diff --git a/git.c b/git.c
index 90c6daf153..f09948eed9 100644
--- a/git.c
+++ b/git.c
@@ -54,6 +54,9 @@ static int handle_options(const char ***argv, int *argc, int *envchanged)
 {
 	int handled = 0;
 
+	if (!getenv("GIT_ASKPASS") && getenv("SSH_ASKPASS"))
+		setenv("GIT_ASKPASS", getenv("SSH_ASKPASS"), 1);
+
 	while (*argc > 0) {
 		const char *cmd = (*argv)[0];
 		if (cmd[0] != '-')