diff --git a/contrib/subtree/git-subtree.sh b/contrib/subtree/git-subtree.sh
index 89f1eb756f..d91a967907 100755
--- a/contrib/subtree/git-subtree.sh
+++ b/contrib/subtree/git-subtree.sh
@@ -374,10 +374,10 @@ try_remove_previous () {
 # Usage: find_latest_squash DIR
 find_latest_squash () {
 	assert test $# = 1
+	dir="$1"
 	debug "Looking for latest squash ($dir)..."
 	local indent=$(($indent + 1))
 
-	dir="$1"
 	sq=
 	main=
 	sub=