diff --git a/builtin/archive.c b/builtin/archive.c
index d2455237ce..5c3f5a4678 100644
--- a/builtin/archive.c
+++ b/builtin/archive.c
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include "parse-options.h"
 #include "pkt-line.h"
 #include "sideband.h"
+#include "config.h"
 
 static void create_output_file(const char *output_file)
 {
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@ int cmd_archive(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, local_opts, NULL,
 			     PARSE_OPT_KEEP_ALL);
 
diff --git a/builtin/bisect--helper.c b/builtin/bisect--helper.c
index 4b5fadcbe1..f6742e8077 100644
--- a/builtin/bisect--helper.c
+++ b/builtin/bisect--helper.c
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "parse-options.h"
 #include "bisect.h"
 #include "refs.h"
+#include "config.h"
 
 static GIT_PATH_FUNC(git_path_bisect_terms, "BISECT_TERMS")
 static GIT_PATH_FUNC(git_path_bisect_expected_rev, "BISECT_EXPECTED_REV")
@@ -129,6 +130,7 @@ int cmd_bisect__helper(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, options,
 			     git_bisect_helper_usage, 0);
 
diff --git a/builtin/bundle.c b/builtin/bundle.c
index d0de59b94f..da8c94123f 100644
--- a/builtin/bundle.c
+++ b/builtin/bundle.c
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "builtin.h"
 #include "cache.h"
 #include "bundle.h"
+#include "config.h"
 
 /*
  * Basic handler for bundle files to connect repositories via sneakernet.
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ int cmd_bundle(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	const char *cmd, *bundle_file;
 	int bundle_fd = -1;
 
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	if (argc < 3)
 		usage(builtin_bundle_usage);
 
diff --git a/builtin/check-ref-format.c b/builtin/check-ref-format.c
index bc67d3f0a8..abee1be472 100644
--- a/builtin/check-ref-format.c
+++ b/builtin/check-ref-format.c
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include "refs.h"
 #include "builtin.h"
 #include "strbuf.h"
+#include "config.h"
 
 static const char builtin_check_ref_format_usage[] =
 "git check-ref-format [--normalize] [<options>] <refname>\n"
@@ -58,6 +59,7 @@ int cmd_check_ref_format(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	int flags = 0;
 	const char *refname;
 
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
 		usage(builtin_check_ref_format_usage);
 
diff --git a/builtin/clone.c b/builtin/clone.c
index 40b6c10392..5c5be30e7a 100644
--- a/builtin/clone.c
+++ b/builtin/clone.c
@@ -901,6 +901,7 @@ int cmd_clone(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	struct refspec rs = REFSPEC_INIT_FETCH;
 	struct argv_array ref_prefixes = ARGV_ARRAY_INIT;
 
+	git_config(platform_core_config, NULL);
 	fetch_if_missing = 0;
 
 	packet_trace_identity("clone");
diff --git a/builtin/column.c b/builtin/column.c
index 5228ccf37a..a046a1d595 100644
--- a/builtin/column.c
+++ b/builtin/column.c
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ int cmd_column(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 
+	git_config(platform_core_config, NULL);
+
 	/* This one is special and must be the first one */
 	if (argc > 1 && starts_with(argv[1], "--command=")) {
 		command = argv[1] + 10;
diff --git a/builtin/credential.c b/builtin/credential.c
index 879acfbcda..d75dcdc64a 100644
--- a/builtin/credential.c
+++ b/builtin/credential.c
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "git-compat-util.h"
 #include "credential.h"
 #include "builtin.h"
+#include "config.h"
 
 static const char usage_msg[] =
 	"git credential [fill|approve|reject]";
@@ -10,6 +11,8 @@ int cmd_credential(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	const char *op;
 	struct credential c = CREDENTIAL_INIT;
 
