diff --git a/commands/command_checkout.go b/commands/command_checkout.go
index 3a560f99..1aa1ba49 100644
--- a/commands/command_checkout.go
+++ b/commands/command_checkout.go
@@ -21,10 +21,7 @@ var (
 )
 
 func checkoutCommand(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-	if !lfs.InRepo() {
-		Print("Not in a git repository.")
-		os.Exit(128)
-	}
+	requireInRepo()
 
 	// Parameters are filters
 	// firstly convert any pathspecs to the root of the repo, in case this is being executed in a sub-folder
diff --git a/commands/command_fetch.go b/commands/command_fetch.go
index 63c7a5e0..9bdf2963 100644
--- a/commands/command_fetch.go
+++ b/commands/command_fetch.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package commands
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"os"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/github/git-lfs/git"
@@ -24,12 +23,9 @@ var (
 )
 
 func fetchCommand(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-	var refs []*git.Ref
+	requireInRepo()
 
-	if !lfs.InRepo() {
-		Print("Not in a git repository.")
-		os.Exit(128)
-	}
+	var refs []*git.Ref
 
 	if len(args) > 0 {
 		// Remote is first arg
diff --git a/commands/command_fsck.go b/commands/command_fsck.go
index 1d500409..d87bf1ca 100644
--- a/commands/command_fsck.go
+++ b/commands/command_fsck.go
@@ -23,10 +23,7 @@ var (
 )
 
 func doFsck() (bool, error) {
-	if !lfs.InRepo() {
-		Print("Not in a git repository.")
-		os.Exit(128)
-	}
+	requireInRepo()
 
 	ref, err := git.CurrentRef()
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/commands/command_ls_files.go b/commands/command_ls_files.go
index afe68e73..8118e486 100644
--- a/commands/command_ls_files.go
+++ b/commands/command_ls_files.go
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 package commands
 
 import (
-	"os"
-
 	"github.com/github/git-lfs/git"
 	"github.com/github/git-lfs/lfs"
 	"github.com/github/git-lfs/vendor/_nuts/github.com/spf13/cobra"
@@ -17,10 +15,7 @@ var (
 )
 
 func lsFilesCommand(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-	if !lfs.InRepo() {
-		Print("Not in a git repository.")
-		os.Exit(128)
-	}
+	requireInRepo()
 
 	var ref string
 	var err error
diff --git a/commands/command_pull.go b/commands/command_pull.go
index 2bd46eff..348aef51 100644
--- a/commands/command_pull.go
+++ b/commands/command_pull.go
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 package commands
 
 import (
-	"os"
-
 	"github.com/github/git-lfs/git"
 	"github.com/github/git-lfs/lfs"
 	"github.com/github/git-lfs/vendor/_nuts/github.com/spf13/cobra"
@@ -19,10 +17,7 @@ var (
 )
 
 func pullCommand(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-	if !lfs.InRepo() {
-		Print("Not in a git repository.")
-		os.Exit(128)
-	}
+	requireInRepo()
 
 	if len(args) > 0 {
 		// Remote is first arg
diff --git a/commands/command_status.go b/commands/command_status.go
index 9991740b..8ad2d196 100644
--- a/commands/command_status.go
+++ b/commands/command_status.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package commands
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"os"
 
 	"github.com/github/git-lfs/git"
 	"github.com/github/git-lfs/lfs"
@@ -19,10 +18,7 @@ var (
 )
 
 func statusCommand(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-	if !lfs.InRepo() {
-		Print("Not in a git repository.")
-		os.Exit(128)
-	}
+	requireInRepo()
 
 	ref, err := git.CurrentRef()
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/commands/commands.go b/commands/commands.go
index ce1a90b3..2a4a3c4d 100644
--- a/commands/commands.go
+++ b/commands/commands.go
@@ -105,6 +105,13 @@ func requireStdin(msg string) {
 	}
 }
 
+func requireInRepo() {
+	if !lfs.InRepo() {
+		Print("Not in a git repository.")
+		os.Exit(128)
+	}
+}
+
 func handlePanic(err error) string {
 	if err == nil {
 		return ""