diff --git a/git.c b/git.c
index 2014aab6b8..181785ec47 100644
--- a/git.c
+++ b/git.c
@@ -62,6 +62,13 @@ static int list_cmds(const char *spec)
 {
 	struct string_list list = STRING_LIST_INIT_DUP;
 	int i;
+	int nongit;
+
+	/*
+	* Set up the repository so we can pick up any repo-level config (like
+	* completion.commands).
+	*/
+	setup_git_directory_gently(&nongit);
 
 	while (*spec) {
 		const char *sep = strchrnul(spec, ',');
diff --git a/help.c b/help.c
index 520c9080e8..fac7e421d0 100644
--- a/help.c
+++ b/help.c
@@ -375,13 +375,6 @@ void list_cmds_by_config(struct string_list *list)
 {
 	const char *cmd_list;
 
-	/*
-	 * There's no actual repository setup at this point (and even
-	 * if there is, we don't really care; only global config
-	 * matters). If we accidentally set up a repository, it's ok
-	 * too since the caller (git --list-cmds=) should exit shortly
-	 * anyway.
-	 */
 	if (git_config_get_string_const("completion.commands", &cmd_list))
 		return;