diff --git a/builtin/fast-export.c b/builtin/fast-export.c
index 9e89925312..ed2916595f 100644
--- a/builtin/fast-export.c
+++ b/builtin/fast-export.c
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ static void export_blob(const unsigned char *sha1)
 	enum object_type type;
 	char *buf;
 	struct object *object;
+	int eaten;
 
 	if (no_data)
 		return;
@@ -126,16 +127,18 @@ static void export_blob(const unsigned char *sha1)
 	if (is_null_sha1(sha1))
 		return;
 
-	object = parse_object(sha1);
-	if (!object)
-		die ("Could not read blob %s", sha1_to_hex(sha1));
-
-	if (object->flags & SHOWN)
+	object = lookup_object(sha1);
+	if (object && object->flags & SHOWN)
 		return;
 
 	buf = read_sha1_file(sha1, &type, &size);
 	if (!buf)
 		die ("Could not read blob %s", sha1_to_hex(sha1));
+	if (check_sha1_signature(sha1, buf, size, typename(type)) < 0)
+		die("sha1 mismatch in blob %s", sha1_to_hex(sha1));
+	object = parse_object_buffer(sha1, type, size, buf, &eaten);
+	if (!object)
+		die("Could not read blob %s", sha1_to_hex(sha1));
 
 	mark_next_object(object);
 
@@ -147,7 +150,8 @@ static void export_blob(const unsigned char *sha1)
 	show_progress();
 
 	object->flags |= SHOWN;
-	free(buf);
+	if (!eaten)
+		free(buf);
 }
 
 static int depth_first(const void *a_, const void *b_)