diff --git a/builtin-for-each-ref.c b/builtin-for-each-ref.c
index 91e8f95fd..d091e04af 100644
--- a/builtin-for-each-ref.c
+++ b/builtin-for-each-ref.c
@@ -339,8 +339,11 @@ static const char *copy_name(const char *buf)
 static const char *copy_email(const char *buf)
 {
 	const char *email = strchr(buf, '<');
-	const char *eoemail = strchr(email, '>');
-	if (!email || !eoemail)
+	const char *eoemail;
+	if (!email)
+		return "";
+	eoemail = strchr(email, '>');
+	if (!eoemail)
 		return "";
 	return xmemdupz(email, eoemail + 1 - email);
 }