diff --git a/test-config.c b/test-config.c
index 6a77552210..7ee3210da3 100644
--- a/test-config.c
+++ b/test-config.c
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	const char *v;
 	const struct string_list *strptr;
 	struct config_set cs;
+
+	setup_git_directory();
+
 	git_configset_init(&cs);
 
 	if (argc < 2) {