diff --git a/git-rebase--merge.sh b/git-rebase--merge.sh
index 06a4723d4d..9bc88b7054 100644
--- a/git-rebase--merge.sh
+++ b/git-rebase--merge.sh
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ call_merge () {
 	test -z "$strategy" && strategy=recursive
 	# If cmt doesn't have a parent, don't include it as a base
 	base=$(git rev-parse --verify --quiet $cmt^)
-	eval 'git-merge-$strategy' $strategy_opts $base ' -- "$hd" "$cmt"'
+	eval 'git merge-$strategy' $strategy_opts $base ' -- "$hd" "$cmt"'
 	rv=$?
 	case "$rv" in
 	0)
diff --git a/git.c b/git.c
index c870b9719c..3a624774b8 100644
--- a/git.c
+++ b/git.c
@@ -604,6 +604,31 @@ static int run_argv(int *argcp, const char ***argv)
 		 */
 		if (!done_alias)
 			handle_builtin(*argcp, *argv);
+		else if (get_builtin(**argv)) {
+			struct argv_array args = ARGV_ARRAY_INIT;
+			int i;
+
+			if (get_super_prefix())
+				die("%s doesn't support --super-prefix", **argv);
+
+			commit_pager_choice();
+
+			argv_array_push(&args, "git");
+			for (i = 0; i < *argcp; i++)
+				argv_array_push(&args, (*argv)[i]);
+
+			trace_argv_printf(args.argv, "trace: exec:");
+
+			/*
+			 * if we fail because the command is not found, it is
+			 * OK to return. Otherwise, we just pass along the status code.
+			 */
+			i = run_command_v_opt(args.argv, RUN_SILENT_EXEC_FAILURE |
+					      RUN_CLEAN_ON_EXIT);
+			if (i >= 0 || errno != ENOENT)
+				exit(i);
+			die("could not execute builtin %s", **argv);
+		}
 
 		/* .. then try the external ones */
 		execv_dashed_external(*argv);