diff --git a/bisect.c b/bisect.c
index f24474542e..a6dc76b15c 100644
--- a/bisect.c
+++ b/bisect.c
@@ -674,9 +674,6 @@ static void bisect_rev_setup(struct repository *r, struct rev_info *revs,
 			     const char *bad_format, const char *good_format,
 			     int read_paths)
 {
-	struct setup_revision_opt opt = {
-		.free_removed_argv_elements = 1,
-	};
 	int i;
 
 	repo_init_revisions(r, revs, prefix);
@@ -693,7 +690,7 @@ static void bisect_rev_setup(struct repository *r, struct rev_info *revs,
 	if (read_paths)
 		read_bisect_paths(rev_argv);
 
-	setup_revisions(rev_argv->nr, rev_argv->v, revs, &opt);
+	setup_revisions_from_strvec(rev_argv, revs, NULL);
 }
 
 static void bisect_common(struct rev_info *revs)
diff --git a/builtin/describe.c b/builtin/describe.c
index 9f4e26d7ff..ffaf8d9f0a 100644
--- a/builtin/describe.c
+++ b/builtin/describe.c
@@ -580,7 +580,8 @@ static void describe_blob(const struct object_id *oid, struct strbuf *dst)
 		     NULL);
 
 	repo_init_revisions(the_repository, &revs, NULL);
-	if (setup_revisions(args.nr, args.v, &revs, NULL) > 1)
+	setup_revisions_from_strvec(&args, &revs, NULL);
+	if (args.nr > 1)
 		BUG("setup_revisions could not handle all args?");
 
 	if (prepare_revision_walk(&revs))
diff --git a/builtin/pack-objects.c b/builtin/pack-objects.c
index 1494afcf3d..5856b5f6bf 100644
--- a/builtin/pack-objects.c
+++ b/builtin/pack-objects.c
@@ -4650,7 +4650,7 @@ static void get_object_list_path_walk(struct rev_info *revs)
 		die(_("failed to pack objects via path-walk"));
 }
 
-static void get_object_list(struct rev_info *revs, int ac, const char **av)
+static void get_object_list(struct rev_info *revs, struct strvec *argv)
 {
 	struct setup_revision_opt s_r_opt = {
 		.allow_exclude_promisor_objects = 1,
@@ -4660,7 +4660,7 @@ static void get_object_list(struct rev_info *revs, int ac, const char **av)
 	int save_warning;
 
 	save_commit_buffer = 0;
-	setup_revisions(ac, av, revs, &s_r_opt);
+	setup_revisions_from_strvec(argv, revs, &s_r_opt);
 
 	/* make sure shallows are read */
 	is_repository_shallow(the_repository);
@@ -5229,7 +5229,7 @@ int cmd_pack_objects(int argc,
 			revs.include_check = is_not_in_promisor_pack;
 			revs.include_check_obj = is_not_in_promisor_pack_obj;
 		}
-		get_object_list(&revs, rp.nr, rp.v);
+		get_object_list(&revs, &rp);
 		release_revisions(&revs);
 	}
 	cleanup_preferred_base();
diff --git a/builtin/rebase.c b/builtin/rebase.c
index 67c0352bf8..c468828189 100644
--- a/builtin/rebase.c
+++ b/builtin/rebase.c
@@ -299,8 +299,7 @@ static int do_interactive_rebase(struct rebase_options *opts, unsigned flags)
 			     oid_to_hex(&opts->restrict_revision->object.oid));
 
 	ret = sequencer_make_script(the_repository, &todo_list.buf,
-				    make_script_args.nr, make_script_args.v,
-				    flags);
+				    &make_script_args, flags);
 	if (ret) {
 		error(_("could not generate todo list"));
 		goto cleanup;
diff --git a/builtin/stash.c b/builtin/stash.c
index b7db7c8364..bea64d04a0 100644
--- a/builtin/stash.c
+++ b/builtin/stash.c
@@ -1015,8 +1015,8 @@ static int show_stash(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix,
 		}
 	}
 