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
+
 	if (argc != 2 || !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
 		usage(usage_msg);
 	op = argv[1];
diff --git a/builtin/fetch-pack.c b/builtin/fetch-pack.c
index 63e69a5801..1dc57094b4 100644
--- a/builtin/fetch-pack.c
+++ b/builtin/fetch-pack.c
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include "connect.h"
 #include "sha1-array.h"
 #include "protocol.h"
+#include "config.h"
 
 static const char fetch_pack_usage[] =
 "git fetch-pack [--all] [--stdin] [--quiet | -q] [--keep | -k] [--thin] "
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ int cmd_fetch_pack(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	struct string_list deepen_not = STRING_LIST_INIT_DUP;
 	struct packet_reader reader;
 
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	fetch_if_missing = 0;
 
 	packet_trace_identity("fetch-pack");
diff --git a/builtin/get-tar-commit-id.c b/builtin/get-tar-commit-id.c
index 2706fcfaf2..afb3dbf917 100644
--- a/builtin/get-tar-commit-id.c
+++ b/builtin/get-tar-commit-id.c
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include "tar.h"
 #include "builtin.h"
 #include "quote.h"
+#include "config.h"
 
 static const char builtin_get_tar_commit_id_usage[] =
 "git get-tar-commit-id";
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ int cmd_get_tar_commit_id(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (argc != 1)
 		usage(builtin_get_tar_commit_id_usage);
 
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	n = read_in_full(0, buffer, HEADERSIZE);
 	if (n < 0)
 		die_errno("git get-tar-commit-id: read error");
diff --git a/builtin/interpret-trailers.c b/builtin/interpret-trailers.c
index 8ae40dec47..48bfe7fb31 100644
--- a/builtin/interpret-trailers.c
+++ b/builtin/interpret-trailers.c
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "parse-options.h"
 #include "string-list.h"
 #include "trailer.h"
+#include "config.h"
 
 static const char * const git_interpret_trailers_usage[] = {
 	N_("git interpret-trailers [--in-place] [--trim-empty] [(--trailer <token>[(=|:)<value>])...] [<file>...]"),
@@ -112,6 +113,7 @@ int cmd_interpret_trailers(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, options,
 			     git_interpret_trailers_usage, 0);
 
diff --git a/builtin/log.c b/builtin/log.c
index e8e51068bd..c94ed5f1dc 100644
--- a/builtin/log.c
+++ b/builtin/log.c
@@ -2033,6 +2033,7 @@ int cmd_cherry(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, options, cherry_usage, 0);
 
 	switch (argc) {
diff --git a/builtin/ls-remote.c b/builtin/ls-remote.c
index 1d7f1f5ce2..e2b821f238 100644
--- a/builtin/ls-remote.c
+++ b/builtin/ls-remote.c
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include "ref-filter.h"
 #include "remote.h"
 #include "refs.h"
+#include "config.h"
 
 static const char * const ls_remote_usage[] = {
 	N_("git ls-remote [--heads] [--tags] [--refs] [--upload-pack=<exec>]\n"
@@ -84,6 +85,7 @@ int cmd_ls_remote(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			     PARSE_OPT_STOP_AT_NON_OPTION);
 	dest = argv[0];
 
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	if (argc > 1) {
 		int i;
 		pattern = xcalloc(argc, sizeof(const char *));
diff --git a/builtin/mailinfo.c b/builtin/mailinfo.c
index cfb667a594..150fe3d942 100644
--- a/builtin/mailinfo.c
+++ b/builtin/mailinfo.c
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include "utf8.h"
 #include "strbuf.h"
 #include "mailinfo.h"
+#include "config.h"
 
 static const char mailinfo_usage[] =
 	"git mailinfo [-k | -b] [-m | --message-id] [-u | --encoding=<encoding> | -n] [--scissors | --no-scissors] <msg> <patch> < mail >info";
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ int cmd_mailinfo(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	int status;
 	char *msgfile, *patchfile;
 
