diff --git a/Remote/External.hs b/Remote/External.hs
index f09589b258..34810c4acf 100644
--- a/Remote/External.hs
+++ b/Remote/External.hs
@@ -230,6 +230,7 @@ handleRequest' lck external req mp responsehandler
 		send $ CREDS (fst creds) (snd creds)
 	handleRemoteRequest GETUUID = send $
 		VALUE $ fromUUID $ externalUUID external
+	handleRemoteRequest GETGITDIR = send . VALUE =<< fromRepo Git.localGitDir
 	handleRemoteRequest (SETWANTED expr) =
 		preferredContentSet (externalUUID external) expr
 	handleRemoteRequest GETWANTED = do
diff --git a/Remote/External/Types.hs b/Remote/External/Types.hs
index 4c62c2f844..c7085e39ae 100644
--- a/Remote/External/Types.hs
+++ b/Remote/External/Types.hs
@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@ data RemoteRequest
 	| SETCREDS Setting String String
 	| GETCREDS Setting
 	| GETUUID
+	| GETGITDIR
 	| SETWANTED PreferredContentExpression
 	| GETWANTED
 	| SETSTATE Key String
@@ -184,6 +185,7 @@ instance Receivable RemoteRequest where
 	parseCommand "SETCREDS" = parse3 SETCREDS
 	parseCommand "GETCREDS" = parse1 GETCREDS
 	parseCommand "GETUUID" = parse0 GETUUID
+	parseCommand "GETGITDIR" = parse0 GETGITDIR
 	parseCommand "SETWANTED" = parse1 SETWANTED
 	parseCommand "GETWANTED" = parse0 GETWANTED
 	parseCommand "SETSTATE" = parse2 SETSTATE
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index fc1791d198..be9e2e6953 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 git-annex (5.20140108) UNRELEASED; urgency=medium
 
   * Added tahoe special remote.
+  * external special remote protocol: Added GETGITDIR.
 
  -- Joey Hess <joeyh@debian.org>  Wed, 08 Jan 2014 13:13:54 -0400
 
diff --git a/doc/design/external_special_remote_protocol.mdwn b/doc/design/external_special_remote_protocol.mdwn
index 3f4cdcb735..85df316818 100644
--- a/doc/design/external_special_remote_protocol.mdwn
+++ b/doc/design/external_special_remote_protocol.mdwn
@@ -212,6 +212,10 @@ in control.
 * `GETUUID`  
   Queries for the UUID of the special remote being used.  
   (git-annex replies with VALUE followed by the UUID.)
+* `GETGITDIR`  
+  Queries for the path to the git directory of the repository that
+  is using the external special remote.
+  (git-annex replies with VALUE followed by the path.)
 * `SETWANTED PreferredContentExpression`  
   Can be used to set the preferred content of a repository. Normally
   this is not configured by a special remote, but it may make sense