RFC patch, 2 partsFix scissors bug during merge conflict

diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index 0d9828e29e..e486246329 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -659,6 +659,7 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 	const char *hook_arg2 = NULL;
 	int clean_message_contents = (cleanup_mode != COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE);
 	int old_display_comment_prefix;
+	int contains_scissors = 0;
 
 	/* This checks and barfs if author is badly specified */
 	determine_author_info(author_ident);
@@ -742,6 +743,10 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 		clean_message_contents = 0;
 	}
 
+	if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS &&
+		wt_status_locate_end(sb.buf, sb.len) != sb.len)
+	    contains_scissors = 1;
+
 	/*
 	 * The remaining cases don't modify the template message, but
 	 * just set the argument(s) to the prepare-commit-msg hook.
@@ -798,7 +803,8 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 		struct ident_split ci, ai;
 
 		if (whence != FROM_COMMIT) {
-			if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS)
+			if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS &&
+				!contains_scissors)
 				wt_status_add_cut_line(s->fp);
 			status_printf_ln(s, GIT_COLOR_NORMAL,
 			    whence == FROM_MERGE
@@ -824,7 +830,8 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 				  " Lines starting\nwith '%c' will be ignored, and an empty"
 				  " message aborts the commit.\n"), comment_line_char);
 		else if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS &&
-			 whence == FROM_COMMIT)
+			 whence == FROM_COMMIT &&
+			 !contains_scissors)
 			wt_status_add_cut_line(s->fp);
 		else /* COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE, that is. */
 			status_printf(s, GIT_COLOR_NORMAL,

diff --git a/builtin/merge.c b/builtin/merge.c
index 8f4a5065c2..c5010cee5e 100644
--- a/builtin/merge.c
+++ b/builtin/merge.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include "packfile.h"
 #include "tag.h"
 #include "alias.h"
+#include "wt-status.h"
 
 #define DEFAULT_TWOHEAD (1<<0)
 #define DEFAULT_OCTOPUS (1<<1)
@@ -96,6 +97,9 @@ enum ff_type {
 
 static enum ff_type fast_forward = FF_ALLOW;
 
+const char *cleanup_arg;
+int put_scissors;
+
 static int option_parse_message(const struct option *opt,
 				const char *arg, int unset)
 {
@@ -243,6 +247,7 @@ static struct option builtin_merge_options[] = {
 		N_("perform a commit if the merge succeeds (default)")),
 	OPT_BOOL('e', "edit", &option_edit,
 		N_("edit message before committing")),
+	OPT_STRING(0, "cleanup", &cleanup_arg, N_("default"), N_("how to strip spaces and #comments from message")),
 	OPT_SET_INT(0, "ff", &fast_forward, N_("allow fast-forward (default)"), FF_ALLOW),
 	OPT_SET_INT_F(0, "ff-only", &fast_forward,
 		      N_("abort if fast-forward is not possible"),
@@ -606,6 +611,8 @@ static int git_merge_config(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 		return git_config_string(&pull_twohead, k, v);
 	else if (!strcmp(k, "pull.octopus"))
 		return git_config_string(&pull_octopus, k, v);
+	else if (!strcmp(k, "commit.cleanup"))
+		return git_config_string(&cleanup_arg, k, v);
 	else if (!strcmp(k, "merge.renormalize"))
 		option_renormalize = git_config_bool(k, v);
 	else if (!strcmp(k, "merge.ff")) {
@@ -894,6 +901,13 @@ static int suggest_conflicts(void)
 	filename = git_path_merge_msg(the_repository);
 	fp = xfopen(filename, "a");
 
+	if (put_scissors) {
+	    fputc('\n', fp);
+	    wt_status_add_cut_line(fp);
+	    /* comments out the newline from append_conflicts_hint */
+	    fputc(comment_line_char, fp);
+	}
+
 	append_conflicts_hint(&msgbuf);
 	fputs(msgbuf.buf, fp);
 	strbuf_release(&msgbuf);
@@ -1402,6 +1416,8 @@ int cmd_merge(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (option_edit < 0)
 		option_edit = default_edit_option();
 
+	put_scissors = cleanup_arg && !strcmp(cleanup_arg, "scissors");
+
 	if (!use_strategies) {
 		if (!remoteheads)
 			; /* already up-to-date */

Documentation/merge-options.txt, builtin/merge.c, builtin/pull.c, t/t7600-merge.sh

diff --git a/Documentation/merge-options.txt b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
index 63a3fc0954..115e0ca6f0 100644
--- a/Documentation/merge-options.txt
+++ b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
@@ -27,6 +27,12 @@ they run `git merge`. To make it easier to adjust such scripts to the
 updated behaviour, the environment variable `GIT_MERGE_AUTOEDIT` can be
 set to `no` at the beginning of them.
 
