diff --git a/Documentation/BreakingChanges.adoc b/Documentation/BreakingChanges.adoc
index af59c43f42c8e6..73bb939359c72e 100644
--- a/Documentation/BreakingChanges.adoc
+++ b/Documentation/BreakingChanges.adoc
@@ -216,6 +216,30 @@ would be significant, we may decide to defer this change to a subsequent minor
 release. This evaluation will also take into account our own experience with
 how painful it is to keep Rust an optional component.
 
+* The default value of `safe.bareRepository` will change from `all` to
+  `explicit`. It is all too easy for an attacker to trick a user into cloning a
+  repository that contains an embedded bare repository with malicious hooks
+  configured. If the user enters that subdirectory and runs any Git command, Git
+  discovers the bare repository and the hooks fire. The user does not even need
+  to run a Git command explicitly: many shell prompts run `git status` in the
+  background to display branch and dirty state information, and `git status` in
+  turn may invoke the fsmonitor hook if so configured, making the user
+  vulnerable the moment they `cd` into the directory. The `safe.bareRepository`
+  configuration variable was introduced in 8959555cee (setup_git_directory():
+  add an owner check for the top-level directory, 2022-03-02) with a default of
+  `all` to preserve backwards compatibility.
++
+Changing the default to `explicit` means that Git will refuse to work with bare
+repositories that are discovered implicitly by walking up the directory tree.
+Bare repositories specified explicitly via the `--git-dir` command-line option
+or the `GIT_DIR` environment variable continue to work regardless of this
+setting. Repositories that look like a `.git` directory, a worktree, or a
+submodule directory are also unaffected.
++
+Users who rely on implicit discovery of bare repositories can restore the
+previous behavior by setting `safe.bareRepository=all` in their global or
+system configuration.
+
 === Removals
 
 * Support for grafting commits has long been superseded by git-replace(1).
diff --git a/Documentation/config/safe.adoc b/Documentation/config/safe.adoc
index 2d45c98b12d951..5b1690aebe8f58 100644
--- a/Documentation/config/safe.adoc
+++ b/Documentation/config/safe.adoc
@@ -2,10 +2,12 @@ safe.bareRepository::
 	Specifies which bare repositories Git will work with. The currently
 	supported values are:
 +
-* `all`: Git works with all bare repositories. This is the default.
+* `all`: Git works with all bare repositories. This is the default in
+  Git 2.x.
 * `explicit`: Git only works with bare repositories specified via
   the top-level `--git-dir` command-line option, or the `GIT_DIR`
-  environment variable (see linkgit:git[1]).
+  environment variable (see linkgit:git[1]). This will be the default
+  in Git 3.0.
 +
 If you do not use bare repositories in your workflow, then it may be
 beneficial to set `safe.bareRepository` to `explicit` in your global
@@ -13,6 +15,10 @@ config. This will protect you from attacks that involve cloning a
 repository that contains a bare repository and running a Git command
 within that directory.
 +
+If you use bare repositories regularly and want to preserve the current
+behavior after upgrading to Git 3.0, set `safe.bareRepository` to `all`
+in your global or system config.
++
 This config setting is only respected in protected configuration (see
 <<SCOPES>>). This prevents untrusted repositories from tampering with
 this value.
diff --git a/setup.c b/setup.c
index 7ec4427368a2a7..17c0662076487e 100644
--- a/setup.c
+++ b/setup.c
@@ -1485,7 +1485,11 @@ static int allowed_bare_repo_cb(const char *key, const char *value,
 
 static enum allowed_bare_repo get_allowed_bare_repo(void)
 {
+#ifdef WITH_BREAKING_CHANGES
+	enum allowed_bare_repo result = ALLOWED_BARE_REPO_EXPLICIT;
+#else
 	enum allowed_bare_repo result = ALLOWED_BARE_REPO_ALL;
+#endif
 	git_protected_config(allowed_bare_repo_cb, &result);
 	return result;
 }
diff --git a/t/t0035-safe-bare-repository.sh b/t/t0035-safe-bare-repository.sh
index ae7ef092abf6d9..1d3d19f5b476a0 100755
--- a/t/t0035-safe-bare-repository.sh
+++ b/t/t0035-safe-bare-repository.sh
@@ -44,11 +44,16 @@ test_expect_success 'setup an embedded bare repo, secondary worktree and submodu
 	test_path_is_dir outer-repo/.git/modules/subn
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'safe.bareRepository unset' '
+test_expect_success !WITH_BREAKING_CHANGES 'safe.bareRepository unset' '
 	test_unconfig --global safe.bareRepository &&
 	expect_accepted_implicit -C outer-repo/bare-repo
 '
 
