diff --git a/bin/git-vendor b/bin/git-vendor
index c10d08a..3c12cf9 100755
--- a/bin/git-vendor
+++ b/bin/git-vendor
@@ -16,14 +16,14 @@ Usage:
 EOF
 }
 
+case "$1" in
+    ""|"-h"|"--help") _usage && exit ;;
+esac
+
 PATH=$PATH:$(git --exec-path)
 . git-sh-setup
 require_work_tree
 
-case "$1" in
-    ""|"--help") _usage && exit ;;
-esac
-
 command="$1"
 shift
 case "$command" in