diff --git a/docs/content/en/variables/git.md b/docs/content/en/variables/git.md
index 59ee9ac889e..acfd17c11b8 100644
--- a/docs/content/en/variables/git.md
+++ b/docs/content/en/variables/git.md
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ Hugo's Git integrations should be fairly performant but *can* increase your buil
 
 ## `.GitInfo` Prerequisites
 
-1. The Hugo site must be in a Git-enabled directory.
+1. The global `contentDir` must be in a Git-enabled directory. Any language-specific `contentDir` must be in the same repo as the global `contentDir`.
 2. The Git executable must be installed and in your system `PATH`.
 3. The `.GitInfo` feature must be enabled in your Hugo project by passing `--enableGitInfo` flag on the command line or by setting `enableGitInfo` to `true` in your [site's configuration file][configuration].
 
diff --git a/hugolib/gitinfo.go b/hugolib/gitinfo.go
index 6acc47d173f..fc574a77f5a 100644
--- a/hugolib/gitinfo.go
+++ b/hugolib/gitinfo.go
@@ -36,9 +36,12 @@ func (g *gitInfo) forPage(p page.Page) *gitmap.GitInfo {
 }
 
 func newGitInfo(cfg config.Provider) (*gitInfo, error) {
-	workingDir := cfg.GetString("workingDir")
+	contentDir := cfg.GetString("contentDir")
+	if !filepath.IsAbs(contentDir) {
+		contentDir = filepath.Join(cfg.GetString("workingDir"), contentDir)
+	}
 
-	gitRepo, err := gitmap.Map(workingDir, "")
+	gitRepo, err := gitmap.Map(contentDir, "")
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}