+test_expect_success WITH_BREAKING_CHANGES 'safe.bareRepository unset (defaults to explicit)' '
+	test_unconfig --global safe.bareRepository &&
+	expect_rejected -C outer-repo/bare-repo
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'safe.bareRepository=all' '
 	test_config_global safe.bareRepository all &&
 	expect_accepted_implicit -C outer-repo/bare-repo
@@ -63,7 +68,8 @@ test_expect_success 'safe.bareRepository in the repository' '
 	# safe.bareRepository must not be "explicit", otherwise
 	# git config fails with "fatal: not in a git directory" (like
 	# safe.directory)
-	test_config -C outer-repo/bare-repo safe.bareRepository all &&
+	test_when_finished "git config --file outer-repo/bare-repo/config --unset safe.bareRepository" &&
+	git config --file outer-repo/bare-repo/config safe.bareRepository all &&
 	test_config_global safe.bareRepository explicit &&
 	expect_rejected -C outer-repo/bare-repo
 '
diff --git a/t/t1300-config.sh b/t/t1300-config.sh
index 128971ee12fa6c..11fc976f3ab271 100755
--- a/t/t1300-config.sh
+++ b/t/t1300-config.sh
@@ -11,6 +11,13 @@ export GIT_TEST_DEFAULT_INITIAL_BRANCH_NAME
 . ./test-lib.sh
 . "$TEST_DIRECTORY"/lib-terminal.sh
 
+# test-lib.sh may have added global config (e.g. safe.bareRepository)
+# that would appear in "git config --list" output and break tests
+# that expect exact config contents.
+test_expect_success 'remove global config from test-lib.sh' '
+	test_might_fail git config --global --unset-all safe.bareRepository
+'
+
 for mode in legacy subcommands
 do
 
diff --git a/t/t1305-config-include.sh b/t/t1305-config-include.sh
index 6e51f892f320bb..f3892578e4ff86 100755
--- a/t/t1305-config-include.sh
+++ b/t/t1305-config-include.sh
@@ -350,9 +350,9 @@ test_expect_success 'conditional include, onbranch, implicit /** for /' '
 
 test_expect_success 'include cycles are detected' '
 	git init --bare cycle &&
-	git -C cycle config include.path cycle &&
+	git -C cycle --git-dir=. config include.path cycle &&
 	git config -f cycle/cycle include.path config &&
-	test_must_fail git -C cycle config --get-all test.value 2>stderr &&
+	test_must_fail git -C cycle --git-dir=. config --get-all test.value 2>stderr &&
 	grep "exceeded maximum include depth" stderr
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t3000-ls-files-others.sh b/t/t3000-ls-files-others.sh
index b41e7f0daa480d..b4f0fbfc55a0fe 100755
--- a/t/t3000-ls-files-others.sh
+++ b/t/t3000-ls-files-others.sh
@@ -53,16 +53,19 @@ test_expect_success 'setup: expected output' '
 
 test_expect_success 'ls-files --others' '
 	git ls-files --others >output &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig output &&
 	test_cmp expected1 output
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'ls-files --others --directory' '
 	git ls-files --others --directory >output &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig output &&
 	test_cmp expected2 output
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--no-empty-directory hides empty directory' '
 	git ls-files --others --directory --no-empty-directory >output &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig output &&
 	test_cmp expected3 output
 '
 