+--cleanup=<mode>::
+	This option determines how the merge message will be cleaned up
+	before being passed on. Specifically, if the '<mode>' is given a
+	value of `scissors`, scissors will be prepended to the message in
+	the case of a merge conflict. See also linkgit:git-commit[1].
+
 --ff::
 	When the merge resolves as a fast-forward, only update the branch
 	pointer, without creating a merge commit.  This is the default
diff --git a/builtin/merge.c b/builtin/merge.c
index 8f4a5065c2..23a6e6bb93 100644
--- a/builtin/merge.c
+++ b/builtin/merge.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include "packfile.h"
 #include "tag.h"
 #include "alias.h"
+#include "wt-status.h"
 
 #define DEFAULT_TWOHEAD (1<<0)
 #define DEFAULT_OCTOPUS (1<<1)
@@ -96,6 +97,9 @@ enum ff_type {
 
 static enum ff_type fast_forward = FF_ALLOW;
 
+static const char *cleanup_arg;
+static int put_scissors;
+
 static int option_parse_message(const struct option *opt,
 				const char *arg, int unset)
 {
@@ -243,6 +247,7 @@ static struct option builtin_merge_options[] = {
 		N_("perform a commit if the merge succeeds (default)")),
 	OPT_BOOL('e', "edit", &option_edit,
 		N_("edit message before committing")),
+	OPT_STRING(0, "cleanup", &cleanup_arg, N_("default"), N_("how to strip spaces and #comments from message")),
 	OPT_SET_INT(0, "ff", &fast_forward, N_("allow fast-forward (default)"), FF_ALLOW),
 	OPT_SET_INT_F(0, "ff-only", &fast_forward,
 		      N_("abort if fast-forward is not possible"),
@@ -606,6 +611,8 @@ static int git_merge_config(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 		return git_config_string(&pull_twohead, k, v);
 	else if (!strcmp(k, "pull.octopus"))
 		return git_config_string(&pull_octopus, k, v);
+	else if (!strcmp(k, "commit.cleanup"))
+		return git_config_string(&cleanup_arg, k, v);
 	else if (!strcmp(k, "merge.renormalize"))
 		option_renormalize = git_config_bool(k, v);
 	else if (!strcmp(k, "merge.ff")) {
@@ -894,6 +901,13 @@ static int suggest_conflicts(void)
 	filename = git_path_merge_msg(the_repository);
 	fp = xfopen(filename, "a");
 
+	if (put_scissors) {
+	    fputc('\n', fp);
+	    wt_status_add_cut_line(fp);
+	    /* comments out the newline from append_conflicts_hint */
+	    fputc(comment_line_char, fp);
+	}
+
 	append_conflicts_hint(&msgbuf);
 	fputs(msgbuf.buf, fp);
 	strbuf_release(&msgbuf);
@@ -1402,6 +1416,8 @@ int cmd_merge(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (option_edit < 0)
 		option_edit = default_edit_option();
 
+	put_scissors = cleanup_arg && !strcmp(cleanup_arg, "scissors");
+
 	if (!use_strategies) {
 		if (!remoteheads)
 			; /* already up-to-date */
diff --git a/builtin/pull.c b/builtin/pull.c
index 681c127a07..88245bce0e 100644
--- a/builtin/pull.c
+++ b/builtin/pull.c
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ static char *opt_signoff;
 static char *opt_squash;
 static char *opt_commit;
 static char *opt_edit;
+static char *opt_cleanup;
 static char *opt_ff;
 static char *opt_verify_signatures;
 static int opt_autostash = -1;
@@ -162,6 +163,9 @@ static struct option pull_options[] = {
 	OPT_PASSTHRU(0, "edit", &opt_edit, NULL,
 		N_("edit message before committing"),
 		PARSE_OPT_NOARG),
+	OPT_PASSTHRU(0, "cleanup", &opt_cleanup, NULL,
+		N_("how to strip spaces and #comments from message"),
+		PARSE_OPT_NOARG),
 	OPT_PASSTHRU(0, "ff", &opt_ff, NULL,
 		N_("allow fast-forward"),
 		PARSE_OPT_NOARG),
@@ -625,6 +629,8 @@ static int run_merge(void)
 		argv_array_push(&args, opt_commit);
 	if (opt_edit)
 		argv_array_push(&args, opt_edit);
+	if (opt_cleanup)
+		argv_array_push(&args, opt_cleanup);
 	if (opt_ff)
 		argv_array_push(&args, opt_ff);
 	if (opt_verify_signatures)
diff --git a/t/t7600-merge.sh b/t/t7600-merge.sh
index 106148254d..0d3db34f08 100755
--- a/t/t7600-merge.sh
+++ b/t/t7600-merge.sh
@@ -247,6 +247,54 @@ test_expect_success 'merge --squash c3 with c7' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'merge c3 with c7 with commit.cleanup = scissors' '
+	git config commit.cleanup scissors &&
+	git reset --hard c3 &&
+	test_must_fail git merge c7 &&
+	cat result.9z >file &&
+	git commit --no-edit -a &&
+
+	{
+		cat <<-EOF
+		Merge tag '"'"'c7'"'"'
+
+		# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+		# Do not modify or remove the line above.
+		# Everything below it will be ignored.
+		#
+		# Conflicts:
+		#	file
+		EOF
+	} >expect &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD | sed -e '1,/^$/d' >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'merge c3 with c7 with --squash commit.cleanup = scissors' '
+	git config commit.cleanup scissors &&
+	git reset --hard c3 &&
+	test_must_fail git merge --squash c7 &&
+	cat result.9z >file &&
+	git commit --no-edit -a &&
+
+	{
+		cat <<-EOF
+		Squashed commit of the following:
+
+		$(git show -s c7)
+
+		# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+		# Do not modify or remove the line above.
+		# Everything below it will be ignored.
+		#
+		# Conflicts:
+		#	file
+		EOF
+	} >expect &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD | sed -e '1,/^$/d' >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
 test_debug 'git log --graph --decorate --oneline --all'
 
 test_expect_success 'merge c1 with c2 and c3' '

Documentation/merge-options.txt, builtin/commit.c, builtin/merge.c, builtin/pull.c, t/t7600-merge.sh

diff --git a/Documentation/merge-options.txt b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
index 63a3fc0954..115e0ca6f0 100644
--- a/Documentation/merge-options.txt
+++ b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
@@ -27,6 +27,12 @@ they run `git merge`. To make it easier to adjust such scripts to the
 updated behaviour, the environment variable `GIT_MERGE_AUTOEDIT` can be
 set to `no` at the beginning of them.
 
