diff --git a/builtin/fsck.c b/builtin/fsck.c
index bf5ddff43f..9c4c11d0ad 100644
--- a/builtin/fsck.c
+++ b/builtin/fsck.c
@@ -401,7 +401,8 @@ out:
 	if (obj->type == OBJ_TREE)
 		free_tree_buffer((struct tree *)obj);
 	if (obj->type == OBJ_COMMIT)
-		free_commit_buffer((struct commit *)obj);
+		free_commit_buffer(the_repository->parsed_objects,
+				   (struct commit *)obj);
 	return err;
 }
 
diff --git a/builtin/log.c b/builtin/log.c
index a479642eb9..c91a59dec1 100644
--- a/builtin/log.c
+++ b/builtin/log.c
@@ -397,7 +397,8 @@ static int cmd_log_walk(struct rev_info *rev)
 			 * We may show a given commit multiple times when
 			 * walking the reflogs.
 			 */
-			free_commit_buffer(commit);
+			free_commit_buffer(the_repository->parsed_objects,
+					   commit);
 			free_commit_list(commit->parents);
 			commit->parents = NULL;
 		}
@@ -1940,7 +1941,8 @@ int cmd_format_patch(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		    open_next_file(rev.numbered_files ? NULL : commit, NULL, &rev, quiet))
 			die(_("Failed to create output files"));
 		shown = log_tree_commit(&rev, commit);
-		free_commit_buffer(commit);
+		free_commit_buffer(the_repository->parsed_objects,
+				   commit);
 
 		/* We put one extra blank line between formatted
 		 * patches and this flag is used by log-tree code
diff --git a/builtin/rev-list.c b/builtin/rev-list.c
index 51e9e1267e..14ef659c12 100644
--- a/builtin/rev-list.c
+++ b/builtin/rev-list.c
@@ -197,7 +197,8 @@ static void finish_commit(struct commit *commit, void *data)
 		free_commit_list(commit->parents);
 		commit->parents = NULL;
 	}
-	free_commit_buffer(commit);
+	free_commit_buffer(the_repository->parsed_objects,
+			   commit);
 }
 
 static inline void finish_object__ma(struct object *obj)
diff --git a/commit-graph.c b/commit-graph.c
index 3f9c03afd5..30f1781176 100644
--- a/commit-graph.c
+++ b/commit-graph.c
@@ -288,7 +288,8 @@ static int bsearch_graph(struct commit_graph *g, struct object_id *oid, uint32_t
 			    g->chunk_oid_lookup, g->hash_len, pos);
 }
 
-static struct commit_list **insert_parent_or_die(struct commit_graph *g,
+static struct commit_list **insert_parent_or_die(struct repository *r,
+						 struct commit_graph *g,
 						 uint64_t pos,
 						 struct commit_list **pptr)
 {
@@ -299,7 +300,7 @@ static struct commit_list **insert_parent_or_die(struct commit_graph *g,
 		die("invalid parent position %"PRIu64, pos);
 
 	hashcpy(oid.hash, g->chunk_oid_lookup + g->hash_len * pos);
-	c = lookup_commit(the_repository, &oid);
+	c = lookup_commit(r, &oid);
 	if (!c)
 		die(_("could not find commit %s"), oid_to_hex(&oid));
 	c->graph_pos = pos;
@@ -313,7 +314,9 @@ static void fill_commit_graph_info(struct commit *item, struct commit_graph *g,
 	item->generation = get_be32(commit_data + g->hash_len + 8) >> 2;
 }
 
-static int fill_commit_in_graph(struct commit *item, struct commit_graph *g, uint32_t pos)
+static int fill_commit_in_graph(struct repository *r,
+				struct commit *item,
+				struct commit_graph *g, uint32_t pos)
 {
 	uint32_t edge_value;
 	uint32_t *parent_data_ptr;
@@ -337,13 +340,13 @@ static int fill_commit_in_graph(struct commit *item, struct commit_graph *g, uin
 	edge_value = get_be32(commit_data + g->hash_len);
 	if (edge_value == GRAPH_PARENT_NONE)
 		return 1;
-	pptr = insert_parent_or_die(g, edge_value, pptr);
+	pptr = insert_parent_or_die(r, g, edge_value, pptr);
 
 	edge_value = get_be32(commit_data + g->hash_len + 4);
 	if (edge_value == GRAPH_PARENT_NONE)
 		return 1;
 	if (!(edge_value & GRAPH_OCTOPUS_EDGES_NEEDED)) {
-		pptr = insert_parent_or_die(g, edge_value, pptr);
+		pptr = insert_parent_or_die(r, g, edge_value, pptr);
 		return 1;
 	}
 
@@ -351,7 +354,7 @@ static int fill_commit_in_graph(struct commit *item, struct commit_graph *g, uin
 			  4 * (uint64_t)(edge_value & GRAPH_EDGE_LAST_MASK));
 	do {
 		edge_value = get_be32(parent_data_ptr);
-		pptr = insert_parent_or_die(g,
+		pptr = insert_parent_or_die(r, g,
 					    edge_value & GRAPH_EDGE_LAST_MASK,
 					    pptr);
 		parent_data_ptr++;
@@ -370,7 +373,9 @@ static int find_commit_in_graph(struct commit *item, struct commit_graph *g, uin
 	}
 }
 
-static int parse_commit_in_graph_one(struct commit_graph *g, struct commit *item)
+static int parse_commit_in_graph_one(struct repository *r,
+				     struct commit_graph *g,
+				     struct commit *item)
 {
 	uint32_t pos;
 
@@ -378,7 +383,7 @@ static int parse_commit_in_graph_one(struct commit_graph *g, struct commit *item
 		return 1;
 
 	if (find_commit_in_graph(item, g, &pos))
-		return fill_commit_in_graph(item, g, pos);
+		return fill_commit_in_graph(r, item, g, pos);
 
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -387,7 +392,7 @@ int parse_commit_in_graph(struct repository *r, struct commit *item)
 {
 	if (!prepare_commit_graph(r))
 		return 0;
-	return parse_commit_in_graph_one(r->objects->commit_graph, item);
+	return parse_commit_in_graph_one(r, r->objects->commit_graph, item);
 }
 
 void load_commit_graph_info(struct repository *r, struct commit *item)
@@ -399,19 +404,22 @@ void load_commit_graph_info(struct repository *r, struct commit *item)
 		fill_commit_graph_info(item, r->objects->commit_graph, pos);
 }
 
