diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/reloaders/reloaders.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/reloaders/reloaders.lua
index 662f76c7abe..ffa7d073868 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/reloaders/reloaders.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/reloaders/reloaders.lua
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ local function refresh_nodes(node, projects, unloaded_bufnr)
   Iterator.builder({ node })
     :applier(function(n)
       if n.open and n.nodes then
-        local project_root = git.get_project_root(n.cwd or n.link_to or n.absolute_path)
-        explorer_module.reload(n, projects[project_root] or {}, unloaded_bufnr)
+        local toplevel = git.get_toplevel(n.cwd or n.link_to or n.absolute_path)
+        explorer_module.reload(n, projects[toplevel] or {}, unloaded_bufnr)
       end
     end)
     :recursor(function(n)
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ local function refresh_nodes(node, projects, unloaded_bufnr)
 end
 
 function M.reload_node_status(parent_node, projects)
-  local project_root = git.get_project_root(parent_node.absolute_path)
-  local status = projects[project_root] or {}
+  local toplevel = git.get_toplevel(parent_node.absolute_path)
+  local status = projects[toplevel] or {}
   for _, node in ipairs(parent_node.nodes) do
     explorer_node.update_git_status(node, explorer_node.is_git_ignored(parent_node), status)
     if node.nodes and #node.nodes > 0 then
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/reload.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/reload.lua
index aee26dc266c..cd1aa458170 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/reload.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/reload.lua
@@ -22,10 +22,10 @@ local function update_status(nodes_by_path, node_ignored, status)
 end
 
 local function reload_and_get_git_project(path, callback)
-  local project_root = git.get_project_root(path)
+  local toplevel = git.get_toplevel(path)
 
-  git.reload_project(project_root, path, function()
-    callback(project_root, git.get_project(project_root) or {})
+  git.reload_project(toplevel, path, function()
+    callback(toplevel, git.get_project(toplevel) or {})
   end)
 end
 
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ local function update_parent_statuses(node, project, root)
         break
       end
 
-      root = git.get_project_root(node.parent.absolute_path)
+      root = git.get_toplevel(node.parent.absolute_path)
 
       -- stop when no more projects
       if not root then
@@ -174,10 +174,10 @@ function M.refresh_node(node, callback)
 
   local parent_node = utils.get_parent_of_group(node)
 
-  reload_and_get_git_project(node.absolute_path, function(project_root, project)
+  reload_and_get_git_project(node.absolute_path, function(toplevel, project)
     require("nvim-tree.explorer.reload").reload(parent_node, project)
 
-    update_parent_statuses(parent_node, project, project_root)
+    update_parent_statuses(parent_node, project, toplevel)
 
     callback()
   end)
@@ -211,11 +211,11 @@ function M.refresh_parent_nodes_for_path(path)
 
   -- refresh in order; this will expand groups as needed
   for _, node in ipairs(parent_nodes) do
-    local project_root = git.get_project_root(node.absolute_path)
-    local project = git.get_project(project_root) or {}
+    local toplevel = git.get_toplevel(node.absolute_path)
+    local project = git.get_project(toplevel) or {}
 
     M.reload(node, project)
-    update_parent_statuses(node, project, project_root)
+    update_parent_statuses(node, project, toplevel)
   end
 
   log.profile_end(profile)
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/git/init.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/git/init.lua
index 8c4117b4f56..d2c180c9f58 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/git/init.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/git/init.lua
@@ -8,8 +8,15 @@ local explorer_node = require "nvim-tree.explorer.node"
 
 local M = {
   config = {},
-  projects = {},
-  cwd_to_project_root = {},
+
+  -- all projects keyed by toplevel
+  _projects_by_toplevel = {},
+
+  -- index of paths inside toplevels, false when not inside a project
+  _toplevels_by_path = {},
+
+  -- git dirs by toplevel
+  _git_dirs_by_toplevel = {},
 }
 
 -- Files under .git that should result in a reload when changed.
@@ -22,7 +29,7 @@ local WATCHED_FILES = {
   "index", -- staging area
 }
 
-local function reload_git_status(project_root, path, project, git_status)
+local function reload_git_status(toplevel, path, project, git_status)
   if path then
     for p in pairs(project.files) do
       if p:find(path, 1, true) == 1 then
@@ -34,7 +41,7 @@ local function reload_git_status(project_root, path, project, git_status)
     project.files = git_status
   end
 
-  project.dirs = git_utils.file_status_to_dir_status(project.files, project_root)
+  project.dirs = git_utils.file_status_to_dir_status(project.files, toplevel)
 end
 
