diff --git a/aider/main.py b/aider/main.py
index f66114709..308eead03 100644
--- a/aider/main.py
+++ b/aider/main.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def make_new_repo(git_root, io):
     try:
         repo = git.Repo.init(git_root)
         check_gitignore(git_root, io, False)
-    except git.exc.GitCommandError as err:  # issue #1233
+    except gitdb.exc.ODBError as err:  # issue #1233
         io.tool_error(f"Unable to create git repo in {git_root}")
         io.tool_error(str(err))
         return