diff --git a/git-filter-branch.sh b/git-filter-branch.sh
index 804a7f4bc9..add2c0247f 100755
--- a/git-filter-branch.sh
+++ b/git-filter-branch.sh
@@ -108,9 +108,7 @@ OPTIONS_SPEC=
 . git-sh-setup
 
 if [ "$(is_bare_repository)" = false ]; then
-	git diff-files --ignore-submodules --quiet &&
-	git diff-index --cached --quiet HEAD -- ||
-	die "Cannot rewrite branch(es) with a dirty working directory."
+	require_clean_work_tree 'rewrite branches'
 fi
 
 tempdir=.git-rewrite