diff --git a/builtin-mailinfo.c b/builtin-mailinfo.c
index a50ac2256c..ce2ef6bede 100644
--- a/builtin-mailinfo.c
+++ b/builtin-mailinfo.c
@@ -779,8 +779,7 @@ static int handle_commit_msg(struct strbuf *line)
 		return 0;
 
 	if (still_looking) {
-		strbuf_ltrim(line);
-		if (!line->len)
+		if (!line->len || (line->len == 1 && line->buf[0] == '\n'))
 			return 0;
 	}
 
diff --git a/t/t5100/msg0015 b/t/t5100/msg0015
index 9577238685..4abb3d5c6c 100644
--- a/t/t5100/msg0015
+++ b/t/t5100/msg0015
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-- a list
+  - a list
   - of stuff