Inconsistency in --work-tree behaviors

There appears to be an inconsistency in how ls-files handles --work-tree compared to how status handles --work-tree.

Context: I have a directory dotfiles.git with core.worktree = /Users/nick (my home directory; I'm on OS X Lion with MacPorts git version 1.7.10.4).

Below are the outputs of git ls-files and git status for the following options of --work-tree:
1) none (equivalent to --work-tree=/Users/nick because of core.worktree setting, right?)
2) --work-tree=~
3) --work-tree=/Users/nick
4) --work-tree=/Users/nick. (note the period at the end)

Note that ls-files works properly with "/Users/nick." and "~", while status works properly with "/Users/nick" and none.  No output is produced for "git ls-files" or "git --work-tree=/Users/nick".

$ git status
# On branch master
# Untracked files:
#   (use "git add <file>..." to include in what will be committed)
#
#	../.hiya
nothing added to commit but untracked files present (use "git add" to track)

$ git ls-files

$ git --work-tree=~ ls-files
.bash_profile
.bashrc
.gemrc
.profile
.rvmrc
.screenrc

$ git --work-tree=~ status
fatal: This operation must be run in a work tree

$ git --work-tree=/Users/nick status
# On branch master
# Untracked files:
#   (use "git add <file>..." to include in what will be committed)
#
#	../.hiya
nothing added to commit but untracked files present (use "git add" to track)

$ git --work-tree=/Users/nick ls-files

$ git --work-tree=/Users/nick. ls-files
.bash_profile
.bashrc
.gemrc
.profile
.rvmrc
.screenrc

$ git --work-tree=/Users/nick. status
fatal: This operation must be run in a work tree