-static struct tree *load_tree_for_commit(struct commit_graph *g, struct commit *c)
+static struct tree *load_tree_for_commit(struct repository *r,
+					 struct commit_graph *g,
+					 struct commit *c)
 {
 	struct object_id oid;
 	const unsigned char *commit_data = g->chunk_commit_data +
 					   GRAPH_DATA_WIDTH * (c->graph_pos);
 
 	hashcpy(oid.hash, commit_data);
-	c->maybe_tree = lookup_tree(the_repository, &oid);
+	c->maybe_tree = lookup_tree(r, &oid);
 
 	return c->maybe_tree;
 }
 
-static struct tree *get_commit_tree_in_graph_one(struct commit_graph *g,
+static struct tree *get_commit_tree_in_graph_one(struct repository *r,
+						 struct commit_graph *g,
 						 const struct commit *c)
 {
 	if (c->maybe_tree)
@@ -419,12 +427,12 @@ static struct tree *get_commit_tree_in_graph_one(struct commit_graph *g,
 	if (c->graph_pos == COMMIT_NOT_FROM_GRAPH)
 		BUG("get_commit_tree_in_graph_one called from non-commit-graph commit");
 
-	return load_tree_for_commit(g, (struct commit *)c);
+	return load_tree_for_commit(r, g, (struct commit *)c);
 }
 
 struct tree *get_commit_tree_in_graph(struct repository *r, const struct commit *c)
 {
-	return get_commit_tree_in_graph_one(r->objects->commit_graph, c);
+	return get_commit_tree_in_graph_one(r, r->objects->commit_graph, c);
 }
 
 static void write_graph_chunk_fanout(struct hashfile *f,
@@ -1035,7 +1043,7 @@ int verify_commit_graph(struct repository *r, struct commit_graph *g)
 		}
 
 		graph_commit = lookup_commit(r, &cur_oid);
-		if (!parse_commit_in_graph_one(g, graph_commit))
+		if (!parse_commit_in_graph_one(r, g, graph_commit))
 			graph_report("failed to parse %s from commit-graph",
 				     oid_to_hex(&cur_oid));
 	}
@@ -1071,7 +1079,7 @@ int verify_commit_graph(struct repository *r, struct commit_graph *g)
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		if (!oideq(&get_commit_tree_in_graph_one(g, graph_commit)->object.oid,
+		if (!oideq(&get_commit_tree_in_graph_one(r, g, graph_commit)->object.oid,
 			   get_commit_tree_oid(odb_commit)))
 			graph_report("root tree OID for commit %s in commit-graph is %s != %s",
 				     oid_to_hex(&cur_oid),
diff --git a/commit-reach.c b/commit-reach.c
index d5a39defd3..3ea174788a 100644
--- a/commit-reach.c
+++ b/commit-reach.c
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ static int queue_has_nonstale(struct prio_queue *queue)
 }
 
 /* all input commits in one and twos[] must have been parsed! */
-static struct commit_list *paint_down_to_common(struct commit *one, int n,
+static struct commit_list *paint_down_to_common(struct repository *r,
+						struct commit *one, int n,
 						struct commit **twos,
 						int min_generation)
 {
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ static struct commit_list *paint_down_to_common(struct commit *one, int n,
 			parents = parents->next;
 			if ((p->object.flags & flags) == flags)
 				continue;
-			if (parse_commit(p))
+			if (repo_parse_commit(r, p))
 				return NULL;
 			p->object.flags |= flags;
 			prio_queue_put(&queue, p);
@@ -94,7 +95,9 @@ static struct commit_list *paint_down_to_common(struct commit *one, int n,
 	return result;
 }
 
-static struct commit_list *merge_bases_many(struct commit *one, int n, struct commit **twos)
+static struct commit_list *merge_bases_many(struct repository *r,
+					    struct commit *one, int n,
+					    struct commit **twos)
 {
 	struct commit_list *list = NULL;
 	struct commit_list *result = NULL;
@@ -109,14 +112,14 @@ static struct commit_list *merge_bases_many(struct commit *one, int n, struct co
 			return commit_list_insert(one, &result);
 	}
 
-	if (parse_commit(one))
+	if (repo_parse_commit(r, one))
 		return NULL;
 	for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
-		if (parse_commit(twos[i]))
+		if (repo_parse_commit(r, twos[i]))
 			return NULL;
 	}
 
-	list = paint_down_to_common(one, n, twos, 0);
+	list = paint_down_to_common(r, one, n, twos, 0);
 
 	while (list) {
 		struct commit *commit = pop_commit(&list);
@@ -153,7 +156,7 @@ struct commit_list *get_octopus_merge_bases(struct commit_list *in)
 	return ret;
 }
 
-static int remove_redundant(struct commit **array, int cnt)
+static int remove_redundant(struct repository *r, struct commit **array, int cnt)
 {
 	/*
 	 * Some commit in the array may be an ancestor of
@@ -171,7 +174,7 @@ static int remove_redundant(struct commit **array, int cnt)
 	ALLOC_ARRAY(filled_index, cnt - 1);
 
 	for (i = 0; i < cnt; i++)
-		parse_commit(array[i]);
+		repo_parse_commit(r, array[i]);
 	for (i = 0; i < cnt; i++) {
 		struct commit_list *common;
 		uint32_t min_generation = array[i]->generation;
@@ -187,8 +190,8 @@ static int remove_redundant(struct commit **array, int cnt)
 			if (array[j]->generation < min_generation)
 				min_generation = array[j]->generation;
 		}
-		common = paint_down_to_common(array[i], filled, work,
-					      min_generation);
+		common = paint_down_to_common(r, array[i], filled,
+					      work, min_generation);
 		if (array[i]->object.flags & PARENT2)
 			redundant[i] = 1;
 		for (j = 0; j < filled; j++)
@@ -213,7 +216,8 @@ static int remove_redundant(struct commit **array, int cnt)
 	return filled;
 }
 
-static struct commit_list *get_merge_bases_many_0(struct commit *one,
+static struct commit_list *get_merge_bases_many_0(struct repository *r,
+						  struct commit *one,
 						  int n,
 						  struct commit **twos,
 						  int cleanup)
@@ -223,7 +227,7 @@ static struct commit_list *get_merge_bases_many_0(struct commit *one,
 	struct commit_list *result;
 	int cnt, i;
 
-	result = merge_bases_many(one, n, twos);
+	result = merge_bases_many(r, one, n, twos);
 	for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
 		if (one == twos[i])
 			return result;
@@ -246,7 +250,7 @@ static struct commit_list *get_merge_bases_many_0(struct commit *one,
 	clear_commit_marks(one, all_flags);
 	clear_commit_marks_many(n, twos, all_flags);
 
-	cnt = remove_redundant(rslt, cnt);
+	cnt = remove_redundant(r, rslt, cnt);
 	result = NULL;
 	for (i = 0; i < cnt; i++)
 		commit_list_insert_by_date(rslt[i], &result);
@@ -254,23 +258,27 @@ static struct commit_list *get_merge_bases_many_0(struct commit *one,
 	return result;
 }
 
-struct commit_list *get_merge_bases_many(struct commit *one,
-					 int n,
-					 struct commit **twos)
+struct commit_list *repo_get_merge_bases_many(struct repository *r,
+					      struct commit *one,
+					      int n,
+					      struct commit **twos)
 {
-	return get_merge_bases_many_0(one, n, twos, 1);
+	return get_merge_bases_many_0(r, one, n, twos, 1);
 }
 
