diff --git a/git-bisect.sh b/git-bisect.sh
index 5d1cb00d86..737bf05127 100755
--- a/git-bisect.sh
+++ b/git-bisect.sh
@@ -277,8 +277,9 @@ bisect_state() {
 	0,*)
 		die "$(gettext "Please call 'bisect_state' with at least one argument.")" ;;
 	1,"$TERM_BAD"|1,"$TERM_GOOD"|1,skip)
-		rev=$(git rev-parse --verify $(bisect_head)) ||
-			die "$(gettext "Bad rev input: $(bisect_head)")"
+		bisected_head=$(bisect_head)
+		rev=$(git rev-parse --verify "$bisected_head") ||
+			die "$(eval_gettext "Bad rev input: \$bisected_head")"
 		bisect_write "$state" "$rev"
 		check_expected_revs "$rev" ;;
 	2,"$TERM_BAD"|*,"$TERM_GOOD"|*,skip)