diff --git a/autoload/fugitive.vim b/autoload/fugitive.vim
index c5043e0..f096770 100644
--- a/autoload/fugitive.vim
+++ b/autoload/fugitive.vim
@@ -1886,7 +1886,7 @@ function! fugitive#FileReadCmd(...) abort
   if empty(dir)
     return 'noautocmd ' . line . 'read ' . s:fnameescape(amatch)
   endif
-  if rev !~# ':'
+  if rev !~# ':' && s:ChompDefault('', [dir, 'cat-file', '-t', rev]) =~# '^\%(commit\|tag\)$'
     let cmd = fugitive#Prepare(dir, 'log', '--pretty=format:%B', '-1', rev, '--')
   else
     let cmd = fugitive#Prepare(dir, 'cat-file', '-p', rev)