+--cleanup=<mode>::
+	This option determines how the merge message will be cleaned up
+	before being passed on. Specifically, if the '<mode>' is given a
+	value of `scissors`, scissors will be prepended to the message in
+	the case of a merge conflict. See also linkgit:git-commit[1].
+
 --ff::
 	When the merge resolves as a fast-forward, only update the branch
 	pointer, without creating a merge commit.  This is the default
diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index 0d9828e29e..7902645bc9 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -659,6 +659,7 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 	const char *hook_arg2 = NULL;
 	int clean_message_contents = (cleanup_mode != COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE);
 	int old_display_comment_prefix;
+	int merge_contains_scissors = 0;
 
 	/* This checks and barfs if author is badly specified */
 	determine_author_info(author_ident);
@@ -719,6 +720,8 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 			strbuf_addbuf(&sb, &message);
 		hook_arg1 = "message";
 	} else if (!stat(git_path_merge_msg(the_repository), &statbuf)) {
+		size_t merge_msg_start;
+
 		/*
 		 * prepend SQUASH_MSG here if it exists and a
 		 * "merge --squash" was originally performed
@@ -729,8 +732,14 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 			hook_arg1 = "squash";
 		} else
 			hook_arg1 = "merge";
+
+		merge_msg_start = sb.len;
 		if (strbuf_read_file(&sb, git_path_merge_msg(the_repository), 0) < 0)
 			die_errno(_("could not read MERGE_MSG"));
+
+		if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS &&
+		    wt_status_locate_end(sb.buf + merge_msg_start, sb.len - merge_msg_start) < sb.len - merge_msg_start)
+			merge_contains_scissors = 1;
 	} else if (!stat(git_path_squash_msg(the_repository), &statbuf)) {
 		if (strbuf_read_file(&sb, git_path_squash_msg(the_repository), 0) < 0)
 			die_errno(_("could not read SQUASH_MSG"));
@@ -798,7 +807,8 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 		struct ident_split ci, ai;
 
 		if (whence != FROM_COMMIT) {
-			if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS)
+			if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS &&
+				!merge_contains_scissors)
 				wt_status_add_cut_line(s->fp);
 			status_printf_ln(s, GIT_COLOR_NORMAL,
 			    whence == FROM_MERGE
@@ -823,10 +833,10 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 				_("Please enter the commit message for your changes."
 				  " Lines starting\nwith '%c' will be ignored, and an empty"
 				  " message aborts the commit.\n"), comment_line_char);
-		else if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS &&
-			 whence == FROM_COMMIT)
-			wt_status_add_cut_line(s->fp);
-		else /* COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE, that is. */
+		else if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS) {
+			if (whence == FROM_COMMIT && !merge_contains_scissors)
+				wt_status_add_cut_line(s->fp);
+		} else /* COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE, that is. */
 			status_printf(s, GIT_COLOR_NORMAL,
 				_("Please enter the commit message for your changes."
 				  " Lines starting\n"
diff --git a/builtin/merge.c b/builtin/merge.c
index 8f4a5065c2..23a6e6bb93 100644
--- a/builtin/merge.c
+++ b/builtin/merge.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include "packfile.h"
 #include "tag.h"
 #include "alias.h"
+#include "wt-status.h"
 
 #define DEFAULT_TWOHEAD (1<<0)
 #define DEFAULT_OCTOPUS (1<<1)
@@ -96,6 +97,9 @@ enum ff_type {
 
 static enum ff_type fast_forward = FF_ALLOW;
 
+static const char *cleanup_arg;
+static int put_scissors;
+
 static int option_parse_message(const struct option *opt,
 				const char *arg, int unset)
 {
@@ -243,6 +247,7 @@ static struct option builtin_merge_options[] = {
 		N_("perform a commit if the merge succeeds (default)")),
 	OPT_BOOL('e', "edit", &option_edit,
 		N_("edit message before committing")),
+	OPT_STRING(0, "cleanup", &cleanup_arg, N_("default"), N_("how to strip spaces and #comments from message")),
 	OPT_SET_INT(0, "ff", &fast_forward, N_("allow fast-forward (default)"), FF_ALLOW),
 	OPT_SET_INT_F(0, "ff-only", &fast_forward,
 		      N_("abort if fast-forward is not possible"),
@@ -606,6 +611,8 @@ static int git_merge_config(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 		return git_config_string(&pull_twohead, k, v);
 	else if (!strcmp(k, "pull.octopus"))
 		return git_config_string(&pull_octopus, k, v);
+	else if (!strcmp(k, "commit.cleanup"))
+		return git_config_string(&cleanup_arg, k, v);
 	else if (!strcmp(k, "merge.renormalize"))
 		option_renormalize = git_config_bool(k, v);
 	else if (!strcmp(k, "merge.ff")) {
@@ -894,6 +901,13 @@ static int suggest_conflicts(void)
 	filename = git_path_merge_msg(the_repository);
 	fp = xfopen(filename, "a");
 
+	if (put_scissors) {
+	    fputc('\n', fp);
+	    wt_status_add_cut_line(fp);
+	    /* comments out the newline from append_conflicts_hint */
+	    fputc(comment_line_char, fp);
+	}
+
 	append_conflicts_hint(&msgbuf);
 	fputs(msgbuf.buf, fp);
 	strbuf_release(&msgbuf);
@@ -1402,6 +1416,8 @@ int cmd_merge(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (option_edit < 0)
 		option_edit = default_edit_option();
 
