diff --git a/merge-recursive.c b/merge-recursive.c
index fbb044e..41366e7 100644
--- a/merge-recursive.c
+++ b/merge-recursive.c
@@ -1192,9 +1192,9 @@ static int merge_submodule(struct merge_options *o,
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	if (!(commit_base = lookup_commit_reference(base)) ||
-	    !(commit_a = lookup_commit_reference(a)) ||
-	    !(commit_b = lookup_commit_reference(b))) {
+	if (!(commit_base = lookup_commit_reference(the_repository, base)) ||
+	    !(commit_a = lookup_commit_reference(the_repository, a)) ||
+	    !(commit_b = lookup_commit_reference(the_repository, b))) {
 		output(o, 1, _("Failed to merge submodule %s (commits not present)"), path);
 		return 0;
 	}