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	setup_mailinfo(&mi);
 
 	def_charset = get_commit_output_encoding();
diff --git a/builtin/mailsplit.c b/builtin/mailsplit.c
index 664400b816..472d2eb8a4 100644
--- a/builtin/mailsplit.c
+++ b/builtin/mailsplit.c
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include "builtin.h"
 #include "string-list.h"
 #include "strbuf.h"
+#include "config.h"
 
 static const char git_mailsplit_usage[] =
 "git mailsplit [-d<prec>] [-f<n>] [-b] [--keep-cr] -o<directory> [(<mbox>|<Maildir>)...]";
@@ -276,6 +277,7 @@ int cmd_mailsplit(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	const char **argp;
 	static const char *stdin_only[] = { "-", NULL };
 
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	for (argp = argv+1; *argp; argp++) {
 		const char *arg = *argp;
 
diff --git a/builtin/merge-index.c b/builtin/merge-index.c
index c99443b095..caaef0c03d 100644
--- a/builtin/merge-index.c
+++ b/builtin/merge-index.c
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "builtin.h"
 #include "run-command.h"
+#include "config.h"
 
 static const char *pgm;
 static int one_shot, quiet;
@@ -74,6 +75,8 @@ int cmd_merge_index(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	 */
 	signal(SIGCHLD, SIG_DFL);
 
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
+
 	if (argc < 3)
 		usage("git merge-index [-o] [-q] <merge-program> (-a | [--] [<filename>...])");
 
diff --git a/builtin/merge-tree.c b/builtin/merge-tree.c
index 70f6fc9167..9611d2597d 100644
--- a/builtin/merge-tree.c
+++ b/builtin/merge-tree.c
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include "blob.h"
 #include "exec-cmd.h"
 #include "merge-blobs.h"
+#include "config.h"
 
 static const char merge_tree_usage[] = "git merge-tree <base-tree> <branch1> <branch2>";
 
@@ -370,6 +371,7 @@ int cmd_merge_tree(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (argc != 4)
 		usage(merge_tree_usage);
 
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	buf1 = get_tree_descriptor(t+0, argv[1]);
 	buf2 = get_tree_descriptor(t+1, argv[2]);
 	buf3 = get_tree_descriptor(t+2, argv[3]);
diff --git a/builtin/mktag.c b/builtin/mktag.c
index 6fb7dc8578..ab9468713b 100644
--- a/builtin/mktag.c
+++ b/builtin/mktag.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include "tag.h"
 #include "replace-object.h"
 #include "object-store.h"
+#include "config.h"
 
 /*
  * A signature file has a very simple fixed format: four lines
@@ -158,6 +159,7 @@ int cmd_mktag(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (argc != 1)
 		usage("git mktag");
 
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	if (strbuf_read(&buf, 0, 4096) < 0) {
 		die_errno("could not read from stdin");
 	}
diff --git a/builtin/mktree.c b/builtin/mktree.c
index 94e82b8504..e1b175e0a2 100644
--- a/builtin/mktree.c
+++ b/builtin/mktree.c
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include "tree.h"
 #include "parse-options.h"
 #include "object-store.h"
+#include "config.h"
 
 static struct treeent {
 	unsigned mode;
@@ -157,6 +158,7 @@ int cmd_mktree(int ac, const char **av, const char *prefix)
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	ac = parse_options(ac, av, prefix, option, mktree_usage, 0);
 	getline_fn = nul_term_line ? strbuf_getline_nul : strbuf_getline_lf;
 
diff --git a/builtin/pack-refs.c b/builtin/pack-refs.c
index f3353564f9..ce8a5e0fc4 100644
--- a/builtin/pack-refs.c
+++ b/builtin/pack-refs.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include "parse-options.h"
 #include "refs.h"
 #include "repository.h"
+#include "config.h"
 
 static char const * const pack_refs_usage[] = {
 	N_("git pack-refs [<options>]"),
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ int cmd_pack_refs(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		OPT_BIT(0, "prune", &flags, N_("prune loose refs (default)"), PACK_REFS_PRUNE),
 		OPT_END(),
 	};
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	if (parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, opts, pack_refs_usage, 0))
 		usage_with_options(pack_refs_usage, opts);
 	return refs_pack_refs(get_main_ref_store(the_repository), flags);
diff --git a/builtin/prune-packed.c b/builtin/prune-packed.c
index a9e7b552b9..99189d2200 100644
--- a/builtin/prune-packed.c
+++ b/builtin/prune-packed.c
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include "parse-options.h"
 #include "packfile.h"
 #include "object-store.h"
+#include "config.h"
 