-struct commit_list *get_merge_bases_many_dirty(struct commit *one,
-					       int n,
-					       struct commit **twos)
+struct commit_list *repo_get_merge_bases_many_dirty(struct repository *r,
+						    struct commit *one,
+						    int n,
+						    struct commit **twos)
 {
-	return get_merge_bases_many_0(one, n, twos, 0);
+	return get_merge_bases_many_0(r, one, n, twos, 0);
 }
 
-struct commit_list *get_merge_bases(struct commit *one, struct commit *two)
+struct commit_list *repo_get_merge_bases(struct repository *r,
+					 struct commit *one,
+					 struct commit *two)
 {
-	return get_merge_bases_many_0(one, 1, &two, 1);
+	return get_merge_bases_many_0(r, one, 1, &two, 1);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -304,16 +312,17 @@ int is_descendant_of(struct commit *commit, struct commit_list *with_commit)
 /*
  * Is "commit" an ancestor of one of the "references"?
  */
-int in_merge_bases_many(struct commit *commit, int nr_reference, struct commit **reference)
+int repo_in_merge_bases_many(struct repository *r, struct commit *commit,
+			     int nr_reference, struct commit **reference)
 {
 	struct commit_list *bases;
 	int ret = 0, i;
 	uint32_t min_generation = GENERATION_NUMBER_INFINITY;
 
-	if (parse_commit(commit))
+	if (repo_parse_commit(r, commit))
 		return ret;
 	for (i = 0; i < nr_reference; i++) {
-		if (parse_commit(reference[i]))
+		if (repo_parse_commit(r, reference[i]))
 			return ret;
 		if (reference[i]->generation < min_generation)
 			min_generation = reference[i]->generation;
@@ -322,7 +331,9 @@ int in_merge_bases_many(struct commit *commit, int nr_reference, struct commit *
 	if (commit->generation > min_generation)
 		return ret;
 
-	bases = paint_down_to_common(commit, nr_reference, reference, commit->generation);
+	bases = paint_down_to_common(r, commit,
+				     nr_reference, reference,
+				     commit->generation);
 	if (commit->object.flags & PARENT2)
 		ret = 1;
 	clear_commit_marks(commit, all_flags);
@@ -334,9 +345,11 @@ int in_merge_bases_many(struct commit *commit, int nr_reference, struct commit *
 /*
  * Is "commit" an ancestor of (i.e. reachable from) the "reference"?
  */
-int in_merge_bases(struct commit *commit, struct commit *reference)
+int repo_in_merge_bases(struct repository *r,
+			struct commit *commit,
+			struct commit *reference)
 {
-	return in_merge_bases_many(commit, 1, &reference);
+	return repo_in_merge_bases_many(r, commit, 1, &reference);
 }
 
 struct commit_list *reduce_heads(struct commit_list *heads)
@@ -365,7 +378,7 @@ struct commit_list *reduce_heads(struct commit_list *heads)
 			p->item->object.flags &= ~STALE;
 		}
 	}
-	num_head = remove_redundant(array, num_head);
+	num_head = remove_redundant(the_repository, array, num_head);
 	for (i = 0; i < num_head; i++)
 		tail = &commit_list_insert(array[i], tail)->next;
 	free(array);
diff --git a/commit-reach.h b/commit-reach.h
index fb8082a2ec..99a43e8b64 100644
--- a/commit-reach.h
+++ b/commit-reach.h
@@ -9,21 +9,35 @@ struct ref_filter;
 struct object_id;
 struct object_array;
 
-struct commit_list *get_merge_bases_many(struct commit *one,
-					 int n,
-					 struct commit **twos);
-struct commit_list *get_merge_bases_many_dirty(struct commit *one,
-					       int n,
-					       struct commit **twos);
-struct commit_list *get_merge_bases(struct commit *one, struct commit *two);
+struct commit_list *repo_get_merge_bases(struct repository *r,
+					 struct commit *rev1,
+					 struct commit *rev2);
+struct commit_list *repo_get_merge_bases_many(struct repository *r,
+					      struct commit *one, int n,
+					      struct commit **twos);
+/* To be used only when object flags after this call no longer matter */
+struct commit_list *repo_get_merge_bases_many_dirty(struct repository *r,
+						    struct commit *one, int n,
+						    struct commit **twos);
+#ifndef NO_THE_REPOSITORY_COMPATIBILITY_MACROS
+#define get_merge_bases(r1, r2)           repo_get_merge_bases(the_repository, r1, r2)
+#define get_merge_bases_many(one, n, two) repo_get_merge_bases_many(the_repository, one, n, two)
+#define get_merge_bases_many_dirty(one, n, twos) repo_get_merge_bases_many_dirty(the_repository, one, n, twos)
+#endif
+
 struct commit_list *get_octopus_merge_bases(struct commit_list *in);
 
-/* To be used only when object flags after this call no longer matter */
-struct commit_list *get_merge_bases_many_dirty(struct commit *one, int n, struct commit **twos);
-
 int is_descendant_of(struct commit *commit, struct commit_list *with_commit);
-int in_merge_bases_many(struct commit *commit, int nr_reference, struct commit **reference);
-int in_merge_bases(struct commit *commit, struct commit *reference);
+int repo_in_merge_bases(struct repository *r,
+			struct commit *commit,
+			struct commit *reference);
+int repo_in_merge_bases_many(struct repository *r,
+			     struct commit *commit,
+			     int nr_reference, struct commit **reference);
+#ifndef NO_THE_REPOSITORY_COMPATIBILITY_MACROS
+#define in_merge_bases(c1, c2) repo_in_merge_bases(the_repository, c1, c2)
+#define in_merge_bases_many(c1, n, cs) repo_in_merge_bases_many(the_repository, c1, n, cs)
+#endif
 
 /*
  * Takes a list of commits and returns a new list where those
diff --git a/commit.c b/commit.c
index d13a7bc374..a5333c7ac6 100644
--- a/commit.c
+++ b/commit.c
@@ -299,13 +299,15 @@ const void *get_cached_commit_buffer(struct repository *r, const struct commit *
 	return v->buffer;
 }
 
-const void *get_commit_buffer(const struct commit *commit, unsigned long *sizep)
+const void *repo_get_commit_buffer(struct repository *r,
+				   const struct commit *commit,
+				   unsigned long *sizep)
 {
-	const void *ret = get_cached_commit_buffer(the_repository, commit, sizep);
+	const void *ret = get_cached_commit_buffer(r, commit, sizep);
 	if (!ret) {
 		enum object_type type;
 		unsigned long size;
-		ret = read_object_file(&commit->object.oid, &type, &size);
+		ret = repo_read_object_file(r, &commit->object.oid, &type, &size);
 		if (!ret)
 			die("cannot read commit object %s",
 			    oid_to_hex(&commit->object.oid));
@@ -318,18 +320,20 @@ const void *get_commit_buffer(const struct commit *commit, unsigned long *sizep)
 	return ret;
 }
 
