diff --git a/builtin/merge.c b/builtin/merge.c
index 101ffeff4c..c90ee51c6c 100644
--- a/builtin/merge.c
+++ b/builtin/merge.c
@@ -1165,7 +1165,7 @@ int cmd_merge(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	struct commit *head_commit;
 	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
 	const char *head_arg;
-	int flag, i, ret = 0, head_subsumed;
+	int i, ret = 0, head_subsumed;
 	int best_cnt = -1, merge_was_ok = 0, automerge_was_ok = 0;
 	struct commit_list *common = NULL;
 	const char *best_strategy = NULL, *wt_strategy = NULL;
@@ -1179,7 +1179,7 @@ int cmd_merge(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	 * Check if we are _not_ on a detached HEAD, i.e. if there is a
 	 * current branch.
 	 */
-	branch = branch_to_free = resolve_refdup("HEAD", 0, head_sha1, &flag);
+	branch = branch_to_free = resolve_refdup("HEAD", 0, head_sha1, NULL);
 	if (branch && starts_with(branch, "refs/heads/"))
 		branch += 11;
 	if (!branch || is_null_sha1(head_sha1))