line[len-1] = 0;
        if (get_sha1_hex(line, sha1))
                return -1;
-       obj = lookup_object(sha1);
-       obj = obj ? obj : parse_object(sha1);
+       obj = lookup_unknown_object(sha1);
+       if (!obj || !obj->parsed)
+               obj = parse_object(sha1);
        if (!obj)
                return -1;
        if (obj->type == OBJ_COMMIT)
 
        init_revisions(opt, prefix);
        git_config(git_diff_basic_config, NULL); /* no "diff" UI options */
-       nr_sha1 = 0;
        opt->abbrev = 0;
        opt->diff = 1;
        argc = setup_revisions(argc, argv, opt, NULL);