-void unuse_commit_buffer(const struct commit *commit, const void *buffer)
+void repo_unuse_commit_buffer(struct repository *r,
+			      const struct commit *commit,
+			      const void *buffer)
 {
 	struct commit_buffer *v = buffer_slab_peek(
-		the_repository->parsed_objects->buffer_slab, commit);
+		r->parsed_objects->buffer_slab, commit);
 	if (!(v && v->buffer == buffer))
 		free((void *)buffer);
 }
 
-void free_commit_buffer(struct commit *commit)
+void free_commit_buffer(struct parsed_object_pool *pool, struct commit *commit)
 {
 	struct commit_buffer *v = buffer_slab_peek(
-		the_repository->parsed_objects->buffer_slab, commit);
+		pool->buffer_slab, commit);
 	if (v) {
 		FREE_AND_NULL(v->buffer);
 		v->size = 0;
@@ -352,13 +356,12 @@ struct object_id *get_commit_tree_oid(const struct commit *commit)
 	return &get_commit_tree(commit)->object.oid;
 }
 
-void release_commit_memory(struct commit *c)
+void release_commit_memory(struct parsed_object_pool *pool, struct commit *c)
 {
 	c->maybe_tree = NULL;
 	c->index = 0;
-	free_commit_buffer(c);
+	free_commit_buffer(pool, c);
 	free_commit_list(c->parents);
-	/* TODO: what about commit->util? */
 
 	c->object.parsed = 0;
 }
@@ -445,7 +448,10 @@ int parse_commit_buffer(struct repository *r, struct commit *item, const void *b
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int parse_commit_internal(struct commit *item, int quiet_on_missing, int use_commit_graph)
+int repo_parse_commit_internal(struct repository *r,
+			       struct commit *item,
+			       int quiet_on_missing,
+			       int use_commit_graph)
 {
 	enum object_type type;
 	void *buffer;
@@ -456,9 +462,9 @@ int parse_commit_internal(struct commit *item, int quiet_on_missing, int use_com
 		return -1;
 	if (item->object.parsed)
 		return 0;
-	if (use_commit_graph && parse_commit_in_graph(the_repository, item))
+	if (use_commit_graph && parse_commit_in_graph(r, item))
 		return 0;
-	buffer = read_object_file(&item->object.oid, &type, &size);
+	buffer = repo_read_object_file(r, &item->object.oid, &type, &size);
 	if (!buffer)
 		return quiet_on_missing ? -1 :
 			error("Could not read %s",
@@ -469,18 +475,19 @@ int parse_commit_internal(struct commit *item, int quiet_on_missing, int use_com
 			     oid_to_hex(&item->object.oid));
 	}
 
-	ret = parse_commit_buffer(the_repository, item, buffer, size, 0);
+	ret = parse_commit_buffer(r, item, buffer, size, 0);
 	if (save_commit_buffer && !ret) {
-		set_commit_buffer(the_repository, item, buffer, size);
+		set_commit_buffer(r, item, buffer, size);
 		return 0;
 	}
 	free(buffer);
 	return ret;
 }
 
-int parse_commit_gently(struct commit *item, int quiet_on_missing)
+int repo_parse_commit_gently(struct repository *r,
+			     struct commit *item, int quiet_on_missing)
 {
-	return parse_commit_internal(item, quiet_on_missing, 1);
+	return repo_parse_commit_internal(r, item, quiet_on_missing, 1);
 }
 
 void parse_commit_or_die(struct commit *item)
diff --git a/commit.h b/commit.h
index 98664536cb..42728c2906 100644
--- a/commit.h
+++ b/commit.h
@@ -80,12 +80,21 @@ struct commit *lookup_commit_reference_by_name(const char *name);
 struct commit *lookup_commit_or_die(const struct object_id *oid, const char *ref_name);
 
 int parse_commit_buffer(struct repository *r, struct commit *item, const void *buffer, unsigned long size, int check_graph);
-int parse_commit_internal(struct commit *item, int quiet_on_missing, int use_commit_graph);
-int parse_commit_gently(struct commit *item, int quiet_on_missing);
-static inline int parse_commit(struct commit *item)
+int repo_parse_commit_internal(struct repository *r, struct commit *item,
+			       int quiet_on_missing, int use_commit_graph);
+int repo_parse_commit_gently(struct repository *r,
+			     struct commit *item,
+			     int quiet_on_missing);
+static inline int repo_parse_commit(struct repository *r, struct commit *item)
 {
-	return parse_commit_gently(item, 0);
+	return repo_parse_commit_gently(r, item, 0);
 }
+#ifndef NO_THE_REPOSITORY_COMPATIBILITY_MACROS
+#define parse_commit_internal(item, quiet, use) repo_parse_commit_internal(the_repository, item, quiet, use)
+#define parse_commit_gently(item, quiet) repo_parse_commit_gently(the_repository, item, quiet)
+#define parse_commit(item) repo_parse_commit(the_repository, item)
+#endif
+
 void parse_commit_or_die(struct commit *item);
 
 struct buffer_slab;
@@ -109,7 +118,12 @@ const void *get_cached_commit_buffer(struct repository *, const struct commit *,
  * from disk. The resulting memory should not be modified, and must be given
  * to unuse_commit_buffer when the caller is done.
  */
-const void *get_commit_buffer(const struct commit *, unsigned long *size);
+const void *repo_get_commit_buffer(struct repository *r,
+				   const struct commit *,
+				   unsigned long *size);
+#ifndef NO_THE_REPOSITORY_COMPATIBILITY_MACROS
+#define get_commit_buffer(c, s) repo_get_commit_buffer(the_repository, c, s)
+#endif
 
 /*
  * Tell the commit subsytem that we are done with a particular commit buffer.
@@ -117,12 +131,17 @@ const void *get_commit_buffer(const struct commit *, unsigned long *size);
  * from an earlier call to get_commit_buffer.  The buffer may or may not be
  * freed by this call; callers should not access the memory afterwards.
  */
-void unuse_commit_buffer(const struct commit *, const void *buffer);
+void repo_unuse_commit_buffer(struct repository *r,
+			      const struct commit *,
+			      const void *buffer);
+#ifndef NO_THE_REPOSITORY_COMPATIBILITY_MACROS
+#define unuse_commit_buffer(c, b) repo_unuse_commit_buffer(the_repository, c, b)
+#endif
 
 /*
  * Free any cached object buffer associated with the commit.
  */
-void free_commit_buffer(struct commit *);
+void free_commit_buffer(struct parsed_object_pool *pool, struct commit *);
 
 struct tree *get_commit_tree(const struct commit *);
 struct object_id *get_commit_tree_oid(const struct commit *);
@@ -131,7 +150,7 @@ struct object_id *get_commit_tree_oid(const struct commit *);
  * Release memory related to a commit, including the parent list and
  * any cached object buffer.
  */
-void release_commit_memory(struct commit *c);
+void release_commit_memory(struct parsed_object_pool *pool, struct commit *c);
 
