diff --git a/git-p4.py b/git-p4.py
index ca79dc0900..4433ca53de 100755
--- a/git-p4.py
+++ b/git-p4.py
@@ -4237,7 +4237,7 @@ class P4Unshelve(Command):
         """
 
         for parent in (range(65535)):
-            log = extractLogMessageFromGitCommit("{0}^{1}".format(starting_point, parent))
+            log = extractLogMessageFromGitCommit("{0}~{1}".format(starting_point, parent))
             settings = extractSettingsGitLog(log)
             if 'change' in settings:
                 return settings
diff --git a/t/t9832-unshelve.sh b/t/t9832-unshelve.sh
index e9276c48f4..7194fb2855 100755
--- a/t/t9832-unshelve.sh
+++ b/t/t9832-unshelve.sh
@@ -29,8 +29,11 @@ test_expect_success 'init depot' '
 	)
 '
 
+# Create an initial clone, with a commit unrelated to the P4 change
+# on HEAD
 test_expect_success 'initial clone' '
-	git p4 clone --dest="$git" //depot/@all
+	git p4 clone --dest="$git" //depot/@all &&
+    test_commit -C "$git" "unrelated"
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'create shelved changelist' '