diff --git a/builtin-fast-export.c b/builtin-fast-export.c
index 838633808c3..cdb7df5efee 100644
--- a/builtin-fast-export.c
+++ b/builtin-fast-export.c
@@ -511,6 +511,7 @@ int cmd_fast_export(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 
 	get_tags_and_duplicates(&revs.pending, &extra_refs);
 
+	revs.topo_order = 1;
 	if (prepare_revision_walk(&revs))
 		die("revision walk setup failed");
 	revs.diffopt.format_callback = show_filemodify;