bug? git push triggers auto pack when gc.auto = 0

Hi,

I have garbage collection disabled globally with gc.auto = 0. Today while pushing a branch remotely, I saw a message "Auto packing the repository for optimum performance." which I've never noticed before. Searching for that phrase shows me that common knowledge is that 'gc.auto = 0' should disable such from occurring. Looking at .git/objects/pack/ in the repository show a new pack file created at the time. However, all loose objects still exist in the repository, which is what I want, so it is good that no apparent data loss occurred.

Here is the relevant command and its output:

$ git push origin next 
Counting objects: 56, done.
Delta compression using up to 4 threads.
Compressing objects: 100% (9/9), done.
Writing objects: 100% (9/9), 895 bytes | 0 bytes/s, done.
Total 9 (delta 8), reused 0 (delta 0)
Auto packing the repository for optimum performance.
To ssh://git@my.server.com/my_project
   3560275..f508080  next -> next
$ git config gc.auto
0
$ git config gc.autopacklimit
0
$ git --version
git version 1.8.5.3

So my question is, should gc.auto = 0 disable auto-packing from occurring on git push and other non-gc commands?

Thanks,

Chris