diff --git a/pre_commit/git.py b/pre_commit/git.py
index 92efe4a4..ea065370 100644
--- a/pre_commit/git.py
+++ b/pre_commit/git.py
@@ -6,8 +6,22 @@ from plumbum import local
 from pre_commit.util import memoize_by_cwd
 
 
+def _get_root_original():
+    return local['git']['rev-parse', '--show-toplevel']().strip()
+
+def _get_root_new():
+    path = os.getcwd()
+    while len(path) > 1:
+        if os.path.exists(os.path.join(path, '.git')):
+            return path
+        else:
+            path = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(path, '../'))
+    raise AssertionError('called from outside of the gits')
+
+
 @memoize_by_cwd
 def get_root():
+    return _get_root_new()
     return local['git']['rev-parse', '--show-toplevel']().strip()
 
 
diff --git a/pre_commit/hooks_workspace.py b/pre_commit/hooks_workspace.py
index e79ad2b9..6533c719 100644
--- a/pre_commit/hooks_workspace.py
+++ b/pre_commit/hooks_workspace.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from pre_commit import git
 def get_pre_commit_dir_path():
     return os.path.join(git.get_root(), C.HOOKS_WORKSPACE)
 
+
 @contextlib.contextmanager
 def in_hooks_workspace():
     """Change into the hooks workspace.  If it does not exist create it."""