diff --git a/commands.cpp b/commands.cpp
index 0e5f7df..3f8d489 100644
--- a/commands.cpp
+++ b/commands.cpp
@@ -72,11 +72,13 @@ static void configure_git_filters (const char* key_name)
 		           escaped_git_crypt_path + " smudge --key-name=" + key_name);
 		git_config(std::string("filter.git-crypt-") + key_name + ".clean",
 		           escaped_git_crypt_path + " clean --key-name=" + key_name);
+		git_config(std::string("filter.git-crypt-") + key_name + ".required", "true");
 		git_config(std::string("diff.git-crypt-") + key_name + ".textconv",
 		           escaped_git_crypt_path + " diff --key-name=" + key_name);
 	} else {
 		git_config("filter.git-crypt.smudge", escaped_git_crypt_path + " smudge");
 		git_config("filter.git-crypt.clean", escaped_git_crypt_path + " clean");
+		git_config("filter.git-crypt.required", "true");
 		git_config("diff.git-crypt.textconv", escaped_git_crypt_path + " diff");
 	}
 }