if (message)
                message += 2;
 
-       if (commit->parents) {
+       if (commit->parents &&
+           get_object_mark(&commit->parents->item->object) != 0) {
                parse_commit(commit->parents->item);
                diff_tree_sha1(commit->parents->item->tree->object.sha1,
                               commit->tree->object.sha1, "", &rev->diffopt);
 
 
 test_expect_success 'setup' '
 
+       echo break it > file0 &&
+       git add file0 &&
+       test_tick &&
        echo Wohlauf > file &&
        git add file &&
        test_tick &&
                (cd new &&
                 git fast-import &&
                 test $MASTER != $(git rev-parse --verify refs/heads/partial) &&
-                git diff master..partial &&
-                git diff master^..partial^ &&
+                git diff --exit-code master partial &&
+                git diff --exit-code master^ partial^ &&
                 test_must_fail git rev-parse partial~2)
 
 '