diff --git a/cache.h b/cache.h
index fcf49706ad..a46a3e4b6b 100644
--- a/cache.h
+++ b/cache.h
@@ -606,6 +606,18 @@ void set_git_work_tree(const char *tree);
 
 #define ALTERNATE_DB_ENVIRONMENT "GIT_ALTERNATE_OBJECT_DIRECTORIES"
 
+/*
+ * Check if a repository is safe and die if it is not, by verifying the
+ * ownership of the worktree (if any), the git directory, and the gitfile (if
+ * any).
+ *
+ * Exemptions for known-safe repositories can be added via `safe.directory`
+ * config settings; for non-bare repositories, their worktree needs to be
+ * added, for bare ones their git directory.
+ */
+void die_upon_dubious_ownership(const char *gitfile, const char *worktree,
+				const char *gitdir);
+
 void setup_work_tree(void);
 /*
  * Find the commondir and gitdir of the repository that contains the current
diff --git a/setup.c b/setup.c
index cefd5f63c4..9d401ae4c8 100644
--- a/setup.c
+++ b/setup.c
@@ -1165,6 +1165,27 @@ static int ensure_valid_ownership(const char *gitfile,
 	return data.is_safe;
 }
 
+void die_upon_dubious_ownership(const char *gitfile, const char *worktree,
+				const char *gitdir)
+{
+	struct strbuf report = STRBUF_INIT, quoted = STRBUF_INIT;
+	const char *path;
+
+	if (ensure_valid_ownership(gitfile, worktree, gitdir, &report))
+		return;
+
+	strbuf_complete(&report, '\n');
+	path = gitfile ? gitfile : gitdir;
+	sq_quote_buf_pretty(&quoted, path);
+
+	die(_("detected dubious ownership in repository at '%s'\n"
+	      "%s"
+	      "To add an exception for this directory, call:\n"
+	      "\n"
+	      "\tgit config --global --add safe.directory %s"),
+	    path, report.buf, quoted.buf);
+}
+
 static int allowed_bare_repo_cb(const char *key, const char *value, void *d)
 {
 	enum allowed_bare_repo *allowed_bare_repo = d;