diff --git a/diff.c b/diff.c
index 3b0cda4..c78f7d5 100644
--- a/diff.c
+++ b/diff.c
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 int diff_auto_refresh_index = 1;
 static int diff_mnemonic_prefix;
 static int diff_no_prefix;
+static int diff_dirstat_percent_default = 3;
 static struct diff_options default_diff_options;
 
 static char diff_colors[][COLOR_MAXLEN] = {
@@ -180,6 +181,13 @@
 		return 0;
 	}
 
+	if (!strcmp(var, "diff.dirstat")) {
+		default_diff_options.dirstat_percent = diff_dirstat_percent_default;
+		(void) parse_dirstat_params(&default_diff_options, value);
+		diff_dirstat_percent_default = default_diff_options.dirstat_percent;
+		return 0;
+	}
+
 	if (!prefixcmp(var, "submodule."))
 		return parse_submodule_config_option(var, value);
 
@@ -2926,7 +2934,7 @@
 	options->line_termination = '\n';
 	options->break_opt = -1;
 	options->rename_limit = -1;
-	options->dirstat_percent = 3;
+	options->dirstat_percent = diff_dirstat_percent_default;
 	options->context = 3;
 
 	options->change = diff_change;