diff --git a/Documentation/git-cat-file.txt b/Documentation/git-cat-file.txt
index 27b27e2b300c49..73ebbc70ee245a 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-cat-file.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-cat-file.txt
@@ -9,8 +9,14 @@ git-cat-file - Provide content or type and size information for repository objec
 SYNOPSIS
 --------
 [verse]
-'git cat-file' (-t [--allow-unknown-type]| -s [--allow-unknown-type]| -e | -p | <type> | --textconv | --filters ) [--path=<path>] <object>
-'git cat-file' (--batch[=<format>] | --batch-check[=<format>]) [ --textconv | --filters ] [--follow-symlinks]
+'git cat-file' <type> <object>
+'git cat-file' (-e | -p) <object>
+'git cat-file' ( -t | -s ) [--allow-unknown-type] <object>
+'git cat-file' (--batch | --batch-check) [--batch-all-objects]
+	     [--buffer] [--follow-symlinks] [--unordered]
+	     [--textconv | --filters]
+'git cat-file' (--textconv | --filters )
+	     [<rev>:<path|tree-ish> | --path=<path|tree-ish> <rev>]
 
 DESCRIPTION
 -----------
diff --git a/builtin/cat-file.c b/builtin/cat-file.c
index 86fc03242b87c3..0af969ce68e7fd 100644
--- a/builtin/cat-file.c
+++ b/builtin/cat-file.c
@@ -26,7 +26,10 @@ struct batch_options {
 	int unordered;
 	int cmdmode; /* may be 'w' or 'c' for --filters or --textconv */
 	const char *format;
+	int stdin_cmd;
+	int end_null;
 };
+static char line_termination = '\n';
 
 static const char *force_path;
 
@@ -73,14 +76,17 @@ static int cat_one_file(int opt, const char *exp_type, const char *obj_name,
 	struct object_info oi = OBJECT_INFO_INIT;
 	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
 	unsigned flags = OBJECT_INFO_LOOKUP_REPLACE;
+	unsigned get_oid_flags = GET_OID_RECORD_PATH | GET_OID_ONLY_TO_DIE;
 	const char *path = force_path;
+	const int opt_cw = (opt == 'c' || opt == 'w');
+	if (!path && opt_cw)
+		get_oid_flags |= GET_OID_REQUIRE_PATH;
 
 	if (unknown_type)
 		flags |= OBJECT_INFO_ALLOW_UNKNOWN_TYPE;
 
-	if (get_oid_with_context(the_repository, obj_name,
-				 GET_OID_RECORD_PATH,
-				 &oid, &obj_context))
+	if (get_oid_with_context(the_repository, obj_name, get_oid_flags, &oid,
+				 &obj_context))
 		die("Not a valid object name %s", obj_name);
 
 	if (!path)
@@ -112,9 +118,6 @@ static int cat_one_file(int opt, const char *exp_type, const char *obj_name,
 		return !has_object_file(&oid);
 
 	case 'w':
-		if (!path)
-			die("git cat-file --filters %s: <object> must be "
-			    "<sha1:path>", obj_name);
 
 		if (filter_object(path, obj_context.mode,
 				  &oid, &buf, &size))
@@ -122,10 +125,6 @@ static int cat_one_file(int opt, const char *exp_type, const char *obj_name,
 		break;
 
 	case 'c':
-		if (!path)
-			die("git cat-file --textconv %s: <object> must be <sha1:path>",
-			    obj_name);
-
 		if (textconv_object(the_repository, path, obj_context.mode,
 				    &oid, 1, &buf, &size))
 			break;
@@ -512,6 +511,115 @@ static int batch_unordered_packed(const struct object_id *oid,
 				      data);
 }
 