 /*
  * Disassociate any cached object buffer from the commit, but do not free it.
@@ -162,6 +181,14 @@ extern int has_non_ascii(const char *text);
 extern const char *logmsg_reencode(const struct commit *commit,
 				   char **commit_encoding,
 				   const char *output_encoding);
+const char *repo_logmsg_reencode(struct repository *r,
+				 const struct commit *commit,
+				 char **commit_encoding,
+				 const char *output_encoding);
+#ifndef NO_THE_REPOSITORY_COMPATIBILITY_MACROS
+#define logmsg_reencode(c, enc, out) repo_logmsg_reencode(the_repository, c, enc, out)
+#endif
+
 extern const char *skip_blank_lines(const char *msg);
 
 /** Removes the first commit from a list sorted by date, and adds all
diff --git a/contrib/coccinelle/the_repository.pending.cocci b/contrib/coccinelle/the_repository.pending.cocci
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2ee702ecf7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contrib/coccinelle/the_repository.pending.cocci
@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+// This file is used for the ongoing refactoring of
+// bringing the index or repository struct in all of
+// our code base.
+
+@@
+expression E;
+expression F;
+expression G;
+@@
+- read_object_file(
++ repo_read_object_file(the_repository,
+  E, F, G)
+
+@@
+expression E;
+@@
+- has_sha1_file(
++ repo_has_sha1_file(the_repository,
+  E)
+
+@@
+expression E;
+expression F;
+@@
+- has_sha1_file_with_flags(
++ repo_has_sha1_file_with_flags(the_repository,
+  E)
+
+@@
+expression E;
+@@
+- has_object_file(
++ repo_has_object_file(the_repository,
+  E)
+
+@@
+expression E;
+expression F;
+@@
+- has_object_file_with_flags(
++ repo_has_object_file_with_flags(the_repository,
+  E)
+
+@@
+expression E;
+expression F;
+expression G;
+@@
+- parse_commit_internal(
++ repo_parse_commit_internal(the_repository,
+  E, F, G)
+
+@@
+expression E;
+expression F;
+@@
+- parse_commit_gently(
++ repo_parse_commit_gently(the_repository,
+  E, F)
+
+@@
+expression E;
+@@
+- parse_commit(
++ repo_parse_commit(the_repository,
+  E)
+
+@@
+expression E;
+expression F;
+@@
+- get_merge_bases(
++ repo_get_merge_bases(the_repository,
+  E, F);
+
+@@
+expression E;
+expression F;
+expression G;
+@@
+- get_merge_bases_many(
++ repo_get_merge_bases_many(the_repository,
+  E, F, G);
+
+@@
+expression E;
+expression F;
+expression G;
+@@
+- get_merge_bases_many_dirty(
++ repo_get_merge_bases_many_dirty(the_repository,
+  E, F, G);
+
+@@
+expression E;
+expression F;
+@@
+- in_merge_bases(
++ repo_in_merge_bases(the_repository,
+  E, F);
+
+@@
+expression E;
+expression F;
+expression G;
+@@
+- in_merge_bases_many(
++ repo_in_merge_bases_many(the_repository,
+  E, F, G);
+
+@@
+expression E;
+expression F;
+@@
+- get_commit_buffer(
++ repo_get_commit_buffer(the_repository,
+  E, F);
+
+@@
+expression E;
+expression F;
+@@
+- unuse_commit_buffer(
++ repo_unuse_commit_buffer(the_repository,
+  E, F);
+
+@@
+expression E;
+expression F;
+expression G;
+@@
+- logmsg_reencode(
++ repo_logmsg_reencode(the_repository,
+  E, F, G);
+
+@@
+expression E;
+expression F;
+expression G;
+expression H;
+@@
+- format_commit_message(
++ repo_format_commit_message(the_repository,
+  E, F, G, H);
diff --git a/object-store.h b/object-store.h
index e16aa38cae..ba57630677 100644
--- a/object-store.h
+++ b/object-store.h
@@ -160,13 +160,20 @@ const char *loose_object_path(struct repository *r, struct strbuf *buf, const un
 
 void *map_sha1_file(struct repository *r, const unsigned char *sha1, unsigned long *size);
 
-extern void *read_object_file_extended(const struct object_id *oid,
+extern void *read_object_file_extended(struct repository *r,
+				       const struct object_id *oid,
 				       enum object_type *type,
 				       unsigned long *size, int lookup_replace);
-static inline void *read_object_file(const struct object_id *oid, enum object_type *type, unsigned long *size)
+static inline void *repo_read_object_file(struct repository *r,
+					  const struct object_id *oid,
+					  enum object_type *type,
+					  unsigned long *size)
 {
-	return read_object_file_extended(oid, type, size, 1);
+	return read_object_file_extended(r, oid, type, size, 1);
 }
+#ifndef NO_THE_REPOSITORY_COMPATIBILITY_MACROS
+#define read_object_file(oid, type, size) repo_read_object_file(the_repository, oid, type, size)
+#endif
 
 /* Read and unpack an object file into memory, write memory to an object file */
 int oid_object_info(struct repository *r, const struct object_id *, unsigned long *);
@@ -204,15 +211,27 @@ int read_loose_object(const char *path,
  * object_info. OBJECT_INFO_SKIP_CACHED is automatically set; pass
  * nonzero flags to also set other flags.
  */
-extern int has_sha1_file_with_flags(const unsigned char *sha1, int flags);
-static inline int has_sha1_file(const unsigned char *sha1)
+int repo_has_sha1_file_with_flags(struct repository *r,
+				  const unsigned char *sha1, int flags);
+static inline int repo_has_sha1_file(struct repository *r,
+				     const unsigned char *sha1)
 {
-	return has_sha1_file_with_flags(sha1, 0);
+	return repo_has_sha1_file_with_flags(r, sha1, 0);
 }
 
+#ifndef NO_THE_REPOSITORY_COMPATIBILITY_MACROS
+#define has_sha1_file_with_flags(sha1, flags) repo_has_sha1_file_with_flags(the_repository, sha1, flags)
+#define has_sha1_file(sha1) repo_has_sha1_file(the_repository, sha1)
+#endif
+
 /* Same as the above, except for struct object_id. */
-extern int has_object_file(const struct object_id *oid);
-extern int has_object_file_with_flags(const struct object_id *oid, int flags);
+int repo_has_object_file(struct repository *r, const struct object_id *oid);
+int repo_has_object_file_with_flags(struct repository *r,
+				    const struct object_id *oid, int flags);
+#ifndef NO_THE_REPOSITORY_COMPATIBILITY_MACROS
+#define has_object_file(oid) repo_has_object_file(the_repository, oid)
+#define has_object_file_with_flags(oid, flags) repo_has_object_file_with_flags(the_repository, oid, flags)
+#endif
 
