diff --git a/builtin/rebase.c b/builtin/rebase.c
index 19c7b377aa..840dbd7eb7 100644
--- a/builtin/rebase.c
+++ b/builtin/rebase.c
@@ -1917,7 +1917,9 @@ int cmd_rebase(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			die_if_checked_out(buf.buf, 1);
 			options.head_name = xstrdup(buf.buf);
 		/* If not is it a valid ref (branch or commit)? */
-		} else if (!get_oid(branch_name, &options.orig_head))
+		} else if (!get_oid(branch_name, &options.orig_head) &&
+			   lookup_commit_reference(the_repository,
+						   &options.orig_head))
 			options.head_name = NULL;
 		else
 			die(_("fatal: no such branch/commit '%s'"),