+enum batch_state {
+	/* Non-transactional state open for commands. */
+	BATCH_STATE_OPEN,
+};
+
+static void parse_cmd_object(struct batch_options *opt,
+			     const int argc, struct string_list_item *argv,
+			     struct strbuf *output,
+			     struct expand_data *data)
+{
+	batch_one_object(argv[0].string, output, opt, data);
+}
+
+static void parse_cmd_fflush(struct batch_options *opt,
+			     const int argc, struct string_list_item *argv,
+			     struct strbuf *output,
+			     struct expand_data *data)
+{
+	if (argc > 0)
+		die("fflush: extra input: %s", argv[0].string);
+	fflush(stdout);
+}
+
+static const struct parse_cmd {
+	const char *prefix;
+	void (*fn)(struct batch_options *,
+		const int argc,
+		struct string_list_item *argv,
+		struct strbuf *,
+		struct expand_data *);
+	unsigned args;
+	enum batch_state state;
+} command[] = {
+	{ "object", parse_cmd_object, 1, BATCH_STATE_OPEN },
+	{ "fflush", parse_cmd_fflush, 0, BATCH_STATE_OPEN },
+};
+
+static void batch_objects_stdin_cmd(struct batch_options *opt,
+				    struct strbuf *output,
+				    struct expand_data *data)
+{
+	struct strbuf input = STRBUF_INIT;
+	enum batch_state state = BATCH_STATE_OPEN;
+
+	/* Read each line dispatch its command */
+	while (!strbuf_getwholeline(&input, stdin, line_termination)) {
+		size_t i;
+		const struct parse_cmd *cmd = NULL;
+
+		if (*input.buf == line_termination)
+			die("empty command in input");
+		else if (isspace(*input.buf))
+			die("whitespace before command: %s", input.buf);
+
+		for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(command); i++) {
+			const char *prefix = command[i].prefix;
+			char c;
+
+			if (!starts_with(input.buf, prefix))
+				continue;
+
+			/*
+			 * If the command has arguments, verify that it's
+			 * followed by a space. Otherwise, it shall be followed
+			 * by a line terminator.
+			 */
+			c = command[i].args ? ' ' : line_termination;
+			if (input.buf[strlen(prefix)] != c)
+				continue;
+
+			cmd = &command[i];
+			break;
+		}
+		if (!cmd)
+			die("unknown command: %s", input.buf);
+
+		/*
+		 * Read additional arguments. Do not raise an error in 
+		 * case there is an early EOF to let the command
+		 * handle missing arguments with a proper error message.
+		 */
+		if (input.buf[input.len - 1] == '\n')
+			input.buf[input.len - 1] = '\0';
+
+		struct string_list l = STRING_LIST_INIT_DUP;
+		string_list_split(&l, input.buf+strlen(cmd->prefix)+1,
+				line_termination, 
+				cmd->args);
+
+		int found_args = l.nr;
+		if (l.nr == 1 && !strcmp(l.items[0].string, ""))
+				found_args = 0;
+		
+		if (found_args < cmd->args)
+			die("too few arguments for %s", cmd->prefix);
+
+		switch (state) {
+		case BATCH_STATE_OPEN:
+			/* TODO: command state management */
+			break;
+		}
+
+		cmd->fn(opt, found_args, l.items, output, data);
+		string_list_clear(&l, 0);
+	}
+
+	strbuf_release(&input);
+}
+
 static int batch_objects(struct batch_options *opt)
 {
 	struct strbuf input = STRBUF_INIT;
@@ -519,6 +627,7 @@ static int batch_objects(struct batch_options *opt)
 	struct expand_data data;
 	int save_warning;
 	int retval = 0;
+	const int stdin_cmd = opt->stdin_cmd;
 
 	if (!opt->format)
 		opt->format = "%(objectname) %(objecttype) %(objectsize)";
@@ -594,7 +703,8 @@ static int batch_objects(struct batch_options *opt)
 	save_warning = warn_on_object_refname_ambiguity;
 	warn_on_object_refname_ambiguity = 0;
 
-	while (strbuf_getline(&input, stdin) != EOF) {
+	while (!stdin_cmd &&
+	       strbuf_getline(&input, stdin) != EOF) {
 		if (data.split_on_whitespace) {
 			/*
 			 * Split at first whitespace, tying off the beginning
@@ -612,18 +722,15 @@ static int batch_objects(struct batch_options *opt)
 		batch_one_object(input.buf, &output, opt, &data);
 	}
 
+	if (stdin_cmd)
+		batch_objects_stdin_cmd(opt, &output, &data);
+
 	strbuf_release(&input);
 	strbuf_release(&output);
 	warn_on_object_refname_ambiguity = save_warning;
 	return retval;
 }
 
