diff --git a/t/t1305-config-include.sh b/t/t1305-config-include.sh
index 6e51f892f3..f3892578e4 100755
--- a/t/t1305-config-include.sh
+++ b/t/t1305-config-include.sh
@@ -350,9 +350,9 @@ test_expect_success 'conditional include, onbranch, implicit /** for /' '
 
 test_expect_success 'include cycles are detected' '
 	git init --bare cycle &&
-	git -C cycle config include.path cycle &&
+	git -C cycle --git-dir=. config include.path cycle &&
 	git config -f cycle/cycle include.path config &&
-	test_must_fail git -C cycle config --get-all test.value 2>stderr &&
+	test_must_fail git -C cycle --git-dir=. config --get-all test.value 2>stderr &&
 	grep "exceeded maximum include depth" stderr
 '