diff --git a/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash b/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash
index 00691fcd82..10c1b83aa9 100755
--- a/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash
+++ b/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash
@@ -2608,9 +2608,11 @@ _git ()
 	if [[ -n ${ZSH_VERSION-} ]]; then
 		emulate -L bash
 		setopt KSH_TYPESET
+	else
+		local words
 	fi
 
-	local cur words cword prev
+	local cur cword prev
 	_get_comp_words_by_ref -n =: cur words cword prev
 	while [ $c -lt $cword ]; do
 		i="${words[c]}"
@@ -2659,9 +2661,11 @@ _gitk ()
 	if [[ -n ${ZSH_VERSION-} ]]; then
 		emulate -L bash
 		setopt KSH_TYPESET
+	else
+		local words
 	fi
 
-	local cur words cword prev
+	local cur cword prev
 	_get_comp_words_by_ref -n =: cur words cword prev
 
 	__git_has_doubledash && return