diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index eba1377eb3..470b4a4e8c 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -196,16 +196,16 @@ static void determine_whence(struct wt_status *s)
 
 static const char *whence_s(void)
 {
-	char *s = "";
+	const char *s = "";
 
 	switch (whence) {
 	case FROM_COMMIT:
 		break;
 	case FROM_MERGE:
-		s = "merge";
+		s = _("merge");
 		break;
 	case FROM_CHERRY_PICK:
-		s = "cherry-pick";
+		s = _("cherry-pick");
 		break;
 	}