@@ -70,6 +73,7 @@ test_expect_success 'ls-files --others handles non-submodule .git' '
 	mkdir not-a-submodule &&
 	echo foo >not-a-submodule/.git &&
 	git ls-files -o >output &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig output &&
 	test_cmp expected1 output
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t3001-ls-files-others-exclude.sh b/t/t3001-ls-files-others-exclude.sh
index 4b676462852ab8..202fb8d9eacc2c 100755
--- a/t/t3001-ls-files-others-exclude.sh
+++ b/t/t3001-ls-files-others-exclude.sh
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git ls-files --others with various exclude options.' '
        --exclude-per-directory=.gitignore \
        --exclude-from=.git/ignore \
 	>output &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig output &&
 	test_cmp expect output
 '
 
@@ -84,6 +85,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git ls-files --others with \r\n line endings.' '
        --exclude-per-directory=.gitignore \
        --exclude-from=.git/ignore \
 	>output &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig output &&
 	test_cmp expect output
 '
 
@@ -99,6 +101,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git ls-files --others with various exclude options.' '
        --exclude-per-directory=.gitignore \
        --exclude-from=.git/ignore \
 	>output &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig output &&
 	test_cmp expect output
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t3002-ls-files-dashpath.sh b/t/t3002-ls-files-dashpath.sh
index 31462cb441ef2f..6acaadbd672cde 100755
--- a/t/t3002-ls-files-dashpath.sh
+++ b/t/t3002-ls-files-dashpath.sh
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ test_expect_success 'setup' '
 test_expect_success 'git ls-files without path restriction.' '
 	test_when_finished "rm -f expect" &&
 	git ls-files --others >output &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig output &&
 	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
 	--
 	-foo
@@ -63,6 +64,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git ls-files with path restriction with -- --.' '
 test_expect_success 'git ls-files with no path restriction.' '
 	test_when_finished "rm -f expect" &&
 	git ls-files --others -- >output &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig output &&
 	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
 	--
 	-foo
diff --git a/t/t3009-ls-files-others-nonsubmodule.sh b/t/t3009-ls-files-others-nonsubmodule.sh
index 963f3462b750b2..dc990c277bcaa8 100755
--- a/t/t3009-ls-files-others-nonsubmodule.sh
+++ b/t/t3009-ls-files-others-nonsubmodule.sh
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ test_expect_success 'setup: directories' '
 
 test_expect_success 'ls-files --others handles untracked git repositories' '
 	git ls-files -o >output &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig output &&
 	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
 	nonrepo-untracked-file/untracked
 	output
diff --git a/t/t3011-common-prefixes-and-directory-traversal.sh b/t/t3011-common-prefixes-and-directory-traversal.sh
index 3da5b2b6e795ec..455e97954d7721 100755
--- a/t/t3011-common-prefixes-and-directory-traversal.sh
+++ b/t/t3011-common-prefixes-and-directory-traversal.sh
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ test_expect_success 'setup' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'git ls-files -o shows the right entries' '
-	cat <<-EOF >expect &&
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
 	.gitignore
 	actual
 	an_ignored_dir/ignored
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git ls-files -o shows the right entries' '
 	untracked_repo/
 	EOF
 	git ls-files -o >actual &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t5601-clone.sh b/t/t5601-clone.sh
index d743d986c401a0..3dd229c1867244 100755
--- a/t/t5601-clone.sh
+++ b/t/t5601-clone.sh
@@ -813,7 +813,9 @@ test_expect_success 'clone with includeIf' '
 	test_when_finished "rm -rf repo \"$HTTPD_DOCUMENT_ROOT_PATH/repo.git\"" &&
 	git clone --bare --no-local src "$HTTPD_DOCUMENT_ROOT_PATH/repo.git" &&
 
