1 files changed, 2 insertions, 1 deletions
diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index ed7f58e0fc..3900e4947b 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -275,7 +275,8 @@ static int include_by_branch(const char *cond, size_t cond_len)
 	int flags;
 	int ret;
 	struct strbuf pattern = STRBUF_INIT;
-	const char *refname = resolve_ref_unsafe("HEAD", 0, NULL, &flags);
+	const char *refname = !the_repository || !the_repository->gitdir ?
+		NULL : resolve_ref_unsafe("HEAD", 0, NULL, &flags);
 	const char *shortname;
 
 	if (!refname || !(flags & REF_ISSYMREF)	||