ -490,6 +496,8 @@ int main(int argc, const char **argv)
 {
 	const char *cmd;
 
+	startup_info = &git_startup_info;
+
 	cmd = git_extract_argv0_path(argv[0]);
 	if (!cmd)
 		cmd = "git-help";
diff --git a/setup.c b/setup.c
index d19aa7d7a9..a3b76de2bb 100644
--- a/setup.c
+++ b/setup.c
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ static dev_t get_device_or_die(const char *path, const char *prefix)
  * We cannot decide in this function whether we are in the work tree or
  * not, since the config can only be read _after_ this function was called.
  */
-const char *setup_git_directory_gently(int *nongit_ok)
+static const char *setup_git_directory_gently_1(int *nongit_ok)
 {
 	const char *work_tree_env = getenv(GIT_WORK_TREE_ENVIRONMENT);
 	const char *env_ceiling_dirs = getenv(CEILING_DIRECTORIES_ENVIRONMENT);
@@ -507,6 +507,16 @@ const char *setup_git_directory_gently(int *nongit_ok)
 	}
 }
 
+const char *setup_git_directory_gently(int *nongit_ok)
+{
+	const char *prefix;
+
+	prefix = setup_git_directory_gently_1(nongit_ok);
+	if (startup_info)
+		startup_info->have_repository = !nongit_ok || !*nongit_ok;
+	return prefix;
+}
+
 int git_config_perm(const char *var, const char *value)
 {
 	int i;
diff --git a/t/t7006-pager.sh b/t/t7006-pager.sh
index 71d3ceff8f..fb744e3c4a 100755
--- a/t/t7006-pager.sh
+++ b/t/t7006-pager.sh
@@ -58,6 +58,21 @@ test_expect_success TTY 'some commands use a pager' '
 	test -e paginated.out
 '
 
+test_expect_failure TTY 'pager runs from subdir' '
+	echo subdir/paginated.out >expected &&
+	mkdir -p subdir &&
+	rm -f paginated.out subdir/paginated.out &&
+	(
+		cd subdir &&
+		test_terminal git log
+	) &&
+	{
+		ls paginated.out subdir/paginated.out ||
+		:
+	} >actual &&
+	test_cmp expected actual
+'
+
 test_expect_success TTY 'some commands do not use a pager' '
 	rm -f paginated.out ||
 	cleanup_fail &&
@@ -106,6 +121,45 @@ test_expect_success TTY 'no pager with --no-pager' '
 	! test -e paginated.out
 '
 
+test_expect_success TTY 'configuration can disable pager' '
+	rm -f paginated.out &&
+	test_might_fail git config --unset pager.grep &&
+	test_terminal git grep initial &&
+	test -e paginated.out &&
+
+	rm -f paginated.out &&
+	git config pager.grep false &&
+	test_when_finished "git config --unset pager.grep" &&
+	test_terminal git grep initial &&
+	! test -e paginated.out
+'
+
+test_expect_success TTY 'git config uses a pager if configured to' '
+	rm -f paginated.out &&
+	git config pager.config true &&
+	test_when_finished "git config --unset pager.config" &&
+	test_terminal git config --list &&
+	test -e paginated.out
+'
+
+test_expect_success TTY 'configuration can enable pager (from subdir)' '
+	rm -f paginated.out &&
+	mkdir -p subdir &&
+	git config pager.bundle true &&
+	test_when_finished "git config --unset pager.bundle" &&
+
+	git bundle create test.bundle --all &&
+	rm -f paginated.out subdir/paginated.out &&
+	(
+		cd subdir &&
+		test_terminal git bundle unbundle ../test.bundle
+	) &&
+	{
+		test -e paginated.out ||
+		test -e subdir/paginated.out
+	}
+'
+
 # A colored commit log will begin with an appropriate ANSI escape
 # for the first color; the text "commit" comes later.
 colorful() {
@@ -369,4 +423,16 @@ test_GIT_PAGER_overrides  expect_success test_must_fail 'git -p'
 
 test_doesnt_paginate      expect_failure test_must_fail 'git -p nonsense'
 
+test_pager_choices                       'git shortlog'
+test_expect_success 'setup: configure shortlog not to paginate' '
+	git config pager.shortlog false
+'
+test_doesnt_paginate      expect_success 'git shortlog'
+test_no_local_config_subdir expect_success 'git shortlog'
+test_default_pager        expect_success 'git -p shortlog'
+test_core_pager_subdir    expect_success 'git -p shortlog'
+
+test_core_pager_subdir    expect_success test_must_fail \
+					 'git -p apply </dev/null'
+
 test_done