diff --git a/ref-filter.c b/ref-filter.c
index 631978a4f9..5cb49b7c24 100644
--- a/ref-filter.c
+++ b/ref-filter.c
@@ -1523,9 +1523,7 @@ static enum contains_result contains_test(struct commit *candidate,
 		return CONTAINS_YES;
 	}
 
-	if (parse_commit(candidate) < 0)
-		return CONTAINS_NO;
-
+	parse_commit_or_die(candidate);
 	return CONTAINS_UNKNOWN;
 }