diff --git a/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash b/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash
index 840ae38760a5de84b369b208a52cc579ce478378..a7d20df233c2be8dc36452b02fb5fcabf168c69a 100755
--- a/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash
+++ b/contrib/completion/git-completion.bash
@@ -2710,6 +2710,10 @@ _git ()
 	if [[ -n ${ZSH_VERSION-} ]]; then
 		emulate -L bash
 		setopt KSH_TYPESET
+
+		# workaround zsh's bug that leaves 'words' as a special
+		# variable in versions < 4.3.12
+		typeset -h words
 	fi
 
 	local cur words cword
@@ -2761,6 +2765,10 @@ _gitk ()
 	if [[ -n ${ZSH_VERSION-} ]]; then
 		emulate -L bash
 		setopt KSH_TYPESET
+
+		# workaround zsh's bug that leaves 'words' as a special
+		# variable in versions < 4.3.12
+		typeset -h words
 	fi
 
 	__git_has_doubledash && return