 /*
  * Return true iff an alternate object database has a loose object
diff --git a/object.c b/object.c
index a5c5cf830f..541934ecdd 100644
--- a/object.c
+++ b/object.c
@@ -259,8 +259,8 @@ struct object *parse_object(struct repository *r, const struct object_id *oid)
 	if (obj && obj->parsed)
 		return obj;
 
-	if ((obj && obj->type == OBJ_BLOB && has_object_file(oid)) ||
-	    (!obj && has_object_file(oid) &&
+	if ((obj && obj->type == OBJ_BLOB && repo_has_object_file(r, oid)) ||
+	    (!obj && repo_has_object_file(r, oid) &&
 	     oid_object_info(r, oid, NULL) == OBJ_BLOB)) {
 		if (check_object_signature(repl, NULL, 0, NULL) < 0) {
 			error(_("sha1 mismatch %s"), oid_to_hex(oid));
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ struct object *parse_object(struct repository *r, const struct object_id *oid)
 		return lookup_object(r, oid->hash);
 	}
 
-	buffer = read_object_file(oid, &type, &size);
+	buffer = repo_read_object_file(r, oid, &type, &size);
 	if (buffer) {
 		if (check_object_signature(repl, buffer, size, type_name(type)) < 0) {
 			free(buffer);
@@ -540,7 +540,7 @@ void parsed_object_pool_clear(struct parsed_object_pool *o)
 		if (obj->type == OBJ_TREE)
 			free_tree_buffer((struct tree*)obj);
 		else if (obj->type == OBJ_COMMIT)
-			release_commit_memory((struct commit*)obj);
+			release_commit_memory(o, (struct commit*)obj);
 		else if (obj->type == OBJ_TAG)
 			release_tag_memory((struct tag*)obj);
 	}
diff --git a/packfile.c b/packfile.c
index ac6bb64bc3..16bcb75262 100644
--- a/packfile.c
+++ b/packfile.c
@@ -1148,12 +1148,13 @@ void mark_bad_packed_object(struct packed_git *p, const unsigned char *sha1)
 	p->num_bad_objects++;
 }
 
-const struct packed_git *has_packed_and_bad(const unsigned char *sha1)
+const struct packed_git *has_packed_and_bad(struct repository *r,
+					    const unsigned char *sha1)
 {
 	struct packed_git *p;
 	unsigned i;
 
-	for (p = the_repository->objects->packed_git; p; p = p->next)
+	for (p = r->objects->packed_git; p; p = p->next)
 		for (i = 0; i < p->num_bad_objects; i++)
 			if (hasheq(sha1,
 				   p->bad_object_sha1 + the_hash_algo->rawsz * i))
diff --git a/packfile.h b/packfile.h
index 6c4037605d..d70c6d9afb 100644
--- a/packfile.h
+++ b/packfile.h
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ extern int packed_object_info(struct repository *r,
 			      off_t offset, struct object_info *);
 
 extern void mark_bad_packed_object(struct packed_git *p, const unsigned char *sha1);
-extern const struct packed_git *has_packed_and_bad(const unsigned char *sha1);
+extern const struct packed_git *has_packed_and_bad(struct repository *r, const unsigned char *sha1);
 
 /*
  * Iff a pack file in the given repository contains the object named by sha1,
diff --git a/path.h b/path.h
index b654ea8ff5..651e6157fc 100644
--- a/path.h
+++ b/path.h
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ extern void report_linked_checkout_garbage(void);
 	const char *git_path_##var(struct repository *r) \
 	{ \
 		if (!r->cached_paths.var) \
-			r->cached_paths.var = git_pathdup(filename); \
+			r->cached_paths.var = repo_git_path(r, filename); \
 		return r->cached_paths.var; \
 	}
 
diff --git a/pretty.c b/pretty.c
index 1b453fbb59..0ab45d10d7 100644
--- a/pretty.c
+++ b/pretty.c
@@ -595,14 +595,15 @@ static char *replace_encoding_header(char *buf, const char *encoding)
 	return strbuf_detach(&tmp, NULL);
 }
 
-const char *logmsg_reencode(const struct commit *commit,
-			    char **commit_encoding,
-			    const char *output_encoding)
+const char *repo_logmsg_reencode(struct repository *r,
+				 const struct commit *commit,
+				 char **commit_encoding,
+				 const char *output_encoding)
 {
 	static const char *utf8 = "UTF-8";
 	const char *use_encoding;
 	char *encoding;
-	const char *msg = get_commit_buffer(commit, NULL);
+	const char *msg = repo_get_commit_buffer(r, commit, NULL);
 	char *out;
 
 	if (!output_encoding || !*output_encoding) {
@@ -630,7 +631,7 @@ const char *logmsg_reencode(const struct commit *commit,
 		 * the cached copy from get_commit_buffer, we need to duplicate it
 		 * to avoid munging the cached copy.
 		 */
-		if (msg == get_cached_commit_buffer(the_repository, commit, NULL))
+		if (msg == get_cached_commit_buffer(r, commit, NULL))
 			out = xstrdup(msg);
 		else
 			out = (char *)msg;
@@ -644,7 +645,7 @@ const char *logmsg_reencode(const struct commit *commit,
 		 */
 		out = reencode_string(msg, output_encoding, use_encoding);
 		if (out)
-			unuse_commit_buffer(commit, msg);
+			repo_unuse_commit_buffer(r, commit, msg);
 	}
 
 	/*
@@ -1527,9 +1528,10 @@ void userformat_find_requirements(const char *fmt, struct userformat_want *w)
 	strbuf_release(&dummy);
 }
 
-void format_commit_message(const struct commit *commit,
-			   const char *format, struct strbuf *sb,
-			   const struct pretty_print_context *pretty_ctx)
+void repo_format_commit_message(struct repository *r,
+				const struct commit *commit,
+				const char *format, struct strbuf *sb,
+				const struct pretty_print_context *pretty_ctx)
 {
 	struct format_commit_context context;
 	const char *output_enc = pretty_ctx->output_encoding;
@@ -1543,9 +1545,9 @@ void format_commit_message(const struct commit *commit,
 	 * convert a commit message to UTF-8 first
 	 * as far as 'format_commit_item' assumes it in UTF-8
 	 */
-	context.message = logmsg_reencode(commit,
-					  &context.commit_encoding,
-					  utf8);
+	context.message = repo_logmsg_reencode(r, commit,
+					       &context.commit_encoding,
+					       utf8);
 
 	strbuf_expand(sb, format, format_commit_item, &context);
 	rewrap_message_tail(sb, &context, 0, 0, 0);
@@ -1569,7 +1571,7 @@ void format_commit_message(const struct commit *commit,
 	}
 
 	free(context.commit_encoding);
-	unuse_commit_buffer(commit, context.message);
+	repo_unuse_commit_buffer(r, commit, context.message);
 }
 
 static void pp_header(struct pretty_print_context *pp,
diff --git a/pretty.h b/pretty.h
index 87ca5dfcba..4ad1fc31ff 100644
--- a/pretty.h
+++ b/pretty.h
@@ -104,9 +104,14 @@ void pp_remainder(struct pretty_print_context *pp, const char **msg_p,
  * Put the result to "sb".
  * Please use this function for custom formats.
  */
-void format_commit_message(const struct commit *commit,
+void repo_format_commit_message(struct repository *r,
+			const struct commit *commit,
 			const char *format, struct strbuf *sb,
 			const struct pretty_print_context *context);
+#ifndef NO_THE_REPOSITORY_COMPATIBILITY_MACROS
+#define format_commit_message(c, f, s, con) \
+	repo_format_commit_message(the_repository, c, f, s, con)
+#endif
 
