diff --git a/src/repository.c b/src/repository.c
index f49a25124..daf9ee424 100644
--- a/src/repository.c
+++ b/src/repository.c
@@ -1723,7 +1723,7 @@ int git_repository_set_bare(git_repository *repo)
 	if ((error = git_repository_config__weakptr(&config, repo)) < 0)
 		return error;
 
-	if ((error = git_config_set_bool(config, "core.bare", false)) < 0)
+	if ((error = git_config_set_bool(config, "core.bare", true)) < 0)
 		return error;
 
 	if ((error = git_config__update_entry(config, "core.worktree", NULL, true, true)) < 0)