break;
                found++;
                strcpy(hexbuf[stage], sha1_to_hex(ce->sha1));
-               sprintf(ownbuf[stage], "%o", ntohl(ce->ce_mode));
+               sprintf(ownbuf[stage], "%o", ce->ce_mode);
                arguments[stage] = hexbuf[stage];
                arguments[stage + 4] = ownbuf[stage];
        } while (++pos < active_nr);
        signal(SIGCHLD, SIG_DFL);
 
        if (argc < 3)
-               usage("git-merge-index [-o] [-q] <merge-program> (-a | <filename>*)");
+               usage("git-merge-index [-o] [-q] <merge-program> (-a | [--] <filename>*)");
 
        setup_git_directory();
        read_cache();