diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index 074bd9a..6637a92 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ static void determine_whence(struct wt_status *s)
 
 static void status_init_config(struct wt_status *s, config_fn_t fn)
 {
-	wt_status_prepare(s);
+	wt_status_prepare(the_repository, s);
 	init_diff_ui_defaults();
 	git_config(fn, s);
 	determine_whence(s);