diff --git a/fast-import.c b/fast-import.c
index cb947c10d7..d881630b01 100644
--- a/fast-import.c
+++ b/fast-import.c
@@ -2070,16 +2070,13 @@ static uintmax_t do_change_note_fanout(
 		char *fullpath, unsigned int fullpath_len,
 		unsigned char fanout)
 {
-	struct tree_content *t;
+	struct tree_content *t = root->tree;
 	struct tree_entry *e, leaf;
 	unsigned int i, tmp_hex_sha1_len, tmp_fullpath_len;
 	uintmax_t num_notes = 0;
 	unsigned char sha1[20];
 	char realpath[60];
 
-	if (!root->tree);
-		load_tree(root);
-	t = root->tree;
 	for (i = 0; t && i < t->entry_count; i++) {
 		e = t->entries[i];
 		tmp_hex_sha1_len = hex_sha1_len + e->name->str_len;