diff --git a/git-pull.sh b/git-pull.sh
index 63da37bcc2..902fc4adb4 100755
--- a/git-pull.sh
+++ b/git-pull.sh
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ OPTIONS_SPEC=
 . git-sh-setup
 . git-sh-i18n
 set_reflog_action "pull${1+ $*}"
-require_work_tree
+require_work_tree_exists
 cd_to_toplevel
 
 
diff --git a/git-rebase.sh b/git-rebase.sh
index 6759702c57..00ca7b99fe 100755
--- a/git-rebase.sh
+++ b/git-rebase.sh
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ skip!              skip current patch and continue
 "
 . git-sh-setup
 set_reflog_action rebase
-require_work_tree
+require_work_tree_exists
 cd_to_toplevel
 
 LF='