2 files changed, 9 insertions, 6 deletions
diff --git a/lib/git_python/git.py b/lib/git_python/git.py
index 4d7063f4..ad08bb20 100644
--- a/lib/git_python/git.py
+++ b/lib/git_python/git.py
@@ -28,8 +28,7 @@ class Git(MethodMissingMixin):
         """
         proc = subprocess.Popen(command, 
                                 shell=True,
-                                stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
-                                stderr=subprocess.STDOUT
+                                stdout=subprocess.PIPE                                
                                 )
         stdout_value = proc.communicate()[0]
         return stdout_value
diff --git a/lib/git_python/repo.py b/lib/git_python/repo.py
index 20f60a3d..f04ba19c 100644
--- a/lib/git_python/repo.py
+++ b/lib/git_python/repo.py
@@ -159,7 +159,11 @@ class Repo(object):
         """
         options = {'max_count': 1}
         
-        return Commit.find_all(self, id, **options)[0]
+        commits = Commit.find_all(self, id, **options)
+        
+        if not commits:
+            raise ValueError, 'Invalid identifier %s' % id
+        return commits[0]
     
     def commit_deltas_from(self, other_repo, ref = 'master', other_ref = 'master'):
         """
@@ -369,7 +373,7 @@ class Repo(object):
         else:
             return os.remove(os.path.join(self.path, '.git', DAEMON_EXPORT_FILE))
     
-    def get_alternates(self):
+    def _get_alternates(self):
         """
         The list of alternates for this repo
         
@@ -388,7 +392,7 @@ class Repo(object):
         else:
             return []
     
-    def set_alternates(self, alts):
+    def _set_alternates(self, alts):
         """
         Sets the alternates
         
@@ -411,7 +415,7 @@ class Repo(object):
             finally:
                 f.close()
         
-    alternates = property(get_alternates, set_alternates)
+    alternates = property(_get_alternates, _set_alternates)
     
     def __repr__(self):
         return '<GitPython.Repo "%s">' % self.path