 --- Is this path in a known ignored directory?
@@ -56,28 +63,34 @@ local function path_ignored_in_project(path, project)
   return false
 end
 
+--- Reload all projects
+--- @return table projects maybe empty
 function M.reload()
   if not M.config.git.enable then
     return {}
   end
 
-  for project_root in pairs(M.projects) do
-    M.reload_project(project_root)
+  for toplevel in pairs(M._projects_by_toplevel) do
+    M.reload_project(toplevel)
   end
 
-  return M.projects
+  return M._projects_by_toplevel
 end
 
-function M.reload_project(project_root, path, callback)
-  local project = M.projects[project_root]
-  if not project or not M.config.git.enable then
+--- Reload one project. Does nothing when no project or path is ignored
+--- @param toplevel string|nil
+--- @param path string|nil optional path to update only
+--- @param callback function|nil
+function M.reload_project(toplevel, path, callback)
+  local project = M._projects_by_toplevel[toplevel]
+  if not toplevel or not project or not M.config.git.enable then
     if callback then
       callback()
     end
     return
   end
 
-  if path and (path:find(project_root, 1, true) ~= 1 or path_ignored_in_project(path, project)) then
+  if path and (path:find(toplevel, 1, true) ~= 1 or path_ignored_in_project(path, project)) then
     if callback then
       callback()
     end
@@ -85,56 +98,71 @@ function M.reload_project(project_root, path, callback)
   end
 
   local opts = {
-    project_root = project_root,
+    toplevel = toplevel,
     path = path,
-    list_untracked = git_utils.should_show_untracked(project_root),
+    list_untracked = git_utils.should_show_untracked(toplevel),
     list_ignored = true,
     timeout = M.config.git.timeout,
   }
 
   if callback then
     Runner.run(opts, function(git_status)
-      reload_git_status(project_root, path, project, git_status)
+      reload_git_status(toplevel, path, project, git_status)
       callback()
     end)
   else
     -- TODO use callback once async/await is available
     local git_status = Runner.run(opts)
-    reload_git_status(project_root, path, project, git_status)
+    reload_git_status(toplevel, path, project, git_status)
   end
 end
 
-function M.get_project(project_root)
-  return M.projects[project_root]
+--- Retrieve a known project
+--- @return table|nil project
+function M.get_project(toplevel)
+  return M._projects_by_toplevel[toplevel]
 end
 
-function M.get_project_root(cwd)
+--- Retrieve the toplevel for a path. nil on:
+---  git disabled
+---  not part of a project
+---  not a directory
+---  path in git.disable_for_dirs
+--- @param path string absolute
+--- @return string|nil
+function M.get_toplevel(path)
   if not M.config.git.enable then
     return nil
   end
 
-  if M.cwd_to_project_root[cwd] then
-    return M.cwd_to_project_root[cwd]
+  if M._toplevels_by_path[path] then
+    return M._toplevels_by_path[path]
   end
 
-  if M.cwd_to_project_root[cwd] == false then
+  if M._toplevels_by_path[path] == false then
     return nil
   end
 
-  local stat, _ = vim.loop.fs_stat(cwd)
+  local stat, _ = vim.loop.fs_stat(path)
   if not stat or stat.type ~= "directory" then
     return nil
   end
 
   -- short-circuit any known ignored paths
-  for root, project in pairs(M.projects) do
-    if project and path_ignored_in_project(cwd, project) then
-      M.cwd_to_project_root[cwd] = root
+  for root, project in pairs(M._projects_by_toplevel) do
+    if project and path_ignored_in_project(path, project) then
+      M._toplevels_by_path[path] = root
       return root
     end
   end
 
-  local toplevel = git_utils.get_toplevel(cwd)
+  -- attempt to fetch toplevel
+  local toplevel, git_dir = git_utils.get_toplevel(path)
+  if not toplevel or not git_dir then
+    return nil
+  end
+
+  -- ignore disabled paths
   for _, disabled_for_dir in ipairs(M.config.git.disable_for_dirs) do
     local toplevel_norm = vim.fn.fnamemodify(toplevel, ":p")
     local disabled_norm = vim.fn.fnamemodify(disabled_for_dir, ":p")
@@ -143,23 +171,24 @@ function M.get_project_root(cwd)
     end
   end
 
-  M.cwd_to_project_root[cwd] = toplevel
-  return M.cwd_to_project_root[cwd]
+  M._toplevels_by_path[path] = toplevel
+  M._git_dirs_by_toplevel[toplevel] = git_dir
+  return M._toplevels_by_path[path]
 end
 
-local function reload_tree_at(project_root)
-  if not M.config.git.enable then
+local function reload_tree_at(toplevel)
+  if not M.config.git.enable or not toplevel then
     return nil
   end
 
