diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index 831c9eacb0..08437f75e5 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -300,13 +300,14 @@ done:
 	return ret;
 }
 
-static int include_by_branch(const char *cond, size_t cond_len)
+static int include_by_branch(struct config_include_data *data,
+			     const char *cond, size_t cond_len)
 {
 	int flags;
 	int ret;
 	struct strbuf pattern = STRBUF_INIT;
-	const char *refname = !the_repository->gitdir ?
-		NULL : refs_resolve_ref_unsafe(get_main_ref_store(the_repository),
+	const char *refname = (!data->repo || !data->repo->gitdir) ?
+		NULL : refs_resolve_ref_unsafe(get_main_ref_store(data->repo),
 					       "HEAD", 0, NULL, &flags);
 	const char *shortname;
 
@@ -406,7 +407,7 @@ static int include_condition_is_true(const struct key_value_info *kvi,
 	else if (skip_prefix_mem(cond, cond_len, "gitdir/i:", &cond, &cond_len))
 		return include_by_gitdir(kvi, opts, cond, cond_len, 1);
 	else if (skip_prefix_mem(cond, cond_len, "onbranch:", &cond, &cond_len))
-		return include_by_branch(cond, cond_len);
+		return include_by_branch(inc, cond, cond_len);
 	else if (skip_prefix_mem(cond, cond_len, "hasconfig:remote.*.url:", &cond,
 				   &cond_len))
 		return include_by_remote_url(inc, cond, cond_len);