git reset <path> returns unwanted failure status

The use case:

I'm doing a 'git stash pop'; it had conflicts. At this point, 'git status' shows:

# On branch master # Changes to be committed: # (use "git reset HEAD <file>..." to unstage) # # modified: Target.java # # Unmerged paths: # (use "git reset HEAD <file>..." to unstage) # (use "git add/rm <file>..." as appropriate to mark resolution) # # both modified: DriveByInches.java # # Changes not staged for commit: # (use "git add <file>..." to update what will be committed) # (use "git checkout -- <file>..." to discard changes in working directory) # # modified: CommandBasedAutonomous.java # # Untracked files: # (use "git add <file>..." to include in what will be committed) # # AerialAssist2014/src/org/usfirst/frc1939/AerialAssist2014/Autonomous/

As part of the conflict resolution, I decide to unstage Target.java:

stephe@takver$ git reset Target.java Unstaged changes after reset: M CommandBasedAutonomous.java U DriveByInches.java M Target.java stephe@takver$ echo $? 1

The issue is the error status and the messages about other files.

If I had not specified a path to 'git reset', the error status would make sense; those files were not reset. However, since the file I specified was reset, there should be no error.

Similarly, if I specify no path to a git command, I expect warning messages about files in the workspace that might need attention. However, if I do specify a path, I expect warning messages about files in that path only.

This can be stated more concisely if the default path is considered to be "*" (and recursive); don't error if the operation succeeded for all files in the path; don't warn about files not in the path.