diff --git a/src/repository.c b/src/repository.c
index 92eb6e11d..f82dc108b 100644
--- a/src/repository.c
+++ b/src/repository.c
@@ -489,6 +489,8 @@ static int load_config(
 		error != GIT_ENOTFOUND)
 		goto on_error;
 
+	giterr_clear(); /* clear any lingering ENOTFOUND errors */
+
 	*out = cfg;
 	return 0;