diff --git a/builtin/revert.c b/builtin/revert.c
index 164552e05a..0a86fecbd0 100644
--- a/builtin/revert.c
+++ b/builtin/revert.c
@@ -700,16 +700,16 @@ static int format_todo(struct strbuf *buf, struct commit_list *todo_list,
 		struct replay_opts *opts)
 {
 	struct commit_list *cur = NULL;
-	struct commit_message msg = { NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL };
 	const char *sha1_abbrev = NULL;
 	const char *action_str = opts->action == REVERT ? "revert" : "pick";
+	const char *subject;
+	int subject_len;
 
 	for (cur = todo_list; cur; cur = cur->next) {
 		sha1_abbrev = find_unique_abbrev(cur->item->object.sha1, DEFAULT_ABBREV);
-		if (get_message(cur->item, &msg))
-			return error(_("Cannot get commit message for %s"), sha1_abbrev);
-		strbuf_addf(buf, "%s %s %s\n", action_str, sha1_abbrev, msg.subject);
-		free_message(&msg);
+		subject_len = find_commit_subject(cur->item->buffer, &subject);
+		strbuf_addf(buf, "%s %s %.*s\n", action_str, sha1_abbrev,
+			subject_len, subject);
 	}
 	return 0;
 }