4 files changed, 36 insertions, 4 deletions
diff --git a/source/cgit.c b/source/cgit.c
index 2ef4cf1..8a3d8c1 100644
--- a/source/cgit.c
+++ b/source/cgit.c
@@ -1098,9 +1098,20 @@ static void prepare_repo_env(int *nongit, int *err)
 	setup_git_directory_gently(the_repository, nongit);
 	*err = errno;
 	// Notes come out of the object store, which a repository that failed
-	// to open has none of.
-	if (!*nongit)
-		load_display_notes(NULL);
+	// to open has none of, and git dies loading a notes ref that names
+	// no tree, so such a ref is passed over.
+	if (!*nongit) {
+		struct display_notes_opt opt;
+		char *ref = default_notes_ref(the_repository);
+
+		// The notes are always set up, since the commit and log pages
+		// ask for them, only with no ref when the default names no tree.
+		init_display_notes(&opt);
+		opt.use_default_notes = cgit_notes_ref_usable(ref);
+		load_display_notes(&opt);
+		release_display_notes(&opt);
+		free(ref);
+	}
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/source/shared.c b/source/shared.c
index 0bd9fe3..a20773b 100644
--- a/source/shared.c
+++ b/source/shared.c
@@ -756,3 +756,12 @@ int cgit_readme_is_tracked(const char *readme)
 
 	return colon && colon[1];
 }
+
+int cgit_notes_ref_usable(const char *notes_ref)
+{
+	struct object_id oid;
+
+	if (repo_get_oid_treeish(the_repository, notes_ref, &oid))
+		return 0;
+	return !!parse_tree_indirect(&oid);
+}
diff --git a/source/shared.h b/source/shared.h
index 10aa659..e22eb57 100644
--- a/source/shared.h
+++ b/source/shared.h
@@ -133,4 +133,11 @@ extern int cgit_readme_is_tracked(const char *readme);
  */
 extern int cgit_valid_rev(const char *rev);
 
+/*
+ * Whether notes_ref names a tree, which is what a notes tree can be loaded
+ * from. A ref pointing at anything else makes git die on loading it, and a
+ * pusher can point one anywhere.
+ */
+extern int cgit_notes_ref_usable(const char *notes_ref);
+
 #endif // CGIT_SHARED_H
diff --git a/source/ui-snapshot.c b/source/ui-snapshot.c
index 32d40f8..6a059a0 100644
--- a/source/ui-snapshot.c
+++ b/source/ui-snapshot.c
@@ -311,7 +311,12 @@ const struct object_id *cgit_snapshot_get_sig(const char *ref, const struct cgit
 		// dropped, so plain tar is refs/notes/signatures/tar.
 		strbuf_addf(&notes_ref, "refs/notes/signatures/%s", f->suffix + 1);
 
-		init_notes(tree, notes_ref.buf, combine_notes_ignore, 0);
+		// A ref that names no tree is passed over, since git would die
+		// loading it, and a signature it cannot hold is just absent.
+		if (cgit_notes_ref_usable(notes_ref.buf))
+			init_notes(tree, notes_ref.buf, combine_notes_ignore, 0);
+		else
+			init_notes(tree, notes_ref.buf, combine_notes_ignore, NOTES_INIT_EMPTY);
 		strbuf_release(&notes_ref);
 	}