diff --git a/pkg/gui/recent_repos_panel.go b/pkg/gui/recent_repos_panel.go
index d9174e0d1..dba8ac260 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/recent_repos_panel.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/recent_repos_panel.go
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ func (gui *Gui) handleCreateRecentReposMenu() error {
 				yellow.Sprint(innerPath),
 			},
 			onPress: func() error {
+				os.Unsetenv("GIT_WORK_TREE")
+				os.Unsetenv("GIT_DIR")
 				if err := os.Chdir(innerPath); err != nil {
 					return err
 				}