diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index 0f518c957c..0248c6d8a5 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -134,6 +134,41 @@ static int get_value(config_fn_t fn, char *name, unsigned int len)
 	return fn(name, value);
 }
 
+static int get_extended_base_var(char *name, int baselen, int c)
+{
+	do {
+		if (c == '\n')
+			return -1;
+		c = get_next_char();
+	} while (isspace(c));
+
+	/* We require the format to be '[base "extension"]' */
+	if (c != '"')
+		return -1;
+	name[baselen++] = '.';
+
+	for (;;) {
+		int c = get_next_char();
+		if (c == '\n')
+			return -1;
+		if (c == '"')
+			break;
+		if (c == '\\') {
+			c = get_next_char();
+			if (c == '\n')
+				return -1;
+		}
+		name[baselen++] = c;
+		if (baselen > MAXNAME / 2)
+			return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* Final ']' */
+	if (get_next_char() != ']')
+		return -1;
+	return baselen;
+}
+
 static int get_base_var(char *name)
 {
 	int baselen = 0;
@@ -144,6 +179,8 @@ static int get_base_var(char *name)
 			return -1;
 		if (c == ']')
 			return baselen;
+		if (isspace(c))
+			return get_extended_base_var(name, baselen, c);
 		if (!isalnum(c) && c != '.')
 			return -1;
 		if (baselen > MAXNAME / 2)
@@ -335,10 +372,12 @@ static int store_aux(const char* key, const char* value)
 			store.offset[store.seen] = ftell(config_file);
 			store.state = KEY_SEEN;
 			store.seen++;
-		} else if (strrchr(key, '.') - key == store.baselen &&
+		} else {
+			if (strrchr(key, '.') - key == store.baselen &&
 			      !strncmp(key, store.key, store.baselen)) {
 					store.state = SECTION_SEEN;
 					store.offset[store.seen] = ftell(config_file);
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	return 0;
@@ -346,8 +385,30 @@ static int store_aux(const char* key, const char* value)
 
 static void store_write_section(int fd, const char* key)
 {
+	const char *dot = strchr(key, '.');
+	int len1 = store.baselen, len2 = -1;
+
+	dot = strchr(key, '.');
+	if (dot) {
+		int dotlen = dot - key;
+		if (dotlen < len1) {
+			len2 = len1 - dotlen - 1;
+			len1 = dotlen;
+		}
+	}
+
 	write(fd, "[", 1);
-	write(fd, key, store.baselen);
+	write(fd, key, len1);
+	if (len2 >= 0) {
+		write(fd, " \"", 2);
+		while (--len2 >= 0) {
+			unsigned char c = *++dot;
+			if (c == '"')
+				write(fd, "\\", 1);
+			write(fd, &c, 1);
+		}
+		write(fd, "\"", 1);
+	}
 	write(fd, "]\n", 2);
 }
 
@@ -421,7 +482,7 @@ int git_config_set(const char* key, const char* value)
 int git_config_set_multivar(const char* key, const char* value,
 	const char* value_regex, int multi_replace)
 {
-	int i;
+	int i, dot;
 	int fd = -1, in_fd;
 	int ret;
 	char* config_filename = strdup(git_path("config"));
@@ -446,16 +507,23 @@ int git_config_set_multivar(const char* key, const char* value,
 	 * Validate the key and while at it, lower case it for matching.
 	 */
 	store.key = (char*)malloc(strlen(key)+1);
-	for (i = 0; key[i]; i++)
-		if (i != store.baselen &&
-				((!isalnum(key[i]) && key[i] != '.') ||
-				 (i == store.baselen+1 && !isalpha(key[i])))) {
-			fprintf(stderr, "invalid key: %s\n", key);
-			free(store.key);
-			ret = 1;
-			goto out_free;
-		} else
-			store.key[i] = tolower(key[i]);
+	dot = 0;
+	for (i = 0; key[i]; i++) {
+		unsigned char c = key[i];
+		if (c == '.')
+			dot = 1;
+		/* Leave the extended basename untouched.. */
+		if (!dot || i > store.baselen) {
+			if (!isalnum(c) || (i == store.baselen+1 && !isalpha(c))) {
+				fprintf(stderr, "invalid key: %s\n", key);
+				free(store.key);
+				ret = 1;
+				goto out_free;
+			}
+			c = tolower(c);
+		}
+		store.key[i] = c;
+	}
 	store.key[i] = 0;
 
 	/*
diff --git a/repo-config.c b/repo-config.c
index c5ebb7668a..58b6c5284f 100644
--- a/repo-config.c
+++ b/repo-config.c
@@ -48,11 +48,13 @@ static int show_config(const char* key_, const char* value_)
 static int get_value(const char* key_, const char* regex_)
 {
 	int i;
+	char *tl;
 
-	key = malloc(strlen(key_)+1);
-	for (i = 0; key_[i]; i++)
-		key[i] = tolower(key_[i]);
-	key[i] = 0;
+	key = strdup(key_);
+	for (tl=key+strlen(key)-1; tl >= key && *tl != '.'; --tl)
+		*tl = tolower(*tl);
+	for (tl=key; *tl && *tl != '.'; ++tl)
+		*tl = tolower(*tl);
 
 	if (regex_) {
 		if (regex_[0] == '!') {
diff --git a/t/t1300-repo-config.sh b/t/t1300-repo-config.sh
index ab4dd5c4ce..028d15956b 100755
--- a/t/t1300-repo-config.sh
+++ b/t/t1300-repo-config.sh
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ test_expect_failure 'invalid key' 'git-repo-config inval.2key blabla'
 test_expect_success 'correct key' 'git-repo-config 123456.a123 987'
 
 test_expect_success 'hierarchical section' \
-	'git-repo-config 1.2.3.alpha beta'
+	'git-repo-config Version.1.2.3eX.Alpha beta'
 
 cat > expect << EOF
 [beta] ; silly comment # another comment
@@ -241,8 +241,8 @@ noIndent= sillyValue ; 'nother silly comment
 	NoNewLine = wow2 for me
 [123456]
 	a123 = 987
-[1.2.3]
-	alpha = beta
+[Version "1.2.3eX"]
+	Alpha = beta
 EOF
 
 test_expect_success 'hierarchical section value' 'cmp .git/config expect'