-open TARX, "|-", "tar", "-C", $destdir, "-xf", "-";
-print TARX <DATA>;
-if(!close(TARX)) {
- die "'tar -C $destdir -xf -' exited $?: $!";
+my @git_archive_data = <DATA>;
+if (@git_archive_data) {
+ open TARX, "|-", "tar", "-C", $destdir, "-xf", "-";
+ print TARX @git_archive_data;
+ if(!close(TARX)) {
+ die "'tar -C $destdir -xf -' exited $?: $!";
+ }