diff --git a/builtin-merge.c b/builtin-merge.c
index b6b84286b2..e95c5dc717 100644
--- a/builtin-merge.c
+++ b/builtin-merge.c
@@ -840,7 +840,6 @@ int cmd_merge(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	const char *best_strategy = NULL, *wt_strategy = NULL;
 	struct commit_list **remotes = &remoteheads;
 
-	setup_work_tree();
 	if (file_exists(git_path("MERGE_HEAD")))
 		die("You have not concluded your merge. (MERGE_HEAD exists)");
 	if (read_cache_unmerged())