diff --git a/help.c b/help.c
index bc6cd19cf3..91ec8ab36f 100644
--- a/help.c
+++ b/help.c
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ const char *help_unknown_cmd(const char *cmd)
 	memset(&other_cmds, 0, sizeof(other_cmds));
 	memset(&aliases, 0, sizeof(aliases));
 
-	git_config(git_unknown_cmd_config, NULL);
+	read_early_config(git_unknown_cmd_config, NULL);
 
 	load_command_list("git-", &main_cmds, &other_cmds);