-	argc = setup_revisions(revision_args.nr, revision_args.v, &rev, NULL);
-	if (argc > 1)
+	setup_revisions_from_strvec(&revision_args, &rev, NULL);
+	if (revision_args.nr > 1)
 		goto usage;
 	if (!rev.diffopt.output_format) {
 		rev.diffopt.output_format = DIFF_FORMAT_PATCH;
diff --git a/builtin/submodule--helper.c b/builtin/submodule--helper.c
index 07a1935cbe..fcd73abe53 100644
--- a/builtin/submodule--helper.c
+++ b/builtin/submodule--helper.c
@@ -616,9 +616,6 @@ static void status_submodule(const char *path, const struct object_id *ce_oid,
 	struct rev_info rev = REV_INFO_INIT;
 	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
 	const char *git_dir;
-	struct setup_revision_opt opt = {
-		.free_removed_argv_elements = 1,
-	};
 
 	if (validate_submodule_path(path) < 0)
 		die(NULL);
@@ -655,7 +652,7 @@ static void status_submodule(const char *path, const struct object_id *ce_oid,
 
 	repo_init_revisions(the_repository, &rev, NULL);
 	rev.abbrev = 0;
-	setup_revisions(diff_files_args.nr, diff_files_args.v, &rev, &opt);
+	setup_revisions_from_strvec(&diff_files_args, &rev, NULL);
 	run_diff_files(&rev, 0);
 
 	if (!diff_result_code(&rev)) {
@@ -1094,9 +1091,6 @@ static int compute_summary_module_list(struct object_id *head_oid,
 {
 	struct strvec diff_args = STRVEC_INIT;
 	struct rev_info rev;
-	struct setup_revision_opt opt = {
-		.free_removed_argv_elements = 1,
-	};
 	struct module_cb_list list = MODULE_CB_LIST_INIT;
 	int ret = 0;
 
@@ -1114,7 +1108,7 @@ static int compute_summary_module_list(struct object_id *head_oid,
 	repo_init_revisions(the_repository, &rev, info->prefix);
 	rev.abbrev = 0;
 	precompose_argv_prefix(diff_args.nr, diff_args.v, NULL);
-	setup_revisions(diff_args.nr, diff_args.v, &rev, &opt);
+	setup_revisions_from_strvec(&diff_args, &rev, NULL);
 	rev.diffopt.output_format = DIFF_FORMAT_NO_OUTPUT | DIFF_FORMAT_CALLBACK;
 	rev.diffopt.format_callback = submodule_summary_callback;
 	rev.diffopt.format_callback_data = &list;
diff --git a/http-push.c b/http-push.c
index 91a5465afb..4c43ba3bc7 100644
--- a/http-push.c
+++ b/http-push.c
@@ -1941,7 +1941,7 @@ int cmd_main(int argc, const char **argv)
 			strvec_pushf(&commit_argv, "^%s",
 				     oid_to_hex(&ref->old_oid));
 		repo_init_revisions(the_repository, &revs, setup_git_directory());
-		setup_revisions(commit_argv.nr, commit_argv.v, &revs, NULL);
+		setup_revisions_from_strvec(&commit_argv, &revs, NULL);
 		revs.edge_hint = 0; /* just in case */
 
 		/* Generate a list of objects that need to be pushed */
diff --git a/remote.c b/remote.c
index 81d8fc017e..df9675cd33 100644
--- a/remote.c
+++ b/remote.c
@@ -2143,9 +2143,6 @@ static int stat_branch_pair(const char *branch_name, const char *base,
 	struct object_id oid;
 	struct commit *ours, *theirs;
 	struct rev_info revs;
-	struct setup_revision_opt opt = {
-		.free_removed_argv_elements = 1,
-	};
 	struct strvec argv = STRVEC_INIT;
 
 	/* Cannot stat if what we used to build on no longer exists */
@@ -2180,7 +2177,7 @@ static int stat_branch_pair(const char *branch_name, const char *base,
 	strvec_push(&argv, "--");
 
 	repo_init_revisions(the_repository, &revs, NULL);
-	setup_revisions(argv.nr, argv.v, &revs, &opt);
+	setup_revisions_from_strvec(&argv, &revs, NULL);
 	if (prepare_revision_walk(&revs))
 		die(_("revision walk setup failed"));
 
diff --git a/revision.c b/revision.c
index 6ba8f67054..806a1c4c24 100644
--- a/revision.c
+++ b/revision.c
@@ -2321,6 +2321,24 @@ static timestamp_t parse_age(const char *arg)
 	return num;
 }
 
+static void overwrite_argv(int *argc, const char **argv,
+			   const char **value,
+			   const struct setup_revision_opt *opt)
+{
+	/*
+	 * Detect the case when we are overwriting ourselves. The assignment
+	 * itself would be a noop either way, but this lets us avoid corner
+	 * cases around the free() and NULL operations.
+	 */
+	if (*value != argv[*argc]) {
+		if (opt && opt->free_removed_argv_elements)
+			free((char *)argv[*argc]);
+		argv[*argc] = *value;
+		*value = NULL;
+	}
+	(*argc)++;
+}
+
 static int handle_revision_opt(struct rev_info *revs, int argc, const char **argv,
 			       int *unkc, const char **unkv,
 			       const struct setup_revision_opt* opt)
@@ -2342,7 +2360,7 @@ static int handle_revision_opt(struct rev_info *revs, int argc, const char **arg
 	    starts_with(arg, "--branches=") || starts_with(arg, "--tags=") ||
 	    starts_with(arg, "--remotes=") || starts_with(arg, "--no-walk="))
 	{
-		unkv[(*unkc)++] = arg;
+		overwrite_argv(unkc, unkv, &argv[0], opt);
 		return 1;
 	}
 
