diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index 156f2a24fa..7d5dae0e84 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -235,23 +235,20 @@ static int prepare_include_condition_pattern(const struct key_value_info *kvi,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int include_by_gitdir(const struct key_value_info *kvi,
-			     const struct config_options *opts,
-			     const char *cond, size_t cond_len, int icase)
+static int include_by_path(const struct key_value_info *kvi,
+			   const char *path,
+			   const char *cond, size_t cond_len, int icase)
 {
 	struct strbuf text = STRBUF_INIT;
 	struct strbuf pattern = STRBUF_INIT;
 	size_t prefix;
 	int ret = 0;
-	const char *git_dir;
 	int already_tried_absolute = 0;
 
-	if (opts->git_dir)
-		git_dir = opts->git_dir;
-	else
+	if (!path)
 		goto done;
 
-	strbuf_realpath(&text, git_dir, 1);
+	strbuf_realpath(&text, path, 1);
 	strbuf_add(&pattern, cond, cond_len);
 	ret = prepare_include_condition_pattern(kvi, &pattern, &prefix);
 	if (ret < 0)
@@ -284,7 +281,7 @@ again:
 		 * which'll do the right thing
 		 */
 		strbuf_reset(&text);
-		strbuf_add_absolute_path(&text, git_dir);
+		strbuf_add_absolute_path(&text, path);
 		already_tried_absolute = 1;
 		goto again;
 	}
@@ -400,9 +397,9 @@ static int include_condition_is_true(const struct key_value_info *kvi,
 	const struct config_options *opts = inc->opts;
 
 	if (skip_prefix_mem(cond, cond_len, "gitdir:", &cond, &cond_len))
-		return include_by_gitdir(kvi, opts, cond, cond_len, 0);
+		return include_by_path(kvi, opts->git_dir, cond, cond_len, 0);
 	else if (skip_prefix_mem(cond, cond_len, "gitdir/i:", &cond, &cond_len))
-		return include_by_gitdir(kvi, opts, cond, cond_len, 1);
+		return include_by_path(kvi, opts->git_dir, cond, cond_len, 1);
 	else if (skip_prefix_mem(cond, cond_len, "onbranch:", &cond, &cond_len))
 		return include_by_branch(inc, cond, cond_len);
 	else if (skip_prefix_mem(cond, cond_len, "hasconfig:remote.*.url:", &cond,