bases = get_merge_bases(local, remote, 1);
        if (!bases) {
                base_sha1 = null_sha1;
-               base_tree_sha1 = (unsigned char *)EMPTY_TREE_SHA1_BIN;
+               base_tree_sha1 = EMPTY_TREE_SHA1_BIN;
                OUTPUT(o, 4, "No merge base found; doing history-less merge");
        } else if (!bases->next) {
                base_sha1 = bases->item->object.sha1;