-	test_when_finished "rm \"$HOME\"/.gitconfig" &&
+	test_when_finished "cp \"$HOME\"/.gitconfig.bak \
+		\"$HOME\"/.gitconfig 2>/dev/null || rm -f \"$HOME\"/.gitconfig" &&
+	cp "$HOME"/.gitconfig "$HOME"/.gitconfig.bak 2>/dev/null &&
 	cat >"$HOME"/.gitconfig <<-EOF &&
 	[includeIf "onbranch:something"]
 		path = /does/not/exist.inc
diff --git a/t/t7060-wtstatus.sh b/t/t7060-wtstatus.sh
index 0f4344c55e6421..942ddbbf0eca9e 100755
--- a/t/t7060-wtstatus.sh
+++ b/t/t7060-wtstatus.sh
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ export GIT_TEST_DEFAULT_INITIAL_BRANCH_NAME
 
 test_expect_success setup '
 	git config --global advice.statusuoption false &&
+	echo "/.gitconfig" >>.git/info/exclude &&
 	test_commit A &&
 	test_commit B oneside added &&
 	git checkout A^0 &&
@@ -221,7 +222,6 @@ test_expect_success 'status --branch with detached HEAD' '
 	git status --branch --porcelain >actual &&
 	cat >expected <<-EOF &&
 	## HEAD (no branch)
-	?? .gitconfig
 	?? actual
 	?? expect
 	?? expected
@@ -237,7 +237,6 @@ test_expect_success 'status --porcelain=v1 --branch with detached HEAD' '
 	git status --branch --porcelain=v1 >actual &&
 	cat >expected <<-EOF &&
 	## HEAD (no branch)
-	?? .gitconfig
 	?? actual
 	?? expect
 	?? expected
diff --git a/t/t7061-wtstatus-ignore.sh b/t/t7061-wtstatus-ignore.sh
index 2f9bea9793cec8..14ddaba2f3e7ea 100755
--- a/t/t7061-wtstatus-ignore.sh
+++ b/t/t7061-wtstatus-ignore.sh
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status untracked directory with --ignored' '
 	: >untracked/ignored &&
 	: >untracked/uncommitted &&
 	git status --porcelain --ignored >actual &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ test_expect_success 'same with gitignore starting with BOM' '
 	: >untracked/ignored &&
 	: >untracked/uncommitted &&
 	git status --porcelain --ignored >actual &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -40,18 +42,22 @@ test_expect_success 'status untracked files --ignored with pathspec (no match)'
 test_expect_success 'status untracked files --ignored with pathspec (literal match)' '
 	git status --porcelain --ignored -- untracked/ignored >actual &&
 	echo "!! untracked/ignored" >expected &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual &&
 	git status --porcelain --ignored -- untracked/uncommitted >actual &&
 	echo "?? untracked/uncommitted" >expected &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'status untracked files --ignored with pathspec (glob match)' '
 	git status --porcelain --ignored -- untracked/i\* >actual &&
 	echo "!! untracked/ignored" >expected &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual &&
 	git status --porcelain --ignored -- untracked/u\* >actual &&
 	echo "?? untracked/uncommitted" >expected &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -65,6 +71,7 @@ EOF
 
 test_expect_success 'status untracked directory with --ignored -u' '
 	git status --porcelain --ignored -u >actual &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 cat >expected <<\EOF
@@ -76,9 +83,11 @@ test_expect_success 'status of untracked directory with --ignored works with or
 	git status --porcelain --ignored >tmp &&
 	grep untracked/ tmp >actual &&
 	rm tmp &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual &&
 
 	git status --porcelain --ignored untracked/ >actual &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -89,6 +98,7 @@ EOF
 
 test_expect_success 'status prefixed untracked sub-directory with --ignored -u' '
 	git status --porcelain --ignored -u untracked/ >actual &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -104,6 +114,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status ignored directory with --ignore' '
 	mkdir ignored &&
 	: >ignored/uncommitted &&
 	git status --porcelain --ignored >actual &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -116,6 +127,7 @@ EOF
 
 test_expect_success 'status ignored directory with --ignore -u' '
 	git status --porcelain --ignored -u >actual &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -130,6 +142,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status empty untracked directory with --ignore' '
 	mkdir untracked-ignored &&
 	mkdir untracked-ignored/test &&
 	git status --porcelain --ignored >actual &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -141,6 +154,7 @@ EOF
 
