diff --git a/git-rebase--interactive.sh b/git-rebase--interactive.sh
index aae94d2f6f..6fd3105b54 100755
--- a/git-rebase--interactive.sh
+++ b/git-rebase--interactive.sh
@@ -167,8 +167,7 @@ pick_one () {
 	if test -z "$no_ff" -a "$current_sha1" = "$parent_sha1"
 	then
 		output git reset --hard $sha1
-		sha1=$(git rev-parse --short $sha1)
-		output warn Fast-forward to $sha1
+		output warn Fast-forward to $(git rev-parse --short $sha1)
 	else
 		output git cherry-pick "$@"
 	fi