diff --git a/fast-import.c b/fast-import.c
index 1ae125a040..d9492b9884 100644
--- a/fast-import.c
+++ b/fast-import.c
@@ -220,7 +220,8 @@ struct branch
 	const char *name;
 	struct tree_entry branch_tree;
 	uintmax_t last_commit;
-	unsigned int pack_id;
+	unsigned active : 1;
+	unsigned pack_id : PACK_ID_BITS;
 	unsigned char sha1[20];
 };
 
@@ -528,6 +529,7 @@ static struct branch *new_branch(const char *name)
 	b->table_next_branch = branch_table[hc];
 	b->branch_tree.versions[0].mode = S_IFDIR;
 	b->branch_tree.versions[1].mode = S_IFDIR;
+	b->active = 0;
 	b->pack_id = MAX_PACK_ID;
 	branch_table[hc] = b;
 	branch_count++;
@@ -1547,6 +1549,7 @@ static void unload_one_branch(void)
 			e = active_branches;
 			active_branches = e->active_next_branch;
 		}
+		e->active = 0;
 		e->active_next_branch = NULL;
 		if (e->branch_tree.tree) {
 			release_tree_content_recursive(e->branch_tree.tree);
@@ -1559,10 +1562,13 @@ static void unload_one_branch(void)
 static void load_branch(struct branch *b)
 {
 	load_tree(&b->branch_tree);
-	b->active_next_branch = active_branches;
-	active_branches = b;
-	cur_active_branches++;
-	branch_load_count++;
+	if (!b->active) {
+		b->active = 1;
+		b->active_next_branch = active_branches;
+		active_branches = b;
+		cur_active_branches++;
+		branch_load_count++;
+	}
 }
 
 static void file_change_m(struct branch *b)
@@ -1746,7 +1752,14 @@ static struct hash_list *cmd_merge(unsigned int *count)
 			if (oe->type != OBJ_COMMIT)
 				die("Mark :%" PRIuMAX " not a commit", idnum);
 			hashcpy(n->sha1, oe->sha1);
-		} else if (get_sha1(from, n->sha1))
+		} else if (!get_sha1(from, n->sha1)) {
+			unsigned long size;
+			char *buf = read_object_with_reference(n->sha1,
+				type_names[OBJ_COMMIT], &size, n->sha1);
+			if (!buf || size < 46)
+				die("Not a valid commit: %s", from);
+			free(buf);
+		} else
 			die("Invalid ref name or SHA1 expression: %s", from);
 
 		n->next = NULL;