 test_expect_success 'status empty untracked directory with --ignore -u' '
 	git status --porcelain --ignored -u >actual &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -155,6 +169,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status untracked directory with ignored files with --ignore
 	: >untracked-ignored/ignored &&
 	: >untracked-ignored/test/ignored &&
 	git status --porcelain --ignored >actual &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -168,6 +183,7 @@ EOF
 
 test_expect_success 'status untracked directory with ignored files with --ignore -u' '
 	git status --porcelain --ignored -u >actual &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -185,6 +201,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status ignored tracked directory with --ignore' '
 	git commit -m. &&
 	echo "tracked" >.gitignore &&
 	git status --porcelain --ignored >actual &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -196,6 +213,7 @@ EOF
 
 test_expect_success 'status ignored tracked directory with --ignore -u' '
 	git status --porcelain --ignored -u >actual &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -208,6 +226,7 @@ EOF
 test_expect_success 'status ignored tracked directory and ignored file with --ignore' '
 	echo "committed" >>.gitignore &&
 	git status --porcelain --ignored >actual &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -219,6 +238,7 @@ EOF
 
 test_expect_success 'status ignored tracked directory and ignored file with --ignore -u' '
 	git status --porcelain --ignored -u >actual &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -233,6 +253,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status ignored tracked directory and uncommitted file with
 	echo "tracked" >.gitignore &&
 	: >tracked/uncommitted &&
 	git status --porcelain --ignored >actual &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -245,6 +266,7 @@ EOF
 
 test_expect_success 'status ignored tracked directory and uncommitted file with --ignore -u' '
 	git status --porcelain --ignored -u >actual &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -260,6 +282,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status ignored tracked directory with uncommitted file in u
 	mkdir tracked/ignored &&
 	: >tracked/ignored/uncommitted &&
 	git status --porcelain --ignored >actual &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -272,6 +295,7 @@ EOF
 
 test_expect_success 'status ignored tracked directory with uncommitted file in untracked subdir with --ignore -u' '
 	git status --porcelain --ignored -u >actual &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -287,6 +311,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status ignored tracked directory with uncommitted file in t
 	git add -f tracked/ignored/committed &&
 	git commit -m. &&
 	git status --porcelain --ignored >actual &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -299,6 +324,7 @@ EOF
 
 test_expect_success 'status ignored tracked directory with uncommitted file in tracked subdir with --ignore -u' '
 	git status --porcelain --ignored -u >actual &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -310,6 +336,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status ignores submodule in excluded directory' '
 	git init tracked/submodule &&
 	test_commit -C tracked/submodule initial &&
 	git status --porcelain --ignored -u tracked/submodule >actual &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t7064-wtstatus-pv2.sh b/t/t7064-wtstatus-pv2.sh
index 8bbc5ce6d9886c..be6c931a9624bc 100755
--- a/t/t7064-wtstatus-pv2.sh
+++ b/t/t7064-wtstatus-pv2.sh
@@ -231,6 +231,7 @@ test_expect_success 'ignored files are printed with --ignored' '
 	EOF
 
 	git status --porcelain=v2 --ignored --untracked-files=all >actual &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t7104-reset-hard.sh b/t/t7104-reset-hard.sh
index 7948ec392b3599..c23d6e3f526c85 100755
--- a/t/t7104-reset-hard.sh
+++ b/t/t7104-reset-hard.sh
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 	rm -f hello &&
 	mkdir -p hello &&
 	>hello/world &&
-	test "$(git ls-files -o)" = hello/world
+	test "$(git ls-files -o --exclude-standard)" = hello/world
 
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t7508-status.sh b/t/t7508-status.sh
index a5e21bf8bffb45..5f76ec62d8dc47 100755
--- a/t/t7508-status.sh
+++ b/t/t7508-status.sh
@@ -263,6 +263,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status with gitignore' '
 	!! untracked
 	EOF
 	git status -s --ignored >output &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig output &&
 	test_cmp expect output &&
 
 	cat >expect <<\EOF &&
@@ -296,6 +297,7 @@ Ignored files:
 
 EOF
 	git status --ignored >output &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig output &&
 	test_cmp expect output
 '
 
