diff --git a/cli/src/cli_util.rs b/cli/src/cli_util.rs
index 3daaf3395d..d48f8ad975 100644
--- a/cli/src/cli_util.rs
+++ b/cli/src/cli_util.rs
@@ -772,8 +772,10 @@ impl WorkspaceCommandHelper {
         let mut all_commits = IndexSet::new();
         for revision_str in revision_args {
             let (expression, all) = self.parse_revset_with_all_prefix(revision_str)?;
-            let commits = if all {
-                expression.evaluate_to_commits()?.try_collect()?
+            if all {
+                for commit in expression.evaluate_to_commits()? {
+                    all_commits.insert(commit?);
+                }
             } else {
                 let should_hint_about_all_prefix = true;
                 let commit = revset_util::evaluate_revset_to_single_commit(
@@ -782,9 +784,6 @@ impl WorkspaceCommandHelper {
                     || self.commit_summary_template(),
                     should_hint_about_all_prefix,
                 )?;
-                vec![commit]
-            };
-            for commit in commits {
                 let commit_hash = short_commit_hash(commit.id());
                 if !all_commits.insert(commit) {
                     return Err(user_error(format!(
diff --git a/cli/tests/test_new_command.rs b/cli/tests/test_new_command.rs
index 18de961231..ed5e20543e 100644
--- a/cli/tests/test_new_command.rs
+++ b/cli/tests/test_new_command.rs
@@ -137,6 +137,13 @@ fn test_new_merge() {
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Error: More than one revset resolved to revision 3a44e52b073c
     "###);
+    // if prefixed with all:, duplicates are allowed
+    let (stdout, stderr) = test_env.jj_cmd_ok(&repo_path, &["new", "@", "all:visible_heads()"]);
+    insta::assert_snapshot!(stdout, @"");
+    insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
+    Working copy now at: xznxytkn dddeb489 (empty) (no description set)
+    Parent commit      : wqnwkozp 3a44e52b (empty) (no description set)
+    "###);
 
     // merge with root
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&repo_path, &["new", "@", "root()"]);