-static const char * const cat_file_usage[] = {
-	N_("git cat-file (-t [--allow-unknown-type] | -s [--allow-unknown-type] | -e | -p | <type> | --textconv | --filters) [--path=<path>] <object>"),
-	N_("git cat-file (--batch[=<format>] | --batch-check[=<format>]) [--follow-symlinks] [--textconv | --filters]"),
-	NULL
-};
-
 static int git_cat_file_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 {
 	if (userdiff_config(var, value) < 0)
@@ -654,90 +761,144 @@ static int batch_option_callback(const struct option *opt,
 int cmd_cat_file(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
 	int opt = 0;
+	int opt_cw = 0;
+	int opt_epts = 0;
 	const char *exp_type = NULL, *obj_name = NULL;
 	struct batch_options batch = {0};
 	int unknown_type = 0;
 
+	const char * const usage[] = {
+		N_("git cat-file <type> <object>"),
+		N_("git cat-file (-e | -p) <object>"),
+		N_("git cat-file ( -t | -s ) [--allow-unknown-type] <object>"),
+		N_("git cat-file (--batch | --batch-check) [--batch-all-objects]\n"
+		   "             [--buffer] [--follow-symlinks] [--unordered]\n"
+		   "             [--textconv | --filters]"),
+		N_("git cat-file (--textconv | --filters )\n"
+		   "             [<rev>:<path|tree-ish> | --path=<path|tree-ish> <rev>]"),
+		NULL
+	};
 	const struct option options[] = {
-		OPT_GROUP(N_("<type> can be one of: blob, tree, commit, tag")),
-		OPT_CMDMODE('t', NULL, &opt, N_("show object type"), 't'),
-		OPT_CMDMODE('s', NULL, &opt, N_("show object size"), 's'),
+		/* Simple queries */
+		OPT_GROUP(N_("Check object existence or emit object contents")),
 		OPT_CMDMODE('e', NULL, &opt,
-			    N_("exit with zero when there's no error"), 'e'),
-		OPT_CMDMODE('p', NULL, &opt, N_("pretty-print object's content"), 'p'),
-		OPT_CMDMODE(0, "textconv", &opt,
-			    N_("for blob objects, run textconv on object's content"), 'c'),
-		OPT_CMDMODE(0, "filters", &opt,
-			    N_("for blob objects, run filters on object's content"), 'w'),
-		OPT_STRING(0, "path", &force_path, N_("blob"),
-			   N_("use a specific path for --textconv/--filters")),
+			    N_("check if <object> exists"), 'e'),
+		OPT_CMDMODE('p', NULL, &opt, N_("pretty-print <object> content"), 'p'),
+
+		OPT_GROUP(N_("Emit [broken] object attributes")),
+		OPT_CMDMODE('t', NULL, &opt, N_("show object type (one of 'blob', 'tree', 'commit', 'tag', ...)"), 't'),
+		OPT_CMDMODE('s', NULL, &opt, N_("show object size"), 's'),
 		OPT_BOOL(0, "allow-unknown-type", &unknown_type,
 			  N_("allow -s and -t to work with broken/corrupt objects")),
-		OPT_BOOL(0, "buffer", &batch.buffer_output, N_("buffer --batch output")),
-		OPT_CALLBACK_F(0, "batch", &batch, "format",
-			N_("show info and content of objects fed from the standard input"),
+		/* Batch mode */
+		OPT_GROUP(N_("Batch objects requested on stdin (or --batch-all-objects)")),
+		OPT_CALLBACK_F(0, "batch", &batch, N_("format"),
+			N_("show full <object> or <rev> contents"),
 			PARSE_OPT_OPTARG | PARSE_OPT_NONEG,
 			batch_option_callback),
-		OPT_CALLBACK_F(0, "batch-check", &batch, "format",
-			N_("show info about objects fed from the standard input"),
+		OPT_CALLBACK_F(0, "batch-check", &batch, N_("format"),
+			N_("like --batch, but don't emit <contents>"),
 			PARSE_OPT_OPTARG | PARSE_OPT_NONEG,
 			batch_option_callback),
+		OPT_CMDMODE(0, "batch-all-objects", &opt,
+			    N_("with --batch[-check]: ignores stdin, batches all known objects"), 'b'),
+		OPT_BOOL(0, "stdin-cmd", &batch.stdin_cmd,
+			 N_("with --batch[-check]: enters stdin 'command mode")),
+		OPT_BOOL('z', NULL, &batch.end_null, N_("with --stdin-cmd, use NUL termination")),
+
+		/* Batch-specific options */
+		OPT_GROUP(N_("Change or optimize batch output")),
+		OPT_BOOL(0, "buffer", &batch.buffer_output, N_("buffer --batch output")),
 		OPT_BOOL(0, "follow-symlinks", &batch.follow_symlinks,
-			 N_("follow in-tree symlinks (used with --batch or --batch-check)")),
-		OPT_BOOL(0, "batch-all-objects", &batch.all_objects,
-			 N_("show all objects with --batch or --batch-check")),
+			 N_("follow in-tree symlinks")),
 		OPT_BOOL(0, "unordered", &batch.unordered,
-			 N_("do not order --batch-all-objects output")),
+			 N_("do not order objects before emitting them")),
+		/* Textconv options, stand-ole*/
+		OPT_GROUP(N_("Emit object (blob or tree) with conversion or filter (stand-alone, or with batch)")),
+		OPT_CMDMODE(0, "textconv", &opt,
+			    N_("run textconv on object's content"), 'c'),
+		OPT_CMDMODE(0, "filters", &opt,
+			    N_("run filters on object's content"), 'w'),
+		OPT_STRING(0, "path", &force_path, N_("blob|tree"),
+			   N_("use a <path> for (--textconv | --filters ); Not with 'batch'")),
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 
 	git_config(git_cat_file_config, NULL);
 
