diff --git a/git.c b/git.c
index 5feba410ca..40f9df0897 100644
--- a/git.c
+++ b/git.c
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ static struct cmd_struct commands[] = {
 	{ "index-pack", cmd_index_pack, RUN_SETUP_GENTLY },
 	{ "init", cmd_init_db, NO_SETUP },
 	{ "init-db", cmd_init_db, NO_SETUP },
-	{ "interpret-trailers", cmd_interpret_trailers, RUN_SETUP },
+	{ "interpret-trailers", cmd_interpret_trailers, RUN_SETUP_GENTLY },
 	{ "log", cmd_log, RUN_SETUP },
 	{ "ls-files", cmd_ls_files, RUN_SETUP },
 	{ "ls-remote", cmd_ls_remote, RUN_SETUP_GENTLY },