diff --git a/patch-git.lua b/patch-git.lua
index f95800e..04cb061 100644
--- a/patch-git.lua
+++ b/patch-git.lua
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ local function generate_files()
    -- True if %_sourcedir refers to a Git repository and git is installed.
    local have_git = (posix == nil -- Not running under rpm.
                      or (posix.access('/usr/bin/git', 'x')
-                         and posix.access(sourcedir .. '/.git/.', 'x')))
+                         and posix.access(sourcedir .. '/.git', 'r')))
    local commit_marker_contents -- For git_commit_file.
    if have_git then
       commit_marker_contents =