diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index 1a0da71..a8ef73d 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -1385,7 +1385,10 @@ int cmd_status(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	read_cache_preload(&s.pathspec);
 	refresh_index(&the_index, REFRESH_QUIET|REFRESH_UNMERGED, &s.pathspec, NULL, NULL);
 
-	fd = hold_locked_index(&index_lock, 0);
+	if (use_optional_locks())
+		fd = hold_locked_index(&index_lock, 0);
+	else
+		fd = -1;
 
 	s.is_initial = get_sha1(s.reference, oid.hash) ? 1 : 0;
 	if (!s.is_initial)