}
        sort_string_list(&ref_list);
 
-       for (cmd = commands; cmd; cmd = cmd->next)
-               check_aliased_update(cmd, &ref_list);
+       for (cmd = commands; cmd; cmd = cmd->next) {
+               if (!cmd->error_string)
+                       check_aliased_update(cmd, &ref_list);
+       }
 
        string_list_clear(&ref_list, 0);
 }
                set_connectivity_errors(commands);
 
        if (run_receive_hook(commands, pre_receive_hook, 0)) {
-               for (cmd = commands; cmd; cmd = cmd->next)
-                       cmd->error_string = "pre-receive hook declined";
+               for (cmd = commands; cmd; cmd = cmd->next) {
+                       if (!cmd->error_string)
+                               cmd->error_string = "pre-receive hook declined";
+               }
                return;
        }
 
        free(head_name_to_free);
        head_name = head_name_to_free = resolve_refdup("HEAD", sha1, 0, NULL);
 
-       for (cmd = commands; cmd; cmd = cmd->next)
-               if (!cmd->skip_update)
-                       cmd->error_string = update(cmd);
+       for (cmd = commands; cmd; cmd = cmd->next) {
+               if (cmd->error_string)
+                       continue;
+
+               if (cmd->skip_update)
+                       continue;
+
+               cmd->error_string = update(cmd);
+       }
 }
 
 static struct command *read_head_info(void)