diff --git a/commit.c b/commit.c
index 3e39c86..fbc0928 100644
--- a/commit.c
+++ b/commit.c
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ int parse_commit_buffer(struct commit *item, const void *buffer, unsigned long s
 	if (get_sha1_hex(bufptr + 5, parent.hash) < 0)
 		return error("bad tree pointer in commit %s",
 			     oid_to_hex(&item->object.oid));
-	item->tree = lookup_tree(&parent);
+	item->maybe_tree = lookup_tree(&parent);
 	bufptr += tree_entry_len + 1; /* "tree " + "hex sha1" + "\n" */
 	pptr = &item->parents;