diff --git a/sha1_name.c b/sha1_name.c
index 3820f28ae75..416a673d684 100644
--- a/sha1_name.c
+++ b/sha1_name.c
@@ -1033,14 +1033,15 @@ int interpret_branch_name(const char *name, struct strbuf *buf)
 	 * points to something different than a branch.
 	 */
 	if (!upstream)
-		return error(_("HEAD does not point to a branch"));
+		die(_("HEAD does not point to a branch"));
 	if (!upstream->merge || !upstream->merge[0]->dst) {
 		if (!ref_exists(upstream->refname))
-			return error(_("No such branch: '%s'"), cp);
-		if (!upstream->merge)
-			return error(_("No upstream configured for branch '%s'"),
-				     upstream->name);
-		return error(
+			die(_("No such branch: '%s'"), cp);
+		if (!upstream->merge) {
+			die(_("No upstream configured for branch '%s'"),
+				upstream->name);
+		}
+		die(
 			_("Upstream branch '%s' not stored as a remote-tracking branch"),
 			upstream->merge[0]->src);
 	}
diff --git a/t/t1507-rev-parse-upstream.sh b/t/t1507-rev-parse-upstream.sh
index b27a7209f74..2a19e797eb7 100755
--- a/t/t1507-rev-parse-upstream.sh
+++ b/t/t1507-rev-parse-upstream.sh
@@ -129,8 +129,7 @@ test_expect_success 'branch@{u} works when tracking a local branch' '
 
 test_expect_success 'branch@{u} error message when no upstream' '
 	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
-	error: No upstream configured for branch ${sq}non-tracking${sq}
-	fatal: Needed a single revision
+	fatal: No upstream configured for branch ${sq}non-tracking${sq}
 	EOF
 	error_message non-tracking@{u} 2>actual &&
 	test_i18ncmp expect actual
@@ -138,8 +137,7 @@ test_expect_success 'branch@{u} error message when no upstream' '
 
 test_expect_success '@{u} error message when no upstream' '
 	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
-	error: No upstream configured for branch ${sq}master${sq}
-	fatal: Needed a single revision
+	fatal: No upstream configured for branch ${sq}master${sq}
 	EOF
 	test_must_fail git rev-parse --verify @{u} 2>actual &&
 	test_i18ncmp expect actual
@@ -147,8 +145,7 @@ test_expect_success '@{u} error message when no upstream' '
 
 test_expect_success 'branch@{u} error message with misspelt branch' '
 	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
-	error: No such branch: ${sq}no-such-branch${sq}
-	fatal: Needed a single revision
+	fatal: No such branch: ${sq}no-such-branch${sq}
 	EOF
 	error_message no-such-branch@{u} 2>actual &&
 	test_i18ncmp expect actual
@@ -156,8 +153,7 @@ test_expect_success 'branch@{u} error message with misspelt branch' '
 
 test_expect_success '@{u} error message when not on a branch' '
 	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
-	error: HEAD does not point to a branch
-	fatal: Needed a single revision
+	fatal: HEAD does not point to a branch
 	EOF
 	git checkout HEAD^0 &&
 	test_must_fail git rev-parse --verify @{u} 2>actual &&
@@ -166,8 +162,7 @@ test_expect_success '@{u} error message when not on a branch' '
 
 test_expect_success 'branch@{u} error message if upstream branch not fetched' '
 	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
-	error: Upstream branch ${sq}refs/heads/side${sq} not stored as a remote-tracking branch
-	fatal: Needed a single revision
+	fatal: Upstream branch ${sq}refs/heads/side${sq} not stored as a remote-tracking branch
 	EOF
 	error_message bad-upstream@{u} 2>actual &&
 	test_i18ncmp expect actual