@@ -2706,7 +2724,7 @@ static int handle_revision_opt(struct rev_info *revs, int argc, const char **arg
 	} else {
 		int opts = diff_opt_parse(&revs->diffopt, argv, argc, revs->prefix);
 		if (!opts)
-			unkv[(*unkc)++] = arg;
+			overwrite_argv(unkc, unkv, &argv[0], opt);
 		return opts;
 	}
 
@@ -3018,7 +3036,7 @@ int setup_revisions(int argc, const char **argv, struct rev_info *revs, struct s
 
 			if (!strcmp(arg, "--stdin")) {
 				if (revs->disable_stdin) {
-					argv[left++] = arg;
+					overwrite_argv(&left, argv, &argv[i], opt);
 					continue;
 				}
 				if (revs->read_from_stdin++)
@@ -3174,9 +3192,34 @@ int setup_revisions(int argc, const char **argv, struct rev_info *revs, struct s
 		revs->show_notes_given = 1;
 	}
 
+	if (argv) {
+		if (opt && opt->free_removed_argv_elements)
+			free((char *)argv[left]);
+		argv[left] = NULL;
+	}
+
 	return left;
 }
 
+void setup_revisions_from_strvec(struct strvec *argv, struct rev_info *revs,
+				 struct setup_revision_opt *opt)
+{
+	struct setup_revision_opt fallback_opt;
+	int ret;
+
+	if (!opt) {
+		memset(&fallback_opt, 0, sizeof(fallback_opt));
+		opt = &fallback_opt;
+	}
+	opt->free_removed_argv_elements = 1;
+
+	ret = setup_revisions(argv->nr, argv->v, revs, opt);
+
+	for (size_t i = ret; i < argv->nr; i++)
+		free((char *)argv->v[i]);
+	argv->nr = ret;
+}
+
 static void release_revisions_cmdline(struct rev_cmdline_info *cmdline)
 {
 	unsigned int i;
diff --git a/revision.h b/revision.h
index 21e288c5ba..a28e349044 100644
--- a/revision.h
+++ b/revision.h
@@ -441,6 +441,8 @@ struct setup_revision_opt {
 };
 int setup_revisions(int argc, const char **argv, struct rev_info *revs,
 		    struct setup_revision_opt *);
+void setup_revisions_from_strvec(struct strvec *argv, struct rev_info *revs,
+				 struct setup_revision_opt *);
 
 /**
  * Free data allocated in a "struct rev_info" after it's been
diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index 6d29a938aa..5476d39ba9 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -6052,8 +6052,8 @@ static int make_script_with_merges(struct pretty_print_context *pp,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int sequencer_make_script(struct repository *r, struct strbuf *out, int argc,
-			  const char **argv, unsigned flags)
+int sequencer_make_script(struct repository *r, struct strbuf *out,
+			  struct strvec *argv, unsigned flags)
 {
 	char *format = NULL;
 	struct pretty_print_context pp = {0};
@@ -6094,7 +6094,8 @@ int sequencer_make_script(struct repository *r, struct strbuf *out, int argc,
 	pp.fmt = revs.commit_format;
 	pp.output_encoding = get_log_output_encoding();
 
-	if (setup_revisions(argc, argv, &revs, NULL) > 1) {
+	setup_revisions_from_strvec(argv, &revs, NULL);
+	if (argv->nr > 1) {
 		ret = error(_("make_script: unhandled options"));
 		goto cleanup;
 	}
diff --git a/sequencer.h b/sequencer.h
index 304ba4b4d3..719684c8a9 100644
--- a/sequencer.h
+++ b/sequencer.h
@@ -186,8 +186,8 @@ int sequencer_remove_state(struct replay_opts *opts);
 #define TODO_LIST_REAPPLY_CHERRY_PICKS (1U << 7)
 #define TODO_LIST_WARN_SKIPPED_CHERRY_PICKS (1U << 8)
 