 static const char * const prune_packed_usage[] = {
 	N_("git prune-packed [-n | --dry-run] [-q | --quiet]"),
@@ -60,6 +61,7 @@ int cmd_prune_packed(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, prune_packed_options,
 			     prune_packed_usage, 0);
 
diff --git a/builtin/prune.c b/builtin/prune.c
index e42653b99c..8e35379de3 100644
--- a/builtin/prune.c
+++ b/builtin/prune.c
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include "parse-options.h"
 #include "progress.h"
 #include "object-store.h"
+#include "config.h"
 
 static const char * const prune_usage[] = {
 	N_("git prune [-n] [-v] [--progress] [--expire <time>] [--] [<head>...]"),
@@ -116,6 +117,8 @@ int cmd_prune(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	};
 	char *s;
 
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
+
 	expire = TIME_MAX;
 	save_commit_buffer = 0;
 	read_replace_refs = 0;
diff --git a/builtin/reflog.c b/builtin/reflog.c
index 7a85e4b164..b5cc3493c1 100644
--- a/builtin/reflog.c
+++ b/builtin/reflog.c
@@ -761,6 +761,7 @@ static const char reflog_usage[] =
 
 int cmd_reflog(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	if (argc > 1 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
 		usage(reflog_usage);
 
diff --git a/builtin/remote-ext.c b/builtin/remote-ext.c
index 6a9127a33c..4eb669fde4 100644
--- a/builtin/remote-ext.c
+++ b/builtin/remote-ext.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include "transport.h"
 #include "run-command.h"
 #include "pkt-line.h"
+#include "config.h"
 
 static const char usage_msg[] =
 	"git remote-ext <remote> <url>";
@@ -198,5 +199,6 @@ int cmd_remote_ext(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (argc != 3)
 		usage(usage_msg);
 
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	return command_loop(argv[2]);
 }
diff --git a/builtin/remote.c b/builtin/remote.c
index f7edf7f2cb..86b35e870b 100644
--- a/builtin/remote.c
+++ b/builtin/remote.c
@@ -1612,6 +1612,7 @@ int cmd_remote(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	};
 	int result;
 
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, options, builtin_remote_usage,
 		PARSE_OPT_STOP_AT_NON_OPTION);
 
diff --git a/builtin/rev-parse.c b/builtin/rev-parse.c
index 10d4dab894..1c788a93b9 100644
--- a/builtin/rev-parse.c
+++ b/builtin/rev-parse.c
@@ -424,6 +424,7 @@ static int cmd_parseopt(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	struct option *opts = NULL;
 	int onb = 0, osz = 0, unb = 0, usz = 0;
 
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	strbuf_addstr(&parsed, "set --");
 	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, parseopt_opts, parseopt_usage,
 	                     PARSE_OPT_KEEP_DASHDASH);
diff --git a/builtin/show-index.c b/builtin/show-index.c
index a6e678809e..a0a62f1ad6 100644
--- a/builtin/show-index.c
+++ b/builtin/show-index.c
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "builtin.h"
 #include "cache.h"
 #include "pack.h"
+#include "config.h"
 
 static const char show_index_usage[] =
 "git show-index";
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@ int cmd_show_index(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 
 	if (argc != 1)
 		usage(show_index_usage);
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	if (fread(top_index, 2 * 4, 1, stdin) != 1)
 		die("unable to read header");
 	if (top_index[0] == htonl(PACK_IDX_SIGNATURE)) {
diff --git a/builtin/show-ref.c b/builtin/show-ref.c
index ed888ffa48..224f6d6332 100644
--- a/builtin/show-ref.c
+++ b/builtin/show-ref.c
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include "tag.h"
 #include "string-list.h"
 #include "parse-options.h"
+#include "config.h"
 
