diff --git a/connect.c b/connect.c
index e296bfca18..3450cabd0e 100644
--- a/connect.c
+++ b/connect.c
@@ -629,7 +629,8 @@ char *git_getpass(const char *prompt)
 	askpass = getenv("GIT_ASKPASS");
 	if (!askpass)
 		askpass = askpass_program;
-
+	if (!askpass)
+		askpass = getenv("SSH_ASKPASS");
 	if (!askpass || !(*askpass))
 		return getpass(prompt);
 
diff --git a/git.c b/git.c
index 17538117a5..19a93fb9a2 100644
--- a/git.c
+++ b/git.c
@@ -55,9 +55,6 @@ static int handle_options(const char ***argv, int *argc, int *envchanged)
 {
 	int handled = 0;
 
-	if (!getenv("GIT_ASKPASS") && getenv("SSH_ASKPASS"))
-		setenv("GIT_ASKPASS", getenv("SSH_ASKPASS"), 1);
-
 	while (*argc > 0) {
 		const char *cmd = (*argv)[0];
 		if (cmd[0] != '-')