diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index 781af2e..0723f06 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -339,7 +339,8 @@ static void create_base_index(const struct commit *current_head)
 	tree = parse_tree_indirect(&current_head->object.oid);
 	if (!tree)
 		die(_("failed to unpack HEAD tree object"));
-	parse_tree(tree);
+	if (parse_tree(tree) < 0)
+		exit(128);
 	init_tree_desc(&t, tree->buffer, tree->size);
 	if (unpack_trees(1, &t, &opts))
 		exit(128); /* We've already reported the error, finish dying */