 static const char * const show_ref_usage[] = {
 	N_("git show-ref [-q | --quiet] [--verify] [--head] [-d | --dereference] [-s | --hash[=<n>]] [--abbrev[=<n>]] [--tags] [--heads] [--] [<pattern>...]"),
@@ -182,6 +183,7 @@ static const struct option show_ref_options[] = {
 
 int cmd_show_ref(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, show_ref_options,
 			     show_ref_usage, 0);
 
diff --git a/builtin/stripspace.c b/builtin/stripspace.c
index bdf0328869..f4b867efec 100644
--- a/builtin/stripspace.c
+++ b/builtin/stripspace.c
@@ -45,10 +45,9 @@ int cmd_stripspace(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (argc)
 		usage_with_options(stripspace_usage, options);
 
-	if (mode == STRIP_COMMENTS || mode == COMMENT_LINES) {
+	if (mode == STRIP_COMMENTS || mode == COMMENT_LINES)
 		setup_git_directory_gently(NULL);
-		git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
-	}
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 
 	if (strbuf_read(&buf, 0, 1024) < 0)
 		die_errno("could not read the input");
diff --git a/builtin/submodule--helper.c b/builtin/submodule--helper.c
index d38113a31a..5ea17c916e 100644
--- a/builtin/submodule--helper.c
+++ b/builtin/submodule--helper.c
@@ -2215,6 +2215,7 @@ static struct cmd_struct commands[] = {
 int cmd_submodule__helper(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
 	int i;
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	if (argc < 2 || !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
 		usage("git submodule--helper <command>");
 
diff --git a/builtin/upload-archive.c b/builtin/upload-archive.c
index 018879737a..6876d7c90e 100644
--- a/builtin/upload-archive.c
+++ b/builtin/upload-archive.c
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include "sideband.h"
 #include "run-command.h"
 #include "argv-array.h"
+#include "config.h"
 
 static const char upload_archive_usage[] =
 	"git upload-archive <repo>";
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ int cmd_upload_archive_writer(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (!enter_repo(argv[1], 0))
 		die("'%s' does not appear to be a git repository", argv[1]);
 
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	init_archivers();
 
 	/* put received options in sent_argv[] */
@@ -79,6 +81,7 @@ int cmd_upload_archive(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
 	struct child_process writer = { argv };
 
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
 		usage(upload_archive_usage);
 
diff --git a/credential-store.c b/credential-store.c
index ac295420dd..fbbdb00668 100644
--- a/credential-store.c
+++ b/credential-store.c
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "credential.h"
 #include "string-list.h"
 #include "parse-options.h"
+#include "config.h"
 
 static struct lock_file credential_lock;
 
@@ -160,6 +161,8 @@ int cmd_main(int argc, const char **argv)
 
 	umask(077);
 
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
+
 	argc = parse_options(argc, (const char **)argv, NULL, options, usage, 0);
 	if (argc != 1)
 		usage_with_options(usage, options);
diff --git a/http-backend.c b/http-backend.c
index 9e894f197f..2a97b843de 100644
--- a/http-backend.c
+++ b/http-backend.c
@@ -777,6 +777,7 @@ int cmd_main(int argc, const char **argv)
 	setup_path();
 	if (!enter_repo(dir, 0))
 		not_found(&hdr, "Not a git repository: '%s'", dir);
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	if (!getenv("GIT_HTTP_EXPORT_ALL") &&
 	    access("git-daemon-export-ok", F_OK) )
 		not_found(&hdr, "Repository not exported: '%s'", dir);
diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index f9936355cd..cbc62ac63a 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -1284,7 +1284,7 @@ int parse_hide_refs_config(const char *var, const char *value, const char *secti
 		}
 		string_list_append(hide_refs, ref);
 	}
-	return 0;
+	return git_default_config(var, value, NULL);
 }
 
 int ref_is_hidden(const char *refname, const char *refname_full)