diff --git a/pre_commit/commands/hook_impl.py b/pre_commit/commands/hook_impl.py
index 7b806f3b8..0ec303564 100644
--- a/pre_commit/commands/hook_impl.py
+++ b/pre_commit/commands/hook_impl.py
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ def _ns(
 
 
 def _rev_exists(rev: str) -> bool:
-    return not subprocess.call(('git', 'rev-list', '--quiet', rev))
+    return not subprocess.call(('git', 'cat-file', '-e', f'{rev}^{{commit}}'))
 
 
 def _pre_push_ns(