 	batch.buffer_output = -1;
-	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, options, cat_file_usage, 0);
 
-	if (opt) {
-		if (batch.enabled && (opt == 'c' || opt == 'w'))
-			batch.cmdmode = opt;
-		else if (argc == 1)
-			obj_name = argv[0];
-		else
-			usage_with_options(cat_file_usage, options);
-	}
-	if (!opt && !batch.enabled) {
-		if (argc == 2) {
-			exp_type = argv[0];
-			obj_name = argv[1];
-		} else
-			usage_with_options(cat_file_usage, options);
-	}
-	if (batch.enabled) {
-		if (batch.cmdmode != opt || argc)
-			usage_with_options(cat_file_usage, options);
-		if (batch.cmdmode && batch.all_objects)
-			die("--batch-all-objects cannot be combined with "
-			    "--textconv nor with --filters");
-	}
+	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, options, usage, 0);
+	opt_cw = (opt == 'c' || opt == 'w');
+	opt_epts = (opt == 'e' || opt == 'p' || opt == 't' || opt == 's');
 
-	if ((batch.follow_symlinks || batch.all_objects) && !batch.enabled) {
-		usage_with_options(cat_file_usage, options);
-	}
+	/* --batch-all-objects? */
+	if (opt == 'b')
+		batch.all_objects = 1;
 
-	if (force_path && opt != 'c' && opt != 'w') {
-		error("--path=<path> needs --textconv or --filters");
-		usage_with_options(cat_file_usage, options);
-	}
-
-	if (force_path && batch.enabled) {
-		error("--path=<path> incompatible with --batch");
-		usage_with_options(cat_file_usage, options);
-	}
+	/* Option compatibility */
+	if (force_path && !opt_cw)
+		usage_msg_optf(_("'%s=<%s>' needs '%s' or '%s'"),
+			       usage, options,
+			       "--path", _("path|tree-ish"), "--filters",
+			       "--textconv");
 
+	/* Option compatibility with batch mode */
+	if (batch.enabled)
+		;
+	else if (batch.follow_symlinks)
+		usage_msg_optf(_("'%s' requires a batch mode"), usage, options,
+			       "--follow_symlinks");
+	else if (batch.buffer_output >= 0)
+		usage_msg_optf(_("'%s' requires a batch mode"), usage, options,
+			       "--buffer");
+	else if (batch.all_objects)
+		usage_msg_optf(_("'%s' requires a batch mode"), usage, options,
+			       "--batch-all-objects");
+
+	/* Batch defaults */
 	if (batch.buffer_output < 0)
 		batch.buffer_output = batch.all_objects;
+	if (batch.end_null)
+		line_termination = '\0';
+
+	/* Return early if we're in batch mode? */
+	if (batch.enabled) {
+		if (opt_cw)
+			batch.cmdmode = opt;
+		else if (opt && opt != 'b')
+			usage_msg_optf(_("'-%c' is incompatible with batch mode"),
+				       usage, options, opt);
+		else if (argc)
+			usage_msg_opt(_("batch modes take no arguments"), usage,
+				      options);
 
