int i;
        char *m;
 
+       if (!pattern)
+               return 0;
+
        for (i = 0; pattern[i]; i++)
                ;
        m = xcalloc(1, i);
         * and create commit from the_index.
         * We still need to refresh the index here.
         */
-       if (!pathspec || !*pathspec) {
+       if (!only && (!pathspec || !*pathspec)) {
                fd = hold_locked_index(&index_lock, 1);
                refresh_cache_or_die(refresh_flags);
                if (active_cache_changed) {
        strbuf_release(&sb);
 
        /* This checks if committer ident is explicitly given */
-       strbuf_addstr(&committer_ident, git_committer_info(0));
+       strbuf_addstr(&committer_ident, git_committer_info(IDENT_STRICT));
        if (use_editor && include_status) {
                char *ai_tmp, *ci_tmp;
                if (whence != FROM_COMMIT)