diff --git a/builtin/rebase.c b/builtin/rebase.c
index ef520f66fb..e67020b358 100644
--- a/builtin/rebase.c
+++ b/builtin/rebase.c
@@ -1811,19 +1811,10 @@ int cmd_rebase(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	 * If the onto is a proper descendant of the tip of the branch, then
 	 * we just fast-forwarded.
 	 */
-	strbuf_reset(&msg);
 	if (oideq(&branch_base, &options.orig_head->object.oid)) {
 		printf(_("Fast-forwarded %s to %s.\n"),
 			branch_name, options.onto_name);
-		strbuf_addf(&msg, "rebase finished: %s onto %s",
-			options.head_name ? options.head_name : "detached HEAD",
-			oid_to_hex(&options.onto->object.oid));
-		memset(&ropts, 0, sizeof(ropts));
-		ropts.branch = options.head_name;
-		ropts.flags = RESET_HEAD_REFS_ONLY;
-		ropts.head_msg = msg.buf;
-		reset_head(the_repository, &ropts);
-		strbuf_release(&msg);
+		move_to_original_branch(&options);
 		ret = finish_rebase(&options);
 		goto cleanup;
 	}