diff --git a/addons/isl-server/src/commands.ts b/addons/isl-server/src/commands.ts
index 393a971003a8e..8ae077b2fecc5 100644
--- a/addons/isl-server/src/commands.ts
+++ b/addons/isl-server/src/commands.ts
@@ -194,7 +194,9 @@ export function getExecParams(
     SL_ENCODING: 'UTF-8',
     // override any custom aliases a user has defined.
     SL_AUTOMATION: 'true',
-    SL_AUTOMATION_EXCEPT: 'phrevset', // allow looking up diff numbers even in plain mode
+    // allow looking up diff numbers even in plain mode.
+    // allow constructing the `.git/sl` repo regardless of the identity.
+    SL_AUTOMATION_EXCEPT: 'phrevset,sniff',
     // Prevent user-specified merge tools from attempting to
     // open interactive editors.
     HGMERGE: ':merge3',