diff --git a/git-repack.sh b/git-repack.sh
index 0868734723..1bf239499c 100755
--- a/git-repack.sh
+++ b/git-repack.sh
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ SUBDIRECTORY_OK='Yes'
 . git-sh-setup
 
 no_update_info= all_into_one= remove_redundant= unpack_unreachable=
-local= quiet= no_reuse= extra=
+local= no_reuse= extra=
 while test $# != 0
 do
 	case "$1" in
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ do
 	-A)	all_into_one=t
 		unpack_unreachable=--unpack-unreachable ;;
 	-d)	remove_redundant=t ;;
-	-q)	quiet=-q ;;
+	-q)	GIT_QUIET=t ;;
 	-f)	no_reuse=--no-reuse-object ;;
 	-l)	local=--local ;;
 	--max-pack-size|--window|--window-memory|--depth)
@@ -80,13 +80,11 @@ case ",$all_into_one," in
 	;;
 esac
 
-args="$args $local $quiet $no_reuse$extra"
+args="$args $local ${GIT_QUIET:+-q} $no_reuse$extra"
 names=$(git pack-objects --honor-pack-keep --non-empty --all --reflog $args </dev/null "$PACKTMP") ||
 	exit 1
 if [ -z "$names" ]; then
-	if test -z "$quiet"; then
-		echo Nothing new to pack.
-	fi
+	say Nothing new to pack.
 fi
 
 # Ok we have prepared all new packfiles.
@@ -176,7 +174,7 @@ then
 		  done
 		)
 	fi
-	git prune-packed $quiet
+	git prune-packed ${GIT_QUIET:+-q}
 fi
 
 case "$no_update_info" in
diff --git a/git-submodule.sh b/git-submodule.sh
index 19a3a840fd..58d2fd2ccb 100755
--- a/git-submodule.sh
+++ b/git-submodule.sh
@@ -14,23 +14,11 @@ require_work_tree
 
 command=
 branch=
-quiet=
 reference=
 cached=
 nofetch=
 update=
 
-#
-# print stuff on stdout unless -q was specified
-#
-say()
-{
-	if test -z "$quiet"
-	then
-		echo "$@"
-	fi
-}
-
 # Resolve relative url by appending to parent's url
 resolve_relative_url ()
 {
@@ -137,7 +125,7 @@ cmd_add()
 			shift
 			;;
 		-q|--quiet)
-			quiet=1
+			GIT_QUIET=1
 			;;
 		--reference)
 			case "$2" in '') usage ;; esac
@@ -273,7 +261,7 @@ cmd_init()
 	do
 		case "$1" in
 		-q|--quiet)
-			quiet=1
+			GIT_QUIET=1
 			;;
 		--)
 			shift
@@ -333,7 +321,7 @@ cmd_update()
 		case "$1" in
 		-q|--quiet)
 			shift
-			quiet=1
+			GIT_QUIET=1
 			;;
 		-i|--init)
 			init=1
@@ -650,7 +638,7 @@ cmd_status()
 	do
 		case "$1" in
 		-q|--quiet)
-			quiet=1
+			GIT_QUIET=1
 			;;
 		--cached)
 			cached=1
@@ -704,7 +692,7 @@ cmd_sync()
 	do
 		case "$1" in
 		-q|--quiet)
-			quiet=1
+			GIT_QUIET=1
 			shift
 			;;
 		--)
@@ -759,7 +747,7 @@ do
 		command=$1
 		;;
 	-q|--quiet)
-		quiet=1
+		GIT_QUIET=1
 		;;
 	-b|--branch)
 		case "$2" in