diff --git a/fast-import.c b/fast-import.c
index 78d978684d..c07f155723 100644
--- a/fast-import.c
+++ b/fast-import.c
@@ -1971,6 +1971,10 @@ static char *parse_ident(const char *buf)
 	size_t name_len;
 	char *ident;
 
+	/* ensure there is a space delimiter even if there is no name */
+	if (*buf == '<')
+		--buf;
+
 	gt = strrchr(buf, '>');
 	if (!gt)
 		die("Missing > in ident string: %s", buf);
diff --git a/t/t9300-fast-import.sh b/t/t9300-fast-import.sh
index a659dd408f..09ef6ba1d9 100755
--- a/t/t9300-fast-import.sh
+++ b/t/t9300-fast-import.sh
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ data <<COMMIT
 empty commit
 COMMIT
 INPUT_END
-test_expect_failure 'B: accept and fixup committer with no name' '
+test_expect_success 'B: accept and fixup committer with no name' '
 	git fast-import <input &&
 	out=$(git fsck) &&
 	echo "$out" &&