diff --git a/t/t5509-fetch-push-namespaces.sh b/t/t5509-fetch-push-namespaces.sh
index 75cbfcc392..e3975bd21d 100755
--- a/t/t5509-fetch-push-namespaces.sh
+++ b/t/t5509-fetch-push-namespaces.sh
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 	) &&
 	commit0=$(cd original && git rev-parse HEAD^) &&
 	commit1=$(cd original && git rev-parse HEAD) &&
-	git init pushee &&
+	git init --bare pushee &&
 	git init puller
 '