-	if (batch.enabled)
 		return batch_objects(&batch);
+	}
+
+	if (opt) {
+		if (!argc && opt == 'c')
+			usage_msg_optf(_("<rev> required with '%s'"),
+				       usage, options, "--textconv");
+		else if (!argc && opt == 'w')
+			usage_msg_optf(_("<rev> required with '%s'"),
+				       usage, options, "--filters");
+		else if (!argc && opt_epts)
+			usage_msg_optf(_("<object> required with '-%c'"),
+				       usage, options, opt);
+		else if (argc == 1)
+			obj_name = argv[0];
+		else
+			usage_msg_opt(_("too many arguments"), usage, options);
+	} else if (!argc) {
+		usage_with_options(usage, options);
+	} else if (argc != 2) {
+		usage_msg_optf(_("only two arguments allowed in <type> <object> mode, not %d"),
+			      usage, options, argc);
+	} else if (argc) {
+		exp_type = argv[0];
+		obj_name = argv[1];
+	}
 
 	if (unknown_type && opt != 't' && opt != 's')
 		die("git cat-file --allow-unknown-type: use with -s or -t");
diff --git a/builtin/stash.c b/builtin/stash.c
index 18c812bbe032cc..c9a09047a6ecf1 100644
--- a/builtin/stash.c
+++ b/builtin/stash.c
@@ -1811,8 +1811,8 @@ int cmd_stash(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	else if (!strcmp(argv[0], "save"))
 		return !!save_stash(argc, argv, prefix);
 	else if (*argv[0] != '-')
-		usage_msg_opt(xstrfmt(_("unknown subcommand: %s"), argv[0]),
-			      git_stash_usage, options);
+		usage_msg_optf(_("unknown subcommand: %s"),
+			       git_stash_usage, options, argv[0]);
 
 	/* Assume 'stash push' */
 	strvec_push(&args, "push");
diff --git a/cache.h b/cache.h
index cfba463aa97cb4..fae55cfcb33441 100644
--- a/cache.h
+++ b/cache.h
@@ -1377,6 +1377,7 @@ struct object_context {
 #define GET_OID_FOLLOW_SYMLINKS 0100
 #define GET_OID_RECORD_PATH     0200
 #define GET_OID_ONLY_TO_DIE    04000
+#define GET_OID_REQUIRE_PATH  010000
 
 #define GET_OID_DISAMBIGUATORS \
 	(GET_OID_COMMIT | GET_OID_COMMITTISH | \
diff --git a/object-name.c b/object-name.c
index fdff4601b2c70c..92862eeb1ac74f 100644
--- a/object-name.c
+++ b/object-name.c
@@ -1795,13 +1795,13 @@ static enum get_oid_result get_oid_with_context_1(struct repository *repo,
 	const char *cp;
 	int only_to_die = flags & GET_OID_ONLY_TO_DIE;
 
-	if (only_to_die)
-		flags |= GET_OID_QUIETLY;
-
 	memset(oc, 0, sizeof(*oc));
 	oc->mode = S_IFINVALID;
 	strbuf_init(&oc->symlink_path, 0);
 	ret = get_oid_1(repo, name, namelen, oid, flags);
+	if (!ret && flags & GET_OID_REQUIRE_PATH)
+		die(_("<object>:<path> required, only <object> '%s' given"),
+		    name);
 	if (!ret)
 		return ret;
 	/*
@@ -1932,7 +1932,7 @@ void maybe_die_on_misspelt_object_name(struct repository *r,
 {
 	struct object_context oc;
 	struct object_id oid;
-	get_oid_with_context_1(r, name, GET_OID_ONLY_TO_DIE,
+	get_oid_with_context_1(r, name, GET_OID_ONLY_TO_DIE | GET_OID_QUIETLY,
 			       prefix, &oid, &oc);
 }
 