-  log.line("watcher", "git event executing '%s'", project_root)
-  local root_node = utils.get_node_from_path(project_root)
+  log.line("watcher", "git event executing '%s'", toplevel)
+  local root_node = utils.get_node_from_path(toplevel)
   if not root_node then
     return
   end
 
-  M.reload_project(project_root, nil, function()
-    local git_status = M.get_project(project_root)
+  M.reload_project(toplevel, nil, function()
+    local git_status = M.get_project(toplevel)
 
     Iterator.builder(root_node.nodes)
       :hidden()
@@ -176,25 +205,29 @@ local function reload_tree_at(project_root)
   end)
 end
 
-function M.load_project_status(cwd)
+--- Load the project status for a path. Does nothing when no toplevel for path.
+--- Only fetches project status when unknown, otherwise returns existing.
+--- @param path string absolute
+--- @return table project maybe empty
+function M.load_project_status(path)
   if not M.config.git.enable then
     return {}
   end
 
-  local project_root = M.get_project_root(cwd)
-  if not project_root then
-    M.cwd_to_project_root[cwd] = false
+  local toplevel = M.get_toplevel(path)
+  if not toplevel then
+    M._toplevels_by_path[path] = false
     return {}
   end
 
-  local status = M.projects[project_root]
+  local status = M._projects_by_toplevel[toplevel]
   if status then
     return status
   end
 
   local git_status = Runner.run {
-    project_root = project_root,
-    list_untracked = git_utils.should_show_untracked(project_root),
+    toplevel = toplevel,
+    list_untracked = git_utils.should_show_untracked(toplevel),
     list_ignored = true,
     timeout = M.config.git.timeout,
   }
@@ -204,33 +237,41 @@ function M.load_project_status(cwd)
     log.line("watcher", "git start")
 
     local callback = function(w)
-      log.line("watcher", "git event scheduled '%s'", w.project_root)
-      utils.debounce("git:watcher:" .. w.project_root, M.config.filesystem_watchers.debounce_delay, function()
+      log.line("watcher", "git event scheduled '%s'", w.toplevel)
+      utils.debounce("git:watcher:" .. w.toplevel, M.config.filesystem_watchers.debounce_delay, function()
         if w.destroyed then
           return
         end
-        reload_tree_at(w.project_root)
+        reload_tree_at(w.toplevel)
       end)
     end
 
-    local git_dir = vim.env.GIT_DIR or utils.path_join { project_root, ".git" }
+    local git_dir = vim.env.GIT_DIR or M._git_dirs_by_toplevel[toplevel] or utils.path_join { toplevel, ".git" }
     watcher = Watcher:new(git_dir, WATCHED_FILES, callback, {
-      project_root = project_root,
+      toplevel = toplevel,
     })
   end
 
-  M.projects[project_root] = {
+  M._projects_by_toplevel[toplevel] = {
     files = git_status,
-    dirs = git_utils.file_status_to_dir_status(git_status, project_root),
+    dirs = git_utils.file_status_to_dir_status(git_status, toplevel),
     watcher = watcher,
   }
-  return M.projects[project_root]
+  return M._projects_by_toplevel[toplevel]
 end
 
 function M.purge_state()
   log.line("git", "purge_state")
-  M.projects = {}
-  M.cwd_to_project_root = {}
+
+  for _, project in pairs(M._projects_by_toplevel) do
+    if project.watcher then
+      project.watcher:destroy()
+    end
+  end
+
+  M._projects_by_toplevel = {}
+  M._toplevels_by_path = {}
+  M._git_dirs_by_toplevel = {}
 end
 
 --- Disable git integration permanently
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/git/runner.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/git/runner.lua
index 6b200b6dba4..915579d84dc 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/git/runner.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/git/runner.lua
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ function Runner:_parse_status_output(status, path)
     path = path:gsub("/", "\\")
   end
   if #status > 0 and #path > 0 then
-    self.output[utils.path_remove_trailing(utils.path_join { self.project_root, path })] = status
+    self.output[utils.path_remove_trailing(utils.path_join { self.toplevel, path })] = status
   end
 end
 
