diff --git a/share/genbuild.sh b/share/genbuild.sh
index 2a7c5c888..7db5455f6 100755
--- a/share/genbuild.sh
+++ b/share/genbuild.sh
@@ -13,9 +13,13 @@ else
     exit 1
 fi
 
+git_check_in_repo() {
+    ! { git status --porcelain -uall --ignored "$@" 2>/dev/null || echo '??'; } | grep -q '?'
+}
+
 DESC=""
 SUFFIX=""
-if [ "${BITCOIN_GENBUILD_NO_GIT}" != "1" -a -e "$(which git 2>/dev/null)" -a "$(git rev-parse --is-inside-work-tree 2>/dev/null)" = "true" -a "$(git status --porcelain -u no --ignored "$0" | cut -b1)" != "?" ]; then
+if [ "${BITCOIN_GENBUILD_NO_GIT}" != "1" -a -e "$(which git 2>/dev/null)" -a "$(git rev-parse --is-inside-work-tree 2>/dev/null)" = "true" ] && git_check_in_repo share/genbuild.sh; then
     # clean 'dirty' status of touched files that haven't been modified
     git diff >/dev/null 2>/dev/null