@@ -328,6 +330,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status with gitignore (nothing untracked)' '
 	!! untracked
 	EOF
 	git status -s --ignored >output &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig output &&
 	test_cmp expect output &&
 
 	cat >expect <<\EOF &&
@@ -358,6 +361,7 @@ Ignored files:
 
 EOF
 	git status --ignored >output &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig output &&
 	test_cmp expect output
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t7521-ignored-mode.sh b/t/t7521-ignored-mode.sh
index a88b02b06ed342..7ea0b0d2f2a988 100755
--- a/t/t7521-ignored-mode.sh
+++ b/t/t7521-ignored-mode.sh
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ test_expect_success 'Verify behavior of status on directories with ignored files
 		dir/ignored/ignored_1.ign dir/ignored/ignored_2.ign &&
 
 	git status --porcelain=v2 --ignored=matching --untracked-files=all >output &&
+	test_filter_gitconfig output &&
 	test_cmp expect output
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t7900-maintenance.sh b/t/t7900-maintenance.sh
index 4700beacc18281..4358df04245a9a 100755
--- a/t/t7900-maintenance.sh
+++ b/t/t7900-maintenance.sh
@@ -101,8 +101,12 @@ test_expect_success "maintenance.autoDetach overrides gc.autoDetach" '
 test_expect_success 'register uses XDG_CONFIG_HOME config if it exists' '
 	test_when_finished rm -r .config/git/config &&
 	(
+		# Override HOME so that .gitconfig (which test-lib.sh may
+		# have created, e.g. to set safe.bareRepository) does not
+		# take precedence over the XDG location.
+		HOME=$PWD/must-not-exist &&
 		XDG_CONFIG_HOME=.config &&
-		export XDG_CONFIG_HOME &&
+		export HOME XDG_CONFIG_HOME &&
 		mkdir -p $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/git &&
 		>$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/git/config &&
 		git maintenance register &&
@@ -124,8 +128,12 @@ test_expect_success 'register does not need XDG_CONFIG_HOME config to exist' '
 test_expect_success 'unregister uses XDG_CONFIG_HOME config if it exists' '
 	test_when_finished rm -r .config/git/config &&
 	(
+		# Override HOME so that .gitconfig (which test-lib.sh may
+		# have created, e.g. to set safe.bareRepository) does not
+		# take precedence over the XDG location.
+		HOME=$PWD/must-not-exist &&
 		XDG_CONFIG_HOME=.config &&
-		export XDG_CONFIG_HOME &&
+		export HOME XDG_CONFIG_HOME &&
 		mkdir -p $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/git &&
 		>$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/git/config &&
 		git maintenance register &&
diff --git a/t/test-lib-functions.sh b/t/test-lib-functions.sh
index f3af10fb7e0205..0505da78e83527 100644
--- a/t/test-lib-functions.sh
+++ b/t/test-lib-functions.sh
@@ -2069,3 +2069,11 @@ test_trailing_hash () {
 test_redact_non_printables () {
     tr -d "\n\r" | tr "[\001-\040][\177-\377]" "."
 }
+
+# Remove .gitconfig entries from a file in place.  test-lib.sh may
+# create $HOME/.gitconfig (e.g. to set safe.bareRepository) which
+# can appear in ls-files or status output.
+test_filter_gitconfig () {
+	sed "/\\.gitconfig/d" "$1" >"$1.filtered" &&
+	mv "$1.filtered" "$1"
+}
diff --git a/t/test-lib.sh b/t/test-lib.sh
index 70fd3e9bafb800..b8726f4647705d 100644
--- a/t/test-lib.sh
+++ b/t/test-lib.sh
@@ -1597,6 +1597,12 @@ cd -P "$TRASH_DIRECTORY" || BAIL_OUT "cannot cd -P to \"$TRASH_DIRECTORY\""
 TRASH_DIRECTORY=$(pwd)
 HOME="$TRASH_DIRECTORY"
 
+if test -n "$WITH_BREAKING_CHANGES"
+then
+	git config --global safe.bareRepository all &&
+	echo "/.gitconfig" >>.git/info/exclude
+fi
+
 start_test_output "$0"
 
 # Convenience