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ function Runner:_getopts(stdout_handle, stderr_handle)
   local ignored = (self.list_untracked and self.list_ignored) and "--ignored=matching" or "--ignored=no"
   return {
     args = { "--no-optional-locks", "status", "--porcelain=v1", "-z", ignored, untracked, self.path },
-    cwd = self.project_root,
+    cwd = self.toplevel,
     stdio = { nil, stdout_handle, stderr_handle },
   }
 end
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ end
 
 function Runner:_finalise(opts)
   if self.rc == -1 then
-    log.line("git", "job timed out  %s %s", opts.project_root, opts.path)
+    log.line("git", "job timed out  %s %s", opts.toplevel, opts.path)
     timeouts = timeouts + 1
     if timeouts == MAX_TIMEOUTS then
       notify.warn(
@@ -164,9 +164,9 @@ function Runner:_finalise(opts)
       require("nvim-tree.git").disable_git_integration()
     end
   elseif self.rc ~= 0 then
-    log.line("git", "job fail rc %d %s %s", self.rc, opts.project_root, opts.path)
+    log.line("git", "job fail rc %d %s %s", self.rc, opts.toplevel, opts.path)
   else
-    log.line("git", "job success    %s %s", opts.project_root, opts.path)
+    log.line("git", "job success    %s %s", opts.toplevel, opts.path)
   end
 end
 
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ end
 --- @return table|nil status by absolute path, nil if callback present
 function Runner.run(opts, callback)
   local self = setmetatable({
-    project_root = opts.project_root,
+    toplevel = opts.toplevel,
     path = opts.path,
     list_untracked = opts.list_untracked,
     list_ignored = opts.list_ignored,
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ function Runner.run(opts, callback)
   }, Runner)
 
   local async = callback ~= nil
-  local profile = log.profile_start("git %s job %s %s", async and "async" or "sync", opts.project_root, opts.path)
+  local profile = log.profile_start("git %s job %s %s", async and "async" or "sync", opts.toplevel, opts.path)
 
   if async and callback then
     -- async, always call back
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/git/utils.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/git/utils.lua
index b7e67c9a336..9d5c58b908f 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/git/utils.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/git/utils.lua
@@ -1,40 +1,55 @@
 local M = {}
 local log = require "nvim-tree.log"
+local utils = require "nvim-tree.utils"
 
 local has_cygpath = vim.fn.executable "cygpath" == 1
 
 --- Retrieve the git toplevel directory
 --- @param cwd string path
 --- @return string|nil toplevel absolute path
+--- @return string|nil git_dir absolute path
 function M.get_toplevel(cwd)
-  local profile = log.profile_start("git toplevel %s", cwd)
+  local profile = log.profile_start("git toplevel git_dir %s", cwd)
 
-  local cmd = { "git", "-C", cwd, "rev-parse", "--show-toplevel" }
-  log.line("git", "%s", vim.inspect(cmd))
+  -- both paths are absolute
+  local cmd = { "git", "-C", cwd, "rev-parse", "--show-toplevel", "--absolute-git-dir" }
+  log.line("git", "%s", table.concat(cmd, " "))
 
-  local toplevel = vim.fn.system(cmd)
+  local out = vim.fn.system(cmd)
 
-  log.raw("git", toplevel)
+  log.raw("git", out)
   log.profile_end(profile)
 
-  if vim.v.shell_error ~= 0 or not toplevel or #toplevel == 0 or toplevel:match "fatal" then
-    return nil
+  if vim.v.shell_error ~= 0 or not out or #out == 0 or out:match "fatal" then
+    return nil, nil
+  end
+
+  local toplevel, git_dir = out:match "([^\n]+)\n+([^\n]+)"
+  if not toplevel then
+    return nil, nil
+  end
+  if not git_dir then
+    git_dir = utils.path_join { toplevel, ".git" }
   end
 
   -- git always returns path with forward slashes
   if vim.fn.has "win32" == 1 then
     -- msys2 git support
     if has_cygpath then
-      toplevel = vim.fn.system("cygpath -w " .. vim.fn.shellescape(toplevel:sub(0, -2)))
+      toplevel = vim.fn.system("cygpath -w " .. vim.fn.shellescape(toplevel))
+      if vim.v.shell_error ~= 0 then
+        return nil, nil
+      end
+      git_dir = vim.fn.system("cygpath -w " .. vim.fn.shellescape(git_dir))
       if vim.v.shell_error ~= 0 then
-        return nil
+        return nil, nil
       end
     end
     toplevel = toplevel:gsub("/", "\\")
+    git_dir = git_dir:gsub("/", "\\")
   end
 
-  -- remove newline
-  return toplevel:sub(0, -2)
+  return toplevel, git_dir
 end
 
 local untracked = {}
@@ -47,7 +62,7 @@ function M.should_show_untracked(cwd)
   local profile = log.profile_start("git untracked %s", cwd)
 
   local cmd = { "git", "-C", cwd, "config", "status.showUntrackedFiles" }
-  log.line("git", vim.inspect(cmd))
+  log.line("git", table.concat(cmd, " "))
 
   local has_untracked = vim.fn.system(cmd)