 /*
  * Parse given arguments from "arg", check it for correctness and
diff --git a/sha1-file.c b/sha1-file.c
index 10f9e9936a..c8da9f3475 100644
--- a/sha1-file.c
+++ b/sha1-file.c
@@ -1421,7 +1421,9 @@ int oid_object_info(struct repository *r,
 	return type;
 }
 
-static void *read_object(const unsigned char *sha1, enum object_type *type,
+static void *read_object(struct repository *r,
+			 const unsigned char *sha1,
+			 enum object_type *type,
 			 unsigned long *size)
 {
 	struct object_id oid;
@@ -1433,7 +1435,7 @@ static void *read_object(const unsigned char *sha1, enum object_type *type,
 
 	hashcpy(oid.hash, sha1);
 
-	if (oid_object_info_extended(the_repository, &oid, &oi, 0) < 0)
+	if (oid_object_info_extended(r, &oid, &oi, 0) < 0)
 		return NULL;
 	return content;
 }
@@ -1461,7 +1463,8 @@ int pretend_object_file(void *buf, unsigned long len, enum object_type type,
  * deal with them should arrange to call read_object() and give error
  * messages themselves.
  */
-void *read_object_file_extended(const struct object_id *oid,
+void *read_object_file_extended(struct repository *r,
+				const struct object_id *oid,
 				enum object_type *type,
 				unsigned long *size,
 				int lookup_replace)
@@ -1471,10 +1474,10 @@ void *read_object_file_extended(const struct object_id *oid,
 	const char *path;
 	struct stat st;
 	const struct object_id *repl = lookup_replace ?
-		lookup_replace_object(the_repository, oid) : oid;
+		lookup_replace_object(r, oid) : oid;
 
 	errno = 0;
-	data = read_object(repl->hash, type, size);
+	data = read_object(r, repl->hash, type, size);
 	if (data)
 		return data;
 
@@ -1486,11 +1489,11 @@ void *read_object_file_extended(const struct object_id *oid,
 		die(_("replacement %s not found for %s"),
 		    oid_to_hex(repl), oid_to_hex(oid));
 
-	if (!stat_sha1_file(the_repository, repl->hash, &st, &path))
+	if (!stat_sha1_file(r, repl->hash, &st, &path))
 		die(_("loose object %s (stored in %s) is corrupt"),
 		    oid_to_hex(repl), path);
 
-	if ((p = has_packed_and_bad(repl->hash)) != NULL)
+	if ((p = has_packed_and_bad(r, repl->hash)) != NULL)
 		die(_("packed object %s (stored in %s) is corrupt"),
 		    oid_to_hex(repl), p->pack_name);
 
@@ -1814,7 +1817,7 @@ int force_object_loose(const struct object_id *oid, time_t mtime)
 
 	if (has_loose_object(oid))
 		return 0;
-	buf = read_object(oid->hash, &type, &len);
+	buf = read_object(the_repository, oid->hash, &type, &len);
 	if (!buf)
 		return error(_("cannot read sha1_file for %s"), oid_to_hex(oid));
 	hdrlen = xsnprintf(hdr, sizeof(hdr), "%s %"PRIuMAX , type_name(type), (uintmax_t)len) + 1;
@@ -1824,24 +1827,27 @@ int force_object_loose(const struct object_id *oid, time_t mtime)
 	return ret;
 }
 
-int has_sha1_file_with_flags(const unsigned char *sha1, int flags)
+int repo_has_sha1_file_with_flags(struct repository *r,
+				  const unsigned char *sha1, int flags)
 {
 	struct object_id oid;
 	if (!startup_info->have_repository)
 		return 0;
 	hashcpy(oid.hash, sha1);
-	return oid_object_info_extended(the_repository, &oid, NULL,
+	return oid_object_info_extended(r, &oid, NULL,
 					flags | OBJECT_INFO_SKIP_CACHED) >= 0;
 }
 
-int has_object_file(const struct object_id *oid)
+int repo_has_object_file(struct repository *r,
+			 const struct object_id *oid)
 {
-	return has_sha1_file(oid->hash);
+	return repo_has_sha1_file(r, oid->hash);
 }
 
-int has_object_file_with_flags(const struct object_id *oid, int flags)
+int repo_has_object_file_with_flags(struct repository *r,
+				    const struct object_id *oid, int flags)
 {
-	return has_sha1_file_with_flags(oid->hash, flags);
+	return repo_has_sha1_file_with_flags(r, oid->hash, flags);
 }
 
 static void check_tree(const void *buf, size_t size)
diff --git a/streaming.c b/streaming.c
index ac7c7a22f9..891f82f51a 100644
--- a/streaming.c
+++ b/streaming.c
@@ -499,7 +499,7 @@ static struct stream_vtbl incore_vtbl = {
 
 static open_method_decl(incore)
 {
-	st->u.incore.buf = read_object_file_extended(oid, type, &st->size, 0);
+	st->u.incore.buf = read_object_file_extended(the_repository, oid, type, &st->size, 0);
 	st->u.incore.read_ptr = 0;
 	st->vtbl = &incore_vtbl;
 
diff --git a/submodule.c b/submodule.c
index 7b5cea8522..a5f2694a5f 100644
--- a/submodule.c
+++ b/submodule.c
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ static int prepare_submodule_summary(struct rev_info *rev, const char *path,
 	return prepare_revision_walk(rev);
 }
 
-static void print_submodule_summary(struct rev_info *rev, struct diff_options *o)
+static void print_submodule_summary(struct repository *r, struct rev_info *rev, struct diff_options *o)
 {
 	static const char format[] = "  %m %s";
 	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
@@ -467,7 +467,8 @@ static void print_submodule_summary(struct rev_info *rev, struct diff_options *o
 		ctx.date_mode = rev->date_mode;
 		ctx.output_encoding = get_log_output_encoding();
 		strbuf_setlen(&sb, 0);
-		format_commit_message(commit, format, &sb, &ctx);
+		repo_format_commit_message(r, commit, format, &sb,
+				      &ctx);
 		strbuf_addch(&sb, '\n');
 		if (commit->object.flags & SYMMETRIC_LEFT)
 			diff_emit_submodule_del(o, sb.buf);
@@ -500,14 +501,46 @@ static void prepare_submodule_repo_env_in_gitdir(struct argv_array *out)
 	argv_array_pushf(out, "%s=.", GIT_DIR_ENVIRONMENT);
 }
 
