diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index ee4f8c6ed4..cf8fbeb8d5 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -1047,6 +1047,7 @@ int sequencer_pick_revisions(struct replay_opts *opts)
 {
 	struct commit_list *todo_list = NULL;
 	unsigned char sha1[20];
+	int i;
 
 	if (opts->subcommand == REPLAY_NONE)
 		assert(opts->revs);
@@ -1067,6 +1068,23 @@ int sequencer_pick_revisions(struct replay_opts *opts)
 	if (opts->subcommand == REPLAY_CONTINUE)
 		return sequencer_continue(opts);
 
+	for (i = 0; i < opts->revs->pending.nr; i++) {
+		unsigned char sha1[20];
+		const char *name = opts->revs->pending.objects[i].name;
+
+		/* This happens when using --stdin. */
+		if (!strlen(name))
+			continue;
+
+		if (!get_sha1(name, sha1)) {
+			enum object_type type = sha1_object_info(sha1, NULL);
+
+			if (type > 0 && type != OBJ_COMMIT)
+				die(_("%s: can't cherry-pick a %s"), name, typename(type));
+		} else
+			die(_("%s: bad revision"), name);
+	}
+
 	/*
 	 * If we were called as "git cherry-pick <commit>", just
 	 * cherry-pick/revert it, set CHERRY_PICK_HEAD /
diff --git a/t/t3508-cherry-pick-many-commits.sh b/t/t3508-cherry-pick-many-commits.sh
index 4e7136b837..19c99d7ef1 100755
--- a/t/t3508-cherry-pick-many-commits.sh
+++ b/t/t3508-cherry-pick-many-commits.sh
@@ -55,6 +55,12 @@ one
 two"
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'cherry-pick three one two: fails' '
+	git checkout -f master &&
+	git reset --hard first &&
+	test_must_fail git cherry-pick three one two:
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'output to keep user entertained during multi-pick' '
 	cat <<-\EOF >expected &&
 	[master OBJID] second