diff --git a/midx.c b/midx.c
index 454c27b673..918349576f 100644
--- a/midx.c
+++ b/midx.c
@@ -501,13 +501,16 @@ int midx_contains_pack(struct multi_pack_index *m, const char *idx_or_pack_name)
 int midx_preferred_pack(struct multi_pack_index *m, uint32_t *pack_int_id)
 {
 	if (m->preferred_pack_idx == -1) {
+		uint32_t midx_pos;
 		if (load_midx_revindex(m) < 0) {
 			m->preferred_pack_idx = -2;
 			return -1;
 		}
 
-		m->preferred_pack_idx =
-			nth_midxed_pack_int_id(m, pack_pos_to_midx(m, 0));
+		midx_pos = pack_pos_to_midx(m, m->num_objects_in_base);
+
+		m->preferred_pack_idx = nth_midxed_pack_int_id(m, midx_pos);
+
 	} else if (m->preferred_pack_idx == -2)
 		return -1; /* no revindex */