-/* Helper function to display the submodule header line prior to the full
- * summary output. If it can locate the submodule objects directory it will
- * attempt to lookup both the left and right commits and put them into the
- * left and right pointers.
+/*
+ * Initialize a repository struct for a submodule based on the provided 'path'.
+ *
+ * Unlike repo_submodule_init, this tolerates submodules not present
+ * in .gitmodules. This function exists only to preserve historical behavior,
+ *
+ * Returns the repository struct on success,
+ * NULL when the submodule is not present.
  */
-static void show_submodule_header(struct diff_options *o, const char *path,
+static struct repository *open_submodule(const char *path)
+{
+	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct repository *out = xmalloc(sizeof(*out));
+
+	if (submodule_to_gitdir(&sb, path) || repo_init(out, sb.buf, NULL)) {
+		strbuf_release(&sb);
+		free(out);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	/* Mark it as a submodule */
+	out->submodule_prefix = xstrdup(path);
+
+	strbuf_release(&sb);
+	return out;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Helper function to display the submodule header line prior to the full
+ * summary output.
+ *
+ * If it can locate the submodule git directory it will create a repository
+ * handle for the submodule and lookup both the left and right commits and
+ * put them into the left and right pointers.
+ */
+static void show_submodule_header(struct diff_options *o,
+		const char *path,
 		struct object_id *one, struct object_id *two,
 		unsigned dirty_submodule,
+		struct repository *sub,
 		struct commit **left, struct commit **right,
 		struct commit_list **merge_bases)
 {
@@ -526,7 +559,7 @@ static void show_submodule_header(struct diff_options *o, const char *path,
 	else if (is_null_oid(two))
 		message = "(submodule deleted)";
 
-	if (add_submodule_odb(path)) {
+	if (!sub) {
 		if (!message)
 			message = "(commits not present)";
 		goto output_header;
@@ -536,8 +569,8 @@ static void show_submodule_header(struct diff_options *o, const char *path,
 	 * Attempt to lookup the commit references, and determine if this is
 	 * a fast forward or fast backwards update.
 	 */
-	*left = lookup_commit_reference(the_repository, one);
-	*right = lookup_commit_reference(the_repository, two);
+	*left = lookup_commit_reference(sub, one);
+	*right = lookup_commit_reference(sub, two);
 
 	/*
 	 * Warn about missing commits in the submodule project, but only if
@@ -547,7 +580,7 @@ static void show_submodule_header(struct diff_options *o, const char *path,
 	     (!is_null_oid(two) && !*right))
 		message = "(commits not present)";
 
-	*merge_bases = get_merge_bases(*left, *right);
+	*merge_bases = repo_get_merge_bases(sub, *left, *right);
 	if (*merge_bases) {
 		if ((*merge_bases)->item == *left)
 			fast_forward = 1;
@@ -581,16 +614,18 @@ void show_submodule_summary(struct diff_options *o, const char *path,
 	struct rev_info rev;
 	struct commit *left = NULL, *right = NULL;
 	struct commit_list *merge_bases = NULL;
+	struct repository *sub;
 
+	sub = open_submodule(path);
 	show_submodule_header(o, path, one, two, dirty_submodule,
-			      &left, &right, &merge_bases);
+			      sub, &left, &right, &merge_bases);
 
 	/*
 	 * If we don't have both a left and a right pointer, there is no
 	 * reason to try and display a summary. The header line should contain
 	 * all the information the user needs.
 	 */
-	if (!left || !right)
+	if (!left || !right || !sub)
 		goto out;
 
 	/* Treat revision walker failure the same as missing commits */
@@ -599,13 +634,17 @@ void show_submodule_summary(struct diff_options *o, const char *path,
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	print_submodule_summary(&rev, o);
+	print_submodule_summary(sub, &rev, o);
 
 out:
 	if (merge_bases)
 		free_commit_list(merge_bases);
 	clear_commit_marks(left, ~0);
 	clear_commit_marks(right, ~0);
+	if (sub) {
+		repo_clear(sub);
+		free(sub);
+	}
 }
 
 void show_submodule_inline_diff(struct diff_options *o, const char *path,
@@ -617,9 +656,11 @@ void show_submodule_inline_diff(struct diff_options *o, const char *path,
 	struct commit_list *merge_bases = NULL;
 	struct child_process cp = CHILD_PROCESS_INIT;
 	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct repository *sub;
 
+	sub = open_submodule(path);
 	show_submodule_header(o, path, one, two, dirty_submodule,
-			      &left, &right, &merge_bases);
+			      sub, &left, &right, &merge_bases);
 
 	/* We need a valid left and right commit to display a difference */
 	if (!(left || is_null_oid(one)) ||
@@ -680,6 +721,10 @@ done:
 		clear_commit_marks(left, ~0);
 	if (right)
 		clear_commit_marks(right, ~0);
+	if (sub) {
+		repo_clear(sub);
+		free(sub);
+	}
 }
 
 int should_update_submodules(void)
@@ -1004,9 +1049,6 @@ static int push_submodule(const char *path,
 			  const struct string_list *push_options,
 			  int dry_run)
 {
-	if (add_submodule_odb(path))
-		return 1;
-
 	if (for_each_remote_ref_submodule(path, has_remote, NULL) > 0) {
 		struct child_process cp = CHILD_PROCESS_INIT;
 		argv_array_push(&cp.args, "push");
diff --git a/t/helper/test-repository.c b/t/helper/test-repository.c
index 6a84a53efb..f7f8618445 100644
--- a/t/helper/test-repository.c
+++ b/t/helper/test-repository.c
@@ -17,6 +17,11 @@ static void test_parse_commit_in_graph(const char *gitdir, const char *worktree,
 
 	setup_git_env(gitdir);
 
+	memset(the_repository, 0, sizeof(*the_repository));
+
+	/* TODO: Needed for temporary hack in hashcmp, see 183a638b7da. */
+	repo_set_hash_algo(the_repository, GIT_HASH_SHA1);
+
 	if (repo_init(&r, gitdir, worktree))
 		die("Couldn't init repo");
 
@@ -43,6 +48,11 @@ static void test_get_commit_tree_in_graph(const char *gitdir,
 
 	setup_git_env(gitdir);
 
+	memset(the_repository, 0, sizeof(*the_repository));
+
+	/* TODO: Needed for temporary hack in hashcmp, see 183a638b7da. */
+	repo_set_hash_algo(the_repository, GIT_HASH_SHA1);
+
 	if (repo_init(&r, gitdir, worktree))
 		die("Couldn't init repo");