1 files changed, 6 insertions, 2 deletions
diff --git a/setup.c b/setup.c
index 4ea7a0b081..5ea9285a12 100644
--- a/setup.c
+++ b/setup.c
@@ -120,9 +120,13 @@ char *prefix_path_gently(const char *prefix, int len,
 char *prefix_path(const char *prefix, int len, const char *path)
 {
 	char *r = prefix_path_gently(prefix, len, NULL, path);
-	if (!r)
+	if (!r) {
+		const char *hint_path = get_git_work_tree();
+		if (!hint_path)
+			hint_path = get_git_dir();
 		die(_("'%s' is outside repository at '%s'"), path,
-		    absolute_path(get_git_work_tree()));
+		    absolute_path(hint_path));
+	}
 	return r;
 }