diff --git a/parse-options.c b/parse-options.c
index 629e79634973a6..c01f00403684b8 100644
--- a/parse-options.c
+++ b/parse-options.c
@@ -1079,3 +1079,16 @@ void NORETURN usage_msg_opt(const char *msg,
 	fprintf(stderr, "fatal: %s\n\n", msg);
 	usage_with_options(usagestr, options);
 }
+
+void NORETURN usage_msg_optf(const char * const fmt,
+			     const char * const *usagestr,
+			     const struct option *options, ...)
+{
+	struct strbuf msg = STRBUF_INIT;
+	va_list ap;
+	va_start(ap, options);
+	strbuf_vaddf(&msg, fmt, ap);
+	va_end(ap);
+
+	usage_msg_opt(msg.buf, usagestr, options);
+}
diff --git a/parse-options.h b/parse-options.h
index 275fb440818d53..4a9fa8a84d7c30 100644
--- a/parse-options.h
+++ b/parse-options.h
@@ -225,6 +225,16 @@ NORETURN void usage_msg_opt(const char *msg,
 			    const char * const *usagestr,
 			    const struct option *options);
 
+/**
+ * usage_msg_optf() is like usage_msg_opt() except that the first
+ * argument is a format string, and optional format arguments follow
+ * after the 3rd option.
+ */
+__attribute__((format (printf,1,4)))
+void NORETURN usage_msg_optf(const char *fmt,
+			     const char * const *usagestr,
+			     const struct option *options, ...);
+
 /*
  * Use these assertions for callbacks that expect to be called with NONEG and
  * NOARG respectively, and do not otherwise handle the "unset" and "arg"
diff --git a/t/t1006-cat-file.sh b/t/t1006-cat-file.sh
index 0d4c55f74ec647..1f0fe2c58a1b94 100755
--- a/t/t1006-cat-file.sh
+++ b/t/t1006-cat-file.sh
@@ -4,6 +4,98 @@ test_description='git cat-file'
 
