diff --git a/src/git-repository-async.js b/src/git-repository-async.js
index 394a158ba..430423ac8 100644
--- a/src/git-repository-async.js
+++ b/src/git-repository-async.js
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ export default class GitRepositoryAsync {
     return 'GitRepositoryAsync.destroyed'
   }
 
-  constructor (_path, options) {
+  constructor (_path, options = {}) {
     this.repo = null
     this.emitter = new Emitter()
     this.subscriptions = new CompositeDisposable()
@@ -40,8 +40,6 @@ export default class GitRepositoryAsync {
 
     this._refreshingCount = 0
 
-    options = options || {}
-
     let {refreshOnWindowFocus = true} = options
     if (refreshOnWindowFocus) {
       const onWindowFocus = () => this.refreshStatus()