if (merge_filter != NO_FILTER) {
struct commit *filter;
filter = lookup_commit_reference_gently(merge_filter_ref, 0);
+ if (!filter)
+ die("object '%s' does not point to a commit",
+ sha1_to_hex(merge_filter_ref));
+
filter->object.flags |= UNINTERESTING;
add_pending_object(&ref_list.revs,
(struct object *) filter, "");