diff --git a/lib/r10k/git/shellgit/working_repository.rb b/lib/r10k/git/shellgit/working_repository.rb
index 58a259294..e4ad915c5 100644
--- a/lib/r10k/git/shellgit/working_repository.rb
+++ b/lib/r10k/git/shellgit/working_repository.rb
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ def dirty?(exclude_spec=true)
         logger.debug(_("Found local modifications in %{file_path}" % {file_path: File.join(@path, file)}))
 
         # Do this in a block so that the extra subprocess only gets invoked when needed.
-        logger.debug1 { git(['diff-index', '-p', 'HEAD', file], :path => @path.to_s, :raise_on_fail => false).stdout }
+        logger.debug1 { git(['diff-index', '-p', 'HEAD', '--', file], :path => @path.to_s, :raise_on_fail => false).stdout }
       end
 
       return dirty_files.size > 0