diff --git a/fsck.c b/fsck.c
index ae9ae1abee..3d05d4a794 100644
--- a/fsck.c
+++ b/fsck.c
@@ -311,8 +311,6 @@ static int fsck_commit(struct commit *commit, fsck_error error_func)
 	err = fsck_ident(&buffer, &commit->object, error_func);
 	if (err)
 		return err;
-	if (*buffer != '\n')
-		return error_func(&commit->object, FSCK_ERROR, "invalid format - expected blank line");
 	if (!commit->tree)
 		return error_func(&commit->object, FSCK_ERROR, "could not load commit's tree %s", sha1_to_hex(tree_sha1));
 
diff --git a/t/t1450-fsck.sh b/t/t1450-fsck.sh
index 22a80c8268..759cf12e16 100755
--- a/t/t1450-fsck.sh
+++ b/t/t1450-fsck.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@ test_description='git fsck random collection of tests'
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
 test_expect_success setup '
+	git config i18n.commitencoding ISO-8859-1 &&
 	test_commit A fileA one &&
+	git config --unset i18n.commitencoding &&
 	git checkout HEAD^0 &&
 	test_commit B fileB two &&
 	git tag -d A B &&
@@ -28,6 +30,12 @@ test_expect_success 'loose objects borrowed from alternate are not missing' '
 	)
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'valid objects appear valid' '
+	{ git fsck 2>out; true; } &&
+	! grep error out &&
+	! grep fatal out
+'
+
 # Corruption tests follow.  Make sure to remove all traces of the
 # specific corruption you test afterwards, lest a later test trip over
 # it.