}
 
        /* Determine parents */
+       reflog_msg = getenv("GIT_REFLOG_ACTION");
        if (initial_commit) {
-               reflog_msg = "commit (initial)";
+               if (!reflog_msg)
+                       reflog_msg = "commit (initial)";
        } else if (amend) {
                struct commit_list *c;
                struct commit *commit;
 
-               reflog_msg = "commit (amend)";
+               if (!reflog_msg)
+                       reflog_msg = "commit (amend)";
                commit = lookup_commit(head_sha1);
                if (!commit || parse_commit(commit))
                        die("could not parse HEAD commit");
                struct strbuf m = STRBUF_INIT;
                FILE *fp;
 
-               reflog_msg = "commit (merge)";
+               if (!reflog_msg)
+                       reflog_msg = "commit (merge)";
                pptr = &commit_list_insert(lookup_commit(head_sha1), pptr)->next;
                fp = fopen(git_path("MERGE_HEAD"), "r");
                if (fp == NULL)
                if (allow_fast_forward)
                        parents = reduce_heads(parents);
        } else {
-               reflog_msg = "commit";
+               if (!reflog_msg)
+                       reflog_msg = "commit";
                pptr = &commit_list_insert(lookup_commit(head_sha1), pptr)->next;
        }