diff --git a/rerere.c b/rerere.c
index 3cd37c5f0a..6e0c218332 100644
--- a/rerere.c
+++ b/rerere.c
@@ -402,12 +402,8 @@ static int handle_conflict(struct strbuf *out, struct rerere_io *io,
 			strbuf_addbuf(out, &two);
 			rerere_strbuf_putconflict(out, '>', marker_size);
 			if (ctx) {
-				git_hash_update(ctx, one.buf ?
-						one.buf : "",
-						one.len + 1);
-				git_hash_update(ctx, two.buf ?
-						two.buf : "",
-						two.len + 1);
+				git_hash_update(ctx, one.buf, one.len + 1);
+				git_hash_update(ctx, two.buf, two.len + 1);
 			}
 			break;
 		} else if (hunk == RR_SIDE_1)