diff --git a/git-am.sh b/git-am.sh
index 65c634f77a..5f0f241ad0 100755
--- a/git-am.sh
+++ b/git-am.sh
@@ -469,9 +469,9 @@ do
 		"$GIT_DIR"/hooks/post-applypatch
 	fi
 
-	git gc --auto
-
 	go_next
 done
 
+git gc --auto
+
 rm -fr "$dotest"