diff --git a/hex.c b/hex.c
index e7af18fe55..74d256f239 100644
--- a/hex.c
+++ b/hex.c
@@ -124,6 +124,13 @@ char *hash_to_hex_algop_r(char *buffer, const unsigned char *hash,
 	char *buf = buffer;
 	int i;
 
+	/*
+	 * Our struct object_id has been memset to 0, so default to printing
+	 * using the default hash.
+	 */
+	if (algop == &hash_algos[0])
+		algop = the_hash_algo;
+
 	for (i = 0; i < algop->rawsz; i++) {
 		unsigned int val = *hash++;
 		*buf++ = hex[val >> 4];