diff --git a/git-pull.sh b/git-pull.sh
index 4d4fc77b056..ad442264cba 100755
--- a/git-pull.sh
+++ b/git-pull.sh
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ test true = "$rebase" && {
 	if ! git rev-parse -q --verify HEAD >/dev/null
 	then
 		# On an unborn branch
-		if test -f "$GIT_DIR/index"
+		if test -f "$(git rev-parse --git-path index)"
 		then
 			die "$(gettext "updating an unborn branch with changes added to the index")"
 		fi
diff --git a/git-stash.sh b/git-stash.sh
index d4cf818be94..b6d4b06c5f9 100755
--- a/git-stash.sh
+++ b/git-stash.sh
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ require_work_tree
 cd_to_toplevel
 
 TMP="$GIT_DIR/.git-stash.$$"
-TMPindex=${GIT_INDEX_FILE-"$GIT_DIR/index"}.stash.$$
+TMPindex=${GIT_INDEX_FILE-"$(git rev-parse --git-path index)"}.stash.$$
 trap 'rm -f "$TMP-"* "$TMPindex"' 0
 
 ref_stash=refs/stash