diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index 28c6309d46..321462a435 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -705,6 +705,12 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 	if (s->fp == NULL)
 		die_errno(_("could not open '%s'"), git_path(commit_editmsg));
 
+	/*
+	 * Most hints are counter-productive when the commit has
+	 * already started.
+	 */
+	s->hints = 0;
+
 	if (clean_message_contents)
 		stripspace(&sb, 0);