struct rev_info rev;
 
        init_revisions(&rev, NULL);
-       setup_revisions(0, NULL, &rev, s->reference);
+       setup_revisions(0, NULL, &rev,
+               s->is_initial ? EMPTY_TREE_SHA1_HEX : s->reference);
        rev.diffopt.output_format |= DIFF_FORMAT_PATCH;
        rev.diffopt.detect_rename = 1;
        rev.diffopt.file = s->fp;
        else if (s->commitable)
                 fprintf(s->fp, "# Untracked files not listed (use -u option to show untracked files)\n");
 
-       if (s->verbose && !s->is_initial)
+       if (s->verbose)
                wt_status_print_verbose(s);
        if (!s->commitable) {
                if (s->amend)