diff --git a/merge-ort.c b/merge-ort.c
index 60b4675f39..00923ce3cd 100644
--- a/merge-ort.c
+++ b/merge-ort.c
@@ -53,6 +53,14 @@
 #include "unpack-trees.h"
 #include "xdiff-interface.h"
 
+/*
+ * We technically need USE_THE_REPOSITORY_VARIABLE above for DEFAULT_ABBREV,
+ * but do not want more uses of the_repository.  Prevent them.
+ *
+ * opt->repo is available; use it instead.
+ */
+#define the_repository DO_NOT_USE_THE_REPOSITORY
+
 /*
  * We have many arrays of size 3.  Whenever we have such an array, the
  * indices refer to one of the sides of the three-way merge.  This is so