diff --git a/python/mozversioncontrol/mozversioncontrol/__init__.py b/python/mozversioncontrol/mozversioncontrol/__init__.py
--- a/python/mozversioncontrol/mozversioncontrol/__init__.py
+++ b/python/mozversioncontrol/mozversioncontrol/__init__.py
@@ -262,10 +262,11 @@
         message, author and date arguments must be strings, and are passed as-is
         to the commit command. Multiline commit messages are supported. The
         paths argument must be None or an array of strings that represents the
         set of files and folders to include in the commit.
         """
+        args = []
         args = ["commit", "-m", message]
         if author is not None:
             if isinstance(self, HgRepository):
                 args = args + ["--user", author]
             elif isinstance(self, GitRepository):
@@ -290,10 +291,11 @@
         process = subprocess.Popen(cmd, **subprocess_opts)
 
         # Print out the lines as they appear so they can be
         # parsed for information
         for line in process.stdout or []:
+            print("new line")
             print(line)
         process.stdout.close()
         process.wait()
 
         if process.returncode != 0: