diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/test/utils/git_spec.rb b/Library/Homebrew/test/utils/git_spec.rb
index d4eb978200..39b28794ab 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/test/utils/git_spec.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/test/utils/git_spec.rb
@@ -45,3 +45,22 @@ describe Git do
     end
   end
 end
+
+describe Utils do
+  describe "::git_available?" do
+    it "returns true if git --version command succeeds" do
+      allow_any_instance_of(Process::Status).to receive(:success?).and_return(true)
+      expect(described_class.git_available?).to be_truthy
+    end
+
+    it "returns false if git --version command does not succeed" do
+      allow_any_instance_of(Process::Status).to receive(:success?).and_return(false)
+      expect(described_class.git_available?).to be_falsey
+    end
+
+    it "returns git version if already set" do
+      described_class.instance_variable_set(:@git, true)
+      expect(described_class.git_available?).to be_truthy
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/utils/git.rb b/Library/Homebrew/utils/git.rb
index 3668b9d115..1e2e360e67 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/utils/git.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/utils/git.rb
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ end
 
 module Utils
   def self.git_available?
-    @git ||= quiet_system HOMEBREW_SHIMS_PATH/"scm/git", "--version"
+    return @git if instance_variable_defined?(:@git)
+    @git = quiet_system HOMEBREW_SHIMS_PATH/"scm/git", "--version"
   end
 
   def self.git_path