diff --git a/builtin-rm.c b/builtin-rm.c
index 22c9bd1..abdab7f 100644
--- a/builtin-rm.c
+++ b/builtin-rm.c
@@ -146,11 +146,6 @@
 
 	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 
-	newfd = hold_locked_index(&lock_file, 1);
-
-	if (read_cache() < 0)
-		die("index file corrupt");
-
 	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, builtin_rm_options, builtin_rm_usage, 0);
 	if (!argc)
 		usage_with_options(builtin_rm_usage, builtin_rm_options);
@@ -158,6 +153,11 @@
 	if (!index_only)
 		setup_work_tree();
 
+	newfd = hold_locked_index(&lock_file, 1);
+
+	if (read_cache() < 0)
+		die("index file corrupt");
+
 	pathspec = get_pathspec(prefix, argv);
 	seen = NULL;
 	for (i = 0; pathspec[i] ; i++)