diff --git a/packfile.c b/packfile.c
index 94987634e5..b789d0f0a3 100644
--- a/packfile.c
+++ b/packfile.c
@@ -735,7 +735,8 @@ static void report_pack_garbage(struct string_list *list)
 	report_helper(list, seen_bits, first, list->nr);
 }
 
-static void prepare_packed_git_one(char *objdir, int local)
+#define prepare_packed_git_one(r, o, l) prepare_packed_git_one_##r(o, l)
+static void prepare_packed_git_one_the_repository(char *objdir, int local)
 {
 	struct strbuf path = STRBUF_INIT;
 	size_t dirnamelen;
@@ -889,10 +890,10 @@ void prepare_packed_git(void)
 
 	if (the_repository->objects->packed_git_initialized)
 		return;
-	prepare_packed_git_one(get_object_directory(), 1);
+	prepare_packed_git_one(the_repository, get_object_directory(), 1);
 	prepare_alt_odb(the_repository);
 	for (alt = the_repository->objects->alt_odb_list; alt; alt = alt->next)
-		prepare_packed_git_one(alt->path, 0);
+		prepare_packed_git_one(the_repository, alt->path, 0);
 	rearrange_packed_git(the_repository);
 	prepare_packed_git_mru(the_repository);
 	the_repository->objects->packed_git_initialized = 1;