diff --git a/index-pack.c b/index-pack.c
index 52064befdb..728af7da9c 100644
--- a/index-pack.c
+++ b/index-pack.c
@@ -876,7 +876,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	char *index_name_buf = NULL, *keep_name_buf = NULL;
 	struct pack_idx_entry **idx_objects;
 	unsigned char sha1[20];
+	int nongit = 0;
 
+	setup_git_directory_gently(&nongit);
 	git_config(git_index_pack_config, NULL);
 
 	for (i = 1; i < argc; i++) {