+	put_scissors = cleanup_arg && !strcmp(cleanup_arg, "scissors");
+
 	if (!use_strategies) {
 		if (!remoteheads)
 			; /* already up-to-date */
diff --git a/builtin/pull.c b/builtin/pull.c
index 681c127a07..88245bce0e 100644
--- a/builtin/pull.c
+++ b/builtin/pull.c
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ static char *opt_signoff;
 static char *opt_squash;
 static char *opt_commit;
 static char *opt_edit;
+static char *opt_cleanup;
 static char *opt_ff;
 static char *opt_verify_signatures;
 static int opt_autostash = -1;
@@ -162,6 +163,9 @@ static struct option pull_options[] = {
 	OPT_PASSTHRU(0, "edit", &opt_edit, NULL,
 		N_("edit message before committing"),
 		PARSE_OPT_NOARG),
+	OPT_PASSTHRU(0, "cleanup", &opt_cleanup, NULL,
+		N_("how to strip spaces and #comments from message"),
+		PARSE_OPT_NOARG),
 	OPT_PASSTHRU(0, "ff", &opt_ff, NULL,
 		N_("allow fast-forward"),
 		PARSE_OPT_NOARG),
@@ -625,6 +629,8 @@ static int run_merge(void)
 		argv_array_push(&args, opt_commit);
 	if (opt_edit)
 		argv_array_push(&args, opt_edit);
+	if (opt_cleanup)
+		argv_array_push(&args, opt_cleanup);
 	if (opt_ff)
 		argv_array_push(&args, opt_ff);
 	if (opt_verify_signatures)
diff --git a/t/t7600-merge.sh b/t/t7600-merge.sh
index 106148254d..0d3db34f08 100755
--- a/t/t7600-merge.sh
+++ b/t/t7600-merge.sh
@@ -247,6 +247,54 @@ test_expect_success 'merge --squash c3 with c7' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'merge c3 with c7 with commit.cleanup = scissors' '
+	git config commit.cleanup scissors &&
+	git reset --hard c3 &&
+	test_must_fail git merge c7 &&
+	cat result.9z >file &&
+	git commit --no-edit -a &&
+
+	{
+		cat <<-EOF
+		Merge tag '"'"'c7'"'"'
+
+		# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+		# Do not modify or remove the line above.
+		# Everything below it will be ignored.
+		#
+		# Conflicts:
+		#	file
+		EOF
+	} >expect &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD | sed -e '1,/^$/d' >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'merge c3 with c7 with --squash commit.cleanup = scissors' '
+	git config commit.cleanup scissors &&
+	git reset --hard c3 &&
+	test_must_fail git merge --squash c7 &&
+	cat result.9z >file &&
+	git commit --no-edit -a &&
+
+	{
+		cat <<-EOF
+		Squashed commit of the following:
+
+		$(git show -s c7)
+
+		# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+		# Do not modify or remove the line above.
+		# Everything below it will be ignored.
+		#
+		# Conflicts:
+		#	file
+		EOF
+	} >expect &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD | sed -e '1,/^$/d' >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
 test_debug 'git log --graph --decorate --oneline --all'
 
 test_expect_success 'merge c1 with c2 and c3' '

diff --git a/t/t7600-merge.sh b/t/t7600-merge.sh
index 106148254d..d879efd330 100755
--- a/t/t7600-merge.sh
+++ b/t/t7600-merge.sh
@@ -233,8 +233,7 @@ test_expect_success 'merge --squash c3 with c7' '
 	cat result.9z >file &&
 	git commit --no-edit -a &&
 
-	{
-		cat <<-EOF
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
 		Squashed commit of the following:
 
 		$(git show -s c7)
@@ -242,8 +241,8 @@ test_expect_success 'merge --squash c3 with c7' '
 		# Conflicts:
 		#	file
 		EOF
-	} >expect &&
-	git cat-file commit HEAD | sed -e '1,/^$/d' >actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >tmp &&
+	sed -e '1,/^$/d' <tmp >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 

Documentation/merge-options.txt, builtin/commit.c, builtin/merge.c, builtin/pull.c, t/t7600-merge.sh

diff --git a/Documentation/merge-options.txt b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
index 63a3fc0954..115e0ca6f0 100644
--- a/Documentation/merge-options.txt
+++ b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
@@ -27,6 +27,12 @@ they run `git merge`. To make it easier to adjust such scripts to the
 updated behaviour, the environment variable `GIT_MERGE_AUTOEDIT` can be
 set to `no` at the beginning of them.
 
+--cleanup=<mode>::
+	This option determines how the merge message will be cleaned up
+	before being passed on. Specifically, if the '<mode>' is given a
+	value of `scissors`, scissors will be prepended to the message in
+	the case of a merge conflict. See also linkgit:git-commit[1].
+
 --ff::
 	When the merge resolves as a fast-forward, only update the branch
 	pointer, without creating a merge commit.  This is the default
diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index 0d9828e29e..7902645bc9 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -659,6 +659,7 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 	const char *hook_arg2 = NULL;
 	int clean_message_contents = (cleanup_mode != COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE);
 	int old_display_comment_prefix;
+	int merge_contains_scissors = 0;
 
