diff --git a/remote.c b/remote.c
index fc0269858..28fd676ac 100644
--- a/remote.c
+++ b/remote.c
@@ -455,7 +455,6 @@ static void read_config(void)
 {
 	static int loaded;
 	struct object_id oid;
-	const char *head_ref;
 	int flag;
 
 	if (loaded)
@@ -463,10 +462,12 @@ static void read_config(void)
 	loaded = 1;
 
 	current_branch = NULL;
-	head_ref = resolve_ref_unsafe("HEAD", 0, oid.hash, &flag);
-	if (head_ref && (flag & REF_ISSYMREF) &&
-	    skip_prefix(head_ref, "refs/heads/", &head_ref)) {
-		current_branch = make_branch(head_ref, 0);
+	if (startup_info->have_repository) {
+		const char *head_ref = resolve_ref_unsafe("HEAD", 0, oid.hash, &flag);
+		if (head_ref && (flag & REF_ISSYMREF) &&
+		    skip_prefix(head_ref, "refs/heads/", &head_ref)) {
+			current_branch = make_branch(head_ref, 0);
+		}
 	}
 	git_config(handle_config, NULL);
 	alias_all_urls();