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
+test_cmdmode_usage () {
+	test_expect_code 129 "$@" 2>err &&
+	grep "^error:.*is incompatible with" err
+}
+
+for switches in \
+	'-e -p' \
+	'-p -t' \
+	'-t -s' \
+	'-s --textconv' \
+	'--textconv --filters' \
+	'--batch-all-objects -e'
+do
+	test_expect_success "usage: cmdmode $switches" '
+		test_cmdmode_usage git cat-file $switches
+	'
+done
+
+test_incompatible_usage () {
+	test_expect_code 129 "$@" 2>err &&
+	grep -E "^(fatal|error):.*(requires|incompatible with|needs)" err
+}
+
+for opt in --batch --batch-check
+do
+	test_expect_success "usage: incompatible options: --path with $opt" '
+		test_incompatible_usage git cat-file --path=foo $opt
+	'
+done
+
+test_missing_usage () {
+	test_expect_code 129 "$@" 2>err &&
+	grep -E "^fatal:.*required" err
+}
+
+short_modes="-e -p -t -s"
+cw_modes="--textconv --filters"
+
+for opt in $cw_modes
+do
+	test_expect_success "usage: $opt requires another option" '
+		test_missing_usage git cat-file $opt
+	'
+done
+
+for opt in $short_modes
+do
+	test_expect_success "usage: $opt requires another option" '
+		test_missing_usage git cat-file $opt
+	'
+
+	for opt2 in --batch \
+		--batch-check \
+		--follow-symlinks \
+		"--path=foo HEAD:some-path.txt"
+	do
+		test_expect_success "usage: incompatible options: $opt and $opt2" '
+			test_incompatible_usage git cat-file $opt $opt2
+		'
+	done
+done
+
+test_too_many_arguments () {
+	test_expect_code 129 "$@" 2>err &&
+	grep -E "^fatal: too many arguments$" err
+}
+
+for opt in $short_modes $cw_modes
+do
+	args="one two three"
+	test_expect_success "usage: too many arguments: $opt $args" '
+		test_too_many_arguments git cat-file $opt $args
+	'
+
+	for opt2 in --buffer --follow-symlinks
+	do
+		test_expect_success "usage: incompatible arguments: $opt with batch option $opt2" '
+			test_incompatible_usage git cat-file $opt $opt2
+		'
+	done
+done
+
+for opt in --buffer \
+	--follow-symlinks \
+	--batch-all-objects
+do
+	test_expect_success "usage: bad option combination: $opt without batch mode" '
+		test_incompatible_usage git cat-file $opt &&
+		test_incompatible_usage git cat-file $opt commit HEAD
+	'
+done
+
 echo_without_newline () {
     printf '%s' "$*"
 }
@@ -872,4 +964,70 @@ test_expect_success 'cat-file --batch-all-objects --batch-check ignores replace'
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
+F='%s\0'
+
+test_expect_sucess 'stdin-cmd not enough arguments' '
+	echo 'object ' >cmd &&
+	test_expect_code 128 git cat-file --batch --stdin-cmd < cmd 2>err &&
+	grep -E "^fatal:.*too few arguments for object" err
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'stdin-cmd unknown command' '
+	echo unknown_command >cmd &&
+	test_expect_code 128 git cat-file --batch --stdin-cmd < cmd 2>err &&
+	grep -E "^fatal:.*unknown command.*" err &&
+	test_expect_code 128 git cat-file --batch --stdin-cmd -z < cmd 2>err &&
+	grep -E "^fatal:.*unknown command.*" err
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'setup object data' '
+	content="Object Data" &&
+	size=$(strlen "$content") &&
+	sha1=$(echo_without_newline "$content" | git hash-object -w --stdin)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'stdin-cmd calling object works' '
+	echo "object $sha1" | git cat-file --batch --stdin-cmd >actual &&
+	echo "$sha1 blob $size" >expect &&
+	echo `git cat-file -p "$sha1"` >>expect &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'stdin-cmd -z calling object works' '
+	printf $F "object $sha1" | git cat-file --batch --stdin-cmd -z >actual &&
+	echo "$sha1 blob $size" >expect &&
+	echo `git cat-file -p "$sha1"` >>expect &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'setup object data' '
+	content="Object Data" &&
+	size=$(strlen "$content") &&
+	sha1=$(echo_without_newline "$content" | git hash-object -w --stdin)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'stdin-cmd calling object works' '
+	echo "object $sha1" | git cat-file --batch --stdin-cmd >actual &&
+	echo "$sha1 blob $size" >expect &&
+	echo `git cat-file -p "$sha1"` >>expect &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'stdin-cmd -z calling object works' '
+	printf $F "object $sha1" | git cat-file --batch --stdin-cmd -z >actual &&
+	echo "$sha1 blob $size" >expect &&
+	echo `git cat-file -p "$sha1"` >>expect &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'stdin-cmd fflush works' '
+	printf "fflush\n" > cmd &&
+	test_expect_code 0 git cat-file --batch --stdin-cmd < cmd 2>err
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'stdin-cmd -z fflush works' '
+	printf $F 'fflush' > cmd &&
+	test_expect_code 0 git cat-file --batch --stdin-cmd -z < cmd 2>err
+'
+
 test_done
diff --git a/t/t8007-cat-file-textconv.sh b/t/t8007-cat-file-textconv.sh
index eacd49ade636f5..b067983ba1c6ad 100755
--- a/t/t8007-cat-file-textconv.sh
+++ b/t/t8007-cat-file-textconv.sh
@@ -19,6 +19,48 @@ test_expect_success 'setup ' '
 	GIT_AUTHOR_NAME=Number2 git commit -a -m Second --date="2010-01-01 20:00:00"
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'usage: <bad rev>' '
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+	fatal: Not a valid object name HEAD2
+	EOF
+	test_must_fail git cat-file --textconv HEAD2 2>actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'usage: <bad rev>:<bad path>' '
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+	fatal: invalid object name '\''HEAD2'\''.
+	EOF
+	test_must_fail git cat-file --textconv HEAD2:two.bin 2>actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'usage: <rev>:<bad path>' '
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+	fatal: path '\''two.bin'\'' does not exist in '\''HEAD'\''
+	EOF
+	test_must_fail git cat-file --textconv HEAD:two.bin 2>actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+
+test_expect_success 'usage: <rev> with no <path>' '
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+	fatal: <object>:<path> required, only <object> '\''HEAD'\'' given
+	EOF
+	test_must_fail git cat-file --textconv HEAD 2>actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+
+test_expect_success 'usage: <bad rev>:<good (in HEAD) path>' '
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+	fatal: invalid object name '\''HEAD2'\''.
+	EOF
+	test_must_fail git cat-file --textconv HEAD2:one.bin 2>actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
 cat >expected <<EOF
 bin: test version 2
 EOF