diff --git a/apply.c b/apply.c
index 8bbe6ed224..c8d4517c0a 100644
--- a/apply.c
+++ b/apply.c
@@ -4833,7 +4833,7 @@ static int apply_patch(struct apply_state *state,
 					       LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
 	}
 
-	if (state->check_index && read_apply_cache(state) < 0) {
+	if ((state->check_index || state->update_index) && read_apply_cache(state) < 0) {
 		error(_("unable to read index file"));
 		res = -128;
 		goto end;