diff --git a/git-rebase--interactive.sh b/git-rebase--interactive.sh
index fbe12a64ec..1ba98a2c67 100755
--- a/git-rebase--interactive.sh
+++ b/git-rebase--interactive.sh
@@ -753,8 +753,6 @@ esac
 git var GIT_COMMITTER_IDENT >/dev/null ||
 	die "You need to set your committer info first"
 
-require_clean_work_tree "rebase" "Please commit or stash them."
-
 run_pre_rebase_hook "$upstream_arg" "$@"
 
 comment_for_reflog start
diff --git a/git-rebase.sh b/git-rebase.sh
index 0f5f5fb206..265f01df27 100755
--- a/git-rebase.sh
+++ b/git-rebase.sh
@@ -511,10 +511,10 @@ case "$#" in
 esac
 orig_head=$branch
 
-test "$type" = interactive && run_interactive_rebase "$@"
-
 require_clean_work_tree "rebase" "Please commit or stash them."
 
+test "$type" = interactive && run_interactive_rebase "$@"
+
 # Now we are rebasing commits $upstream..$branch (or with --root,
 # everything leading up to $branch) on top of $onto