-int sequencer_make_script(struct repository *r, struct strbuf *out, int argc,
-			  const char **argv, unsigned flags);
+int sequencer_make_script(struct repository *r, struct strbuf *out,
+			  struct strvec *argv, unsigned flags);
 
 int complete_action(struct repository *r, struct replay_opts *opts, unsigned flags,
 		    const char *shortrevisions, const char *onto_name,
diff --git a/shallow.c b/shallow.c
index ef3adb635f..d9cd4e219c 100644
--- a/shallow.c
+++ b/shallow.c
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ static void show_commit(struct commit *commit, void *data)
  * are marked with shallow_flag. The list of border/shallow commits
  * are also returned.
  */
-struct commit_list *get_shallow_commits_by_rev_list(int ac, const char **av,
+struct commit_list *get_shallow_commits_by_rev_list(struct strvec *argv,
 						    int shallow_flag,
 						    int not_shallow_flag)
 {
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ struct commit_list *get_shallow_commits_by_rev_list(int ac, const char **av,
 
 	repo_init_revisions(the_repository, &revs, NULL);
 	save_commit_buffer = 0;
-	setup_revisions(ac, av, &revs, NULL);
+	setup_revisions_from_strvec(argv, &revs, NULL);
 
 	if (prepare_revision_walk(&revs))
 		die("revision walk setup failed");
diff --git a/shallow.h b/shallow.h
index 9bfeade93e..ad591bd139 100644
--- a/shallow.h
+++ b/shallow.h
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include "strbuf.h"
 
 struct oid_array;
+struct strvec;
 
 void set_alternate_shallow_file(struct repository *r, const char *path, int override);
 int register_shallow(struct repository *r, const struct object_id *oid);
@@ -36,8 +37,8 @@ void rollback_shallow_file(struct repository *r, struct shallow_lock *lk);
 
 struct commit_list *get_shallow_commits(struct object_array *heads,
 					int depth, int shallow_flag, int not_shallow_flag);
-struct commit_list *get_shallow_commits_by_rev_list(
-		int ac, const char **av, int shallow_flag, int not_shallow_flag);
+struct commit_list *get_shallow_commits_by_rev_list(struct strvec *argv,
+						    int shallow_flag, int not_shallow_flag);
 int write_shallow_commits(struct strbuf *out, int use_pack_protocol,
 			  const struct oid_array *extra);
 
diff --git a/submodule.c b/submodule.c
index fff3c75570..35c55155f7 100644
--- a/submodule.c
+++ b/submodule.c
@@ -900,7 +900,7 @@ static void collect_changed_submodules(struct repository *r,
 	save_warning = warn_on_object_refname_ambiguity;
 	warn_on_object_refname_ambiguity = 0;
 	repo_init_revisions(r, &rev, NULL);
-	setup_revisions(argv->nr, argv->v, &rev, &s_r_opt);
+	setup_revisions_from_strvec(argv, &rev, &s_r_opt);
 	warn_on_object_refname_ambiguity = save_warning;
 	if (prepare_revision_walk(&rev))
 		die(_("revision walk setup failed"));
diff --git a/t/t3903-stash.sh b/t/t3903-stash.sh
index 0bb4648e36..930c31e547 100755
--- a/t/t3903-stash.sh
+++ b/t/t3903-stash.sh
@@ -1741,4 +1741,13 @@ test_expect_success 'submodules does not affect the branch recorded in stash mes
 	)
 '
 
+test_expect_success SANITIZE_LEAK 'stash show handles -- without leaking' '
+	git stash show --
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'controlled error return on unrecognized option' '
+	test_expect_code 129 git stash show -p --invalid 2>usage &&
+	grep -e "^usage: git stash show" usage
+'
+
 test_done
diff --git a/upload-pack.c b/upload-pack.c
index f78fabc1e1..1e87ae9559 100644
--- a/upload-pack.c
+++ b/upload-pack.c
@@ -913,13 +913,12 @@ static void deepen(struct upload_pack_data *data, int depth)
 }
 
 static void deepen_by_rev_list(struct upload_pack_data *data,
-			       int ac,
-			       const char **av)
+			       struct strvec *argv)
 {
 	struct commit_list *result;
 
 	disable_commit_graph(the_repository);
-	result = get_shallow_commits_by_rev_list(ac, av, SHALLOW, NOT_SHALLOW);
+	result = get_shallow_commits_by_rev_list(argv, SHALLOW, NOT_SHALLOW);
 	send_shallow(data, result);
 	free_commit_list(result);
 	send_unshallow(data);
@@ -955,7 +954,7 @@ static int send_shallow_list(struct upload_pack_data *data)
 			struct object *o = data->want_obj.objects[i].item;
 			strvec_push(&av, oid_to_hex(&o->oid));
 		}
-		deepen_by_rev_list(data, av.nr, av.v);
+		deepen_by_rev_list(data, &av);
 		strvec_clear(&av);
 		ret = 1;
 	} else {