oid_to_hex(&object));
        }
 
-       prepare_note_data(&object, &d, note->hash);
+       prepare_note_data(&object, &d, note ? note->hash : NULL);
        if (d.buf.len || allow_empty) {
                write_note_data(&d, new_note.hash);
                if (add_note(t, &object, &new_note, combine_notes_overwrite))