diff --git a/git.c b/git.c
index 86b0a88..89bce65 100644
--- a/git.c
+++ b/git.c
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@
 		{ "update-ref", cmd_update_ref, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "update-server-info", cmd_update_server_info, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "upload-archive", cmd_upload_archive },
-		{ "var", cmd_var },
+		{ "var", cmd_var, RUN_SETUP_GENTLY },
 		{ "verify-tag", cmd_verify_tag, RUN_SETUP },
 		{ "version", cmd_version },
 		{ "whatchanged", cmd_whatchanged, RUN_SETUP | USE_PAGER },