 	/* This checks and barfs if author is badly specified */
 	determine_author_info(author_ident);
@@ -719,6 +720,8 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 			strbuf_addbuf(&sb, &message);
 		hook_arg1 = "message";
 	} else if (!stat(git_path_merge_msg(the_repository), &statbuf)) {
+		size_t merge_msg_start;
+
 		/*
 		 * prepend SQUASH_MSG here if it exists and a
 		 * "merge --squash" was originally performed
@@ -729,8 +732,14 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 			hook_arg1 = "squash";
 		} else
 			hook_arg1 = "merge";
+
+		merge_msg_start = sb.len;
 		if (strbuf_read_file(&sb, git_path_merge_msg(the_repository), 0) < 0)
 			die_errno(_("could not read MERGE_MSG"));
+
+		if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS &&
+		    wt_status_locate_end(sb.buf + merge_msg_start, sb.len - merge_msg_start) < sb.len - merge_msg_start)
+			merge_contains_scissors = 1;
 	} else if (!stat(git_path_squash_msg(the_repository), &statbuf)) {
 		if (strbuf_read_file(&sb, git_path_squash_msg(the_repository), 0) < 0)
 			die_errno(_("could not read SQUASH_MSG"));
@@ -798,7 +807,8 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 		struct ident_split ci, ai;
 
 		if (whence != FROM_COMMIT) {
-			if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS)
+			if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS &&
+				!merge_contains_scissors)
 				wt_status_add_cut_line(s->fp);
 			status_printf_ln(s, GIT_COLOR_NORMAL,
 			    whence == FROM_MERGE
@@ -823,10 +833,10 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 				_("Please enter the commit message for your changes."
 				  " Lines starting\nwith '%c' will be ignored, and an empty"
 				  " message aborts the commit.\n"), comment_line_char);
-		else if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS &&
-			 whence == FROM_COMMIT)
-			wt_status_add_cut_line(s->fp);
-		else /* COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE, that is. */
+		else if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS) {
+			if (whence == FROM_COMMIT && !merge_contains_scissors)
+				wt_status_add_cut_line(s->fp);
+		} else /* COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE, that is. */
 			status_printf(s, GIT_COLOR_NORMAL,
 				_("Please enter the commit message for your changes."
 				  " Lines starting\n"
diff --git a/builtin/merge.c b/builtin/merge.c
index 8f4a5065c2..23a6e6bb93 100644
--- a/builtin/merge.c
+++ b/builtin/merge.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include "packfile.h"
 #include "tag.h"
 #include "alias.h"
+#include "wt-status.h"
 
 #define DEFAULT_TWOHEAD (1<<0)
 #define DEFAULT_OCTOPUS (1<<1)
@@ -96,6 +97,9 @@ enum ff_type {
 
 static enum ff_type fast_forward = FF_ALLOW;
 
+static const char *cleanup_arg;
+static int put_scissors;
+
 static int option_parse_message(const struct option *opt,
 				const char *arg, int unset)
 {
@@ -243,6 +247,7 @@ static struct option builtin_merge_options[] = {
 		N_("perform a commit if the merge succeeds (default)")),
 	OPT_BOOL('e', "edit", &option_edit,
 		N_("edit message before committing")),
+	OPT_STRING(0, "cleanup", &cleanup_arg, N_("default"), N_("how to strip spaces and #comments from message")),
 	OPT_SET_INT(0, "ff", &fast_forward, N_("allow fast-forward (default)"), FF_ALLOW),
 	OPT_SET_INT_F(0, "ff-only", &fast_forward,
 		      N_("abort if fast-forward is not possible"),
@@ -606,6 +611,8 @@ static int git_merge_config(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 		return git_config_string(&pull_twohead, k, v);
 	else if (!strcmp(k, "pull.octopus"))
 		return git_config_string(&pull_octopus, k, v);
+	else if (!strcmp(k, "commit.cleanup"))
+		return git_config_string(&cleanup_arg, k, v);
 	else if (!strcmp(k, "merge.renormalize"))
 		option_renormalize = git_config_bool(k, v);
 	else if (!strcmp(k, "merge.ff")) {
@@ -894,6 +901,13 @@ static int suggest_conflicts(void)
 	filename = git_path_merge_msg(the_repository);
 	fp = xfopen(filename, "a");
 
+	if (put_scissors) {
+	    fputc('\n', fp);
+	    wt_status_add_cut_line(fp);
+	    /* comments out the newline from append_conflicts_hint */
+	    fputc(comment_line_char, fp);
+	}
+
 	append_conflicts_hint(&msgbuf);
 	fputs(msgbuf.buf, fp);
 	strbuf_release(&msgbuf);
@@ -1402,6 +1416,8 @@ int cmd_merge(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (option_edit < 0)
 		option_edit = default_edit_option();
 
+	put_scissors = cleanup_arg && !strcmp(cleanup_arg, "scissors");
+
 	if (!use_strategies) {
 		if (!remoteheads)
 			; /* already up-to-date */
diff --git a/builtin/pull.c b/builtin/pull.c
index 681c127a07..88245bce0e 100644
--- a/builtin/pull.c
+++ b/builtin/pull.c
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ static char *opt_signoff;
 static char *opt_squash;
 static char *opt_commit;
 static char *opt_edit;
+static char *opt_cleanup;
 static char *opt_ff;
 static char *opt_verify_signatures;
 static int opt_autostash = -1;
@@ -162,6 +163,9 @@ static struct option pull_options[] = {
 	OPT_PASSTHRU(0, "edit", &opt_edit, NULL,
 		N_("edit message before committing"),
 		PARSE_OPT_NOARG),
+	OPT_PASSTHRU(0, "cleanup", &opt_cleanup, NULL,
+		N_("how to strip spaces and #comments from message"),
+		PARSE_OPT_NOARG),
 	OPT_PASSTHRU(0, "ff", &opt_ff, NULL,
 		N_("allow fast-forward"),
 		PARSE_OPT_NOARG),
@@ -625,6 +629,8 @@ static int run_merge(void)
 		argv_array_push(&args, opt_commit);
 	if (opt_edit)
 		argv_array_push(&args, opt_edit);
+	if (opt_cleanup)
+		argv_array_push(&args, opt_cleanup);
 	if (opt_ff)
 		argv_array_push(&args, opt_ff);
 	if (opt_verify_signatures)
diff --git a/t/t7600-merge.sh b/t/t7600-merge.sh
index d879efd330..2cb57e5878 100755
--- a/t/t7600-merge.sh
+++ b/t/t7600-merge.sh
@@ -246,6 +246,52 @@ test_expect_success 'merge --squash c3 with c7' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'merge c3 with c7 with commit.cleanup = scissors' '
+	git config commit.cleanup scissors &&
+	git reset --hard c3 &&
+	test_must_fail git merge c7 &&
+	cat result.9z >file &&
+	git commit --no-edit -a &&
+
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
+		Merge tag '"'"'c7'"'"'
+
+		# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+		# Do not modify or remove the line above.
+		# Everything below it will be ignored.
+		#
+		# Conflicts:
+		#	file
+		EOF
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >tmp &&
+	sed -e '1,/^$/d' <tmp >actual &&
+	test_i18ncmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'merge c3 with c7 with --squash commit.cleanup = scissors' '
+	git config commit.cleanup scissors &&
+	git reset --hard c3 &&
+	test_must_fail git merge --squash c7 &&
+	cat result.9z >file &&
+	git commit --no-edit -a &&
+
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
+		Squashed commit of the following:
+
+		$(git show -s c7)
+
+		# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+		# Do not modify or remove the line above.
+		# Everything below it will be ignored.
+		#
+		# Conflicts:
+		#	file
+		EOF
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >tmp &&
+	sed -e '1,/^$/d' <tmp >actual &&
+	test_i18ncmp expect actual
+'
+
 test_debug 'git log --graph --decorate --oneline --all'
 
 test_expect_success 'merge c1 with c2 and c3' '

builtin/commit.c, sequencer.c, sequencer.h

diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index c021b119bb..9eb745b7ce 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -1164,20 +1164,7 @@ static int parse_and_validate_options(int argc, const char *argv[],
 		die(_("Only one of --include/--only/--all/--interactive/--patch can be used."));
 	if (argc == 0 && (also || (only && !amend && !allow_empty)))
 		die(_("No paths with --include/--only does not make sense."));
-	if (!cleanup_arg || !strcmp(cleanup_arg, "default"))
-		cleanup_mode = use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL :
-					    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
-	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "verbatim"))
-		cleanup_mode = COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE;
-	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "whitespace"))
-		cleanup_mode = COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
-	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "strip"))
-		cleanup_mode = COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL;
-	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "scissors"))
-		cleanup_mode = use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS :
-					    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
-	else
-		die(_("Invalid cleanup mode %s"), cleanup_arg);
+	cleanup_mode = get_cleanup_mode(cleanup_arg, use_editor);
 
 	handle_untracked_files_arg(s);
 
@@ -1614,11 +1601,7 @@ int cmd_commit(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		die(_("could not read commit message: %s"), strerror(saved_errno));
 	}
 
-	if (verbose || /* Truncate the message just before the diff, if any. */
-	    cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS)
-		strbuf_setlen(&sb, wt_status_locate_end(sb.buf, sb.len));
-	if (cleanup_mode != COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE)
-		strbuf_stripspace(&sb, cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL);
+	cleanup_message(&sb, cleanup_mode, verbose);
 
 	if (message_is_empty(&sb, cleanup_mode) && !allow_empty_message) {
 		rollback_index_files();
diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index e1a4dd15f1..9c4eba06dc 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -506,6 +506,25 @@ static int fast_forward_to(const struct object_id *to, const struct object_id *f
 	return 0;
 }
 
+enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode get_cleanup_mode(const char *cleanup_arg,
+	int use_editor)
+{
+	if (!cleanup_arg || !strcmp(cleanup_arg, "default"))
+		return use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL :
+				    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
+	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "verbatim"))
+		return COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE;
+	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "whitespace"))
+		return COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
+	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "strip"))
+		return COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL;
+	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "scissors"))
+		return use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS :
+				    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
+	else
+		die(_("Invalid cleanup mode %s"), cleanup_arg);
+}
+
 void append_conflicts_hint(struct strbuf *msgbuf)
 {
 	int i;
@@ -1003,6 +1022,16 @@ static int rest_is_empty(const struct strbuf *sb, int start)
 	return 1;
 }
 
+void cleanup_message(struct strbuf *msgbuf,
+	enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode, int verbose)
+{
+	if (verbose || /* Truncate the message just before the diff, if any. */
+	    cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS)
+		strbuf_setlen(msgbuf, wt_status_locate_end(msgbuf->buf, msgbuf->len));
+	if (cleanup_mode != COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE)
+		strbuf_stripspace(msgbuf, cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL);
+}
+
 /*
  * Find out if the message in the strbuf contains only whitespace and
  * Signed-off-by lines.
diff --git a/sequencer.h b/sequencer.h
index 5071a73563..e6d937dd3c 100644
--- a/sequencer.h
+++ b/sequencer.h
@@ -112,7 +112,11 @@ extern const char sign_off_header[];
  */
 void append_signoff(struct strbuf *msgbuf, size_t ignore_footer, unsigned flag);
 
+enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode get_cleanup_mode(const char *cleanup_arg,
+	int use_editor);
 void append_conflicts_hint(struct strbuf *msgbuf);
+void cleanup_message(struct strbuf *msgbuf,
+	enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode, int verbose);
 int message_is_empty(const struct strbuf *sb,
 		     enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode);
 int template_untouched(const struct strbuf *sb, const char *template_file,

diff --git a/t/t7600-merge.sh b/t/t7600-merge.sh
index 106148254d..d879efd330 100755
--- a/t/t7600-merge.sh
+++ b/t/t7600-merge.sh
@@ -233,8 +233,7 @@ test_expect_success 'merge --squash c3 with c7' '
 	cat result.9z >file &&
 	git commit --no-edit -a &&
 
-	{
-		cat <<-EOF
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
 		Squashed commit of the following:
 
 		$(git show -s c7)
@@ -242,8 +241,8 @@ test_expect_success 'merge --squash c3 with c7' '
 		# Conflicts:
 		#	file
 		EOF
-	} >expect &&
-	git cat-file commit HEAD | sed -e '1,/^$/d' >actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >tmp &&
+	sed -e '1,/^$/d' <tmp >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 

Documentation/merge-options.txt, builtin/merge.c, builtin/pull.c, t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh, wt-status.c, wt-status.h

diff --git a/Documentation/merge-options.txt b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
index 63a3fc0954..22783651b6 100644
--- a/Documentation/merge-options.txt
+++ b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
@@ -27,6 +27,11 @@ they run `git merge`. To make it easier to adjust such scripts to the
 updated behaviour, the environment variable `GIT_MERGE_AUTOEDIT` can be
 set to `no` at the beginning of them.
 
+--cleanup=<mode>::
+	This option determines how the merge message will be cleaned up
+	before commiting or being passed on. See linkgit:git-commit[1] for more
+	details.
+
 --ff::
 	When the merge resolves as a fast-forward, only update the branch
 	pointer, without creating a merge commit.  This is the default
diff --git a/builtin/merge.c b/builtin/merge.c
index c3c976d471..ab0db46ede 100644
--- a/builtin/merge.c
+++ b/builtin/merge.c
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #include "tag.h"
 #include "alias.h"
 #include "commit-reach.h"
+#include "wt-status.h"
 
 #define DEFAULT_TWOHEAD (1<<0)
 #define DEFAULT_OCTOPUS (1<<1)
@@ -97,6 +98,9 @@ enum ff_type {
 
 static enum ff_type fast_forward = FF_ALLOW;
 
+static const char *cleanup_arg;
+static enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode;
+
 static int option_parse_message(const struct option *opt,
 				const char *arg, int unset)
 {
@@ -245,6 +249,7 @@ static struct option builtin_merge_options[] = {
 		N_("perform a commit if the merge succeeds (default)")),
 	OPT_BOOL('e', "edit", &option_edit,
 		N_("edit message before committing")),
+	OPT_STRING(0, "cleanup", &cleanup_arg, N_("default"), N_("how to strip spaces and #comments from message")),
 	OPT_SET_INT(0, "ff", &fast_forward, N_("allow fast-forward (default)"), FF_ALLOW),
 	OPT_SET_INT_F(0, "ff-only", &fast_forward,
 		      N_("abort if fast-forward is not possible"),
@@ -608,6 +613,8 @@ static int git_merge_config(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 		return git_config_string(&pull_twohead, k, v);
 	else if (!strcmp(k, "pull.octopus"))
 		return git_config_string(&pull_octopus, k, v);
+	else if (!strcmp(k, "commit.cleanup"))
+		return git_config_string(&cleanup_arg, k, v);
 	else if (!strcmp(k, "merge.renormalize"))
 		option_renormalize = git_config_bool(k, v);
 	else if (!strcmp(k, "merge.ff")) {
@@ -793,23 +800,32 @@ static void abort_commit(struct commit_list *remoteheads, const char *err_msg)
 	exit(1);
 }
 
+static const char comment_line_explanation[] =
+N_("Lines starting with '%c' will be ignored.\n");
+
 static const char merge_editor_comment[] =
 N_("Please enter a commit message to explain why this merge is necessary,\n"
    "especially if it merges an updated upstream into a topic branch.\n"
    "\n"
-   "Lines starting with '%c' will be ignored, and an empty message aborts\n"
-   "the commit.\n");
+   "An empty message aborts the commit.\n");
 
 static void write_merge_heads(struct commit_list *);
 static void prepare_to_commit(struct commit_list *remoteheads)
 {
 	struct strbuf msg = STRBUF_INIT;
 	strbuf_addbuf(&msg, &merge_msg);
-	strbuf_addch(&msg, '\n');
 	if (squash)
 		BUG("the control must not reach here under --squash");
-	if (0 < option_edit)
-		strbuf_commented_addf(&msg, _(merge_editor_comment), comment_line_char);
+	if (0 < option_edit) {
+		strbuf_addch(&msg, '\n');
+		if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS)
+			wt_status_append_cut_line(&msg);
+		else
+			strbuf_commented_addf(&msg, _(comment_line_explanation), comment_line_char);
+
+		strbuf_commented_addf(&msg, "\n");
+		strbuf_commented_addf(&msg, _(merge_editor_comment));
+	}
 	if (signoff)
 		append_signoff(&msg, ignore_non_trailer(msg.buf, msg.len), 0);
 	write_merge_heads(remoteheads);
@@ -828,7 +844,7 @@ static void prepare_to_commit(struct commit_list *remoteheads)
 		abort_commit(remoteheads, NULL);
 
 	read_merge_msg(&msg);
-	strbuf_stripspace(&msg, 0 < option_edit);
+	cleanup_message(&msg, cleanup_mode, 0);
 	if (!msg.len)
 		abort_commit(remoteheads, _("Empty commit message."));
 	strbuf_release(&merge_msg);
@@ -876,7 +892,6 @@ static int finish_automerge(struct commit *head,
 	parents = remoteheads;
 	if (!head_subsumed || fast_forward == FF_NO)
 		commit_list_insert(head, &parents);
-	strbuf_addch(&merge_msg, '\n');
 	prepare_to_commit(remoteheads);
 	if (commit_tree(merge_msg.buf, merge_msg.len, result_tree, parents,
 			&result_commit, NULL, sign_commit))
@@ -1385,6 +1400,8 @@ int cmd_merge(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (option_edit < 0)
 		option_edit = default_edit_option();
 
+	cleanup_mode = get_cleanup_mode(cleanup_arg, 0 < option_edit);
+
 	if (!use_strategies) {
 		if (!remoteheads)
 			; /* already up-to-date */
diff --git a/builtin/pull.c b/builtin/pull.c
index 1b90622b13..938be2f610 100644
--- a/builtin/pull.c
+++ b/builtin/pull.c
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ static char *opt_signoff;
 static char *opt_squash;
 static char *opt_commit;
 static char *opt_edit;
+static char *opt_cleanup;
 static char *opt_ff;
 static char *opt_verify_signatures;
 static int opt_autostash = -1;
@@ -163,6 +164,9 @@ static struct option pull_options[] = {
 	OPT_PASSTHRU(0, "edit", &opt_edit, NULL,
 		N_("edit message before committing"),
 		PARSE_OPT_NOARG),
+	OPT_PASSTHRU(0, "cleanup", &opt_cleanup, NULL,
+		N_("how to strip spaces and #comments from message"),
+		PARSE_OPT_NOARG),
 	OPT_PASSTHRU(0, "ff", &opt_ff, NULL,
 		N_("allow fast-forward"),
 		PARSE_OPT_NOARG),
@@ -639,6 +643,8 @@ static int run_merge(void)
 		argv_array_push(&args, opt_commit);
 	if (opt_edit)
 		argv_array_push(&args, opt_edit);
+	if (opt_cleanup)
+		argv_array_push(&args, opt_cleanup);
 	if (opt_ff)
 		argv_array_push(&args, opt_ff);
 	if (opt_verify_signatures)
diff --git a/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh b/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh
index 89619cf446..3fcd58eb2c 100755
--- a/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh
+++ b/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh
@@ -47,4 +47,65 @@ test_expect_success 'merge --log appends to custom message' '
 	test_cmp exp.log actual
 '
 
+mesg_with_comment_and_newlines='
+# text
+
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'prepare file with comment line and trailing newlines'  '
+	printf "%s" "$mesg_with_comment_and_newlines" >expect
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (verbatim option)' '
+	git reset --hard c1 &&
+	git merge --cleanup=verbatim -F expect c2 &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d" >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (whitespace option)' '
+	git reset --hard c1 &&
+	{ echo;echo "# text";echo; } >text &&
+	echo "# text" >expect &&
+	git merge --cleanup=whitespace -F text c2 &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d">actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'cleanup merge messages (scissors option)' '
+	git reset --hard c1 &&
+	cat >text <<EOF &&
+
+# to be kept
+
+  # ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+# to be kept, too
+# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+to be removed
+# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+to be removed, too
+EOF
+
+	cat >expect <<EOF &&
+# to be kept
+
+  # ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+# to be kept, too
+EOF
+	git merge --cleanup=scissors -e -F text c2 &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d">actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (strip option)' '
+	git reset --hard c1 &&
+	{ echo;echo "# text";echo sample;echo; } >text &&
+	echo sample >expect &&
+	git merge --cleanup=strip -F text c2 &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d">actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+
+'
+
 test_done
diff --git a/wt-status.c b/wt-status.c
index a24711374c..3dc2ff9a8d 100644
--- a/wt-status.c
+++ b/wt-status.c
@@ -991,13 +991,19 @@ size_t wt_status_locate_end(const char *s, size_t len)
 	return len;
 }
 
-void wt_status_add_cut_line(FILE *fp)
+void wt_status_append_cut_line(struct strbuf *buf)
 {
 	const char *explanation = _("Do not modify or remove the line above.\nEverything below it will be ignored.");
+
+	strbuf_commented_addf(buf, "%s", cut_line);
+	strbuf_add_commented_lines(buf, explanation, strlen(explanation));
+}
+
+void wt_status_add_cut_line(FILE *fp)
+{
 	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
 
-	fprintf(fp, "%c %s", comment_line_char, cut_line);
-	strbuf_add_commented_lines(&buf, explanation, strlen(explanation));
+	wt_status_append_cut_line(&buf);
 	fputs(buf.buf, fp);
 	strbuf_release(&buf);
 }
diff --git a/wt-status.h b/wt-status.h
index 1fcf93afbf..739a3e4dfb 100644
--- a/wt-status.h
+++ b/wt-status.h
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ struct wt_status {
 };
 
 size_t wt_status_locate_end(const char *s, size_t len);
+void wt_status_append_cut_line(struct strbuf *buf);
 void wt_status_add_cut_line(FILE *fp);
 void wt_status_prepare(struct wt_status *s);
 void wt_status_print(struct wt_status *s);

Documentation/merge-options.txt, builtin/commit.c, builtin/merge.c, t/