diff --git a/builtin/shortlog.c b/builtin/shortlog.c
index 3c7cd2d6ef..d4daf31e22 100644
--- a/builtin/shortlog.c
+++ b/builtin/shortlog.c
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ int cmd_shortlog(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		usage_with_options(shortlog_usage, options);
 	}
 
-	if (setup_revisions(argc, argv, &rev, NULL) != 1) {
+	if (!nongit && setup_revisions(argc, argv, &rev, NULL) != 1) {
 		error(_("unrecognized argument: %s"), argv[1]);
 		usage_with_options(shortlog_usage, options);
 	}