diff --git a/transport-helper.c b/transport-helper.c
index ad72fbd53c..f0214d3800 100644
--- a/transport-helper.c
+++ b/transport-helper.c
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ static int get_exporter(struct transport *transport,
 	/* we need to duplicate helper->in because we want to use it after
 	 * fastexport is done with it. */
 	fastexport->out = dup(helper->in);
-	fastexport->argv = xcalloc(6 + revlist_args->nr, sizeof(*fastexport->argv));
+	fastexport->argv = xcalloc(7 + revlist_args->nr, sizeof(*fastexport->argv));
 	fastexport->argv[argc++] = "fast-export";
 	fastexport->argv[argc++] = "--use-done-feature";
 	fastexport->argv[argc++] = data->signed_tags ?
@@ -448,6 +448,8 @@ static int get_exporter(struct transport *transport,
 	for (i = 0; i < revlist_args->nr; i++)
 		fastexport->argv[argc++] = revlist_args->items[i].string;
 
+	fastexport->argv[argc++] = "--";
+
 	fastexport->git_cmd = 1;
 	return start_command(fastexport);
 }