GIT_PAGER=cat git-svn log --> Illegal seek

I run my git commands inside an Emacs *shell* buffer, so I don't want
it running 'less' all the time.  I export GIT_PAGER=cat to stop it.

I just tried a "git-svn log" and it failed:

$ GIT_PAGER=cat git-svn log
Use of uninitialized value in exec at /usr/bin/git-svn line 3451.
Use of uninitialized value in concatenation (.) or string at
/usr/bin/git-svn line 3451.
Can't run pager: Illegal seek ()

I don't get a shell prompt back.  It just hangs.

This is on ubuntu feisty with the ubuntu-backport repositories enabled:

ii  git-core                                     1.5.2.5-2~feisty1
ii  git-svn                                      1.5.2.5-2~feisty1