Confusing error message from "git pull" when upstream repo no longer exists

When running "git pull", I get this error message:

     fatal: /usr/local/libexec/git-core/git-pull cannot be used without a  
working tree.

"git fetch" gives me a much clearer error message:

     fatal: '/var/git/project.git' does not appear to be a git repository
     fatal: The remote end hung up unexpectedly

/var/git/project.git does no longer exist on the origin server, so I understand why the commands fail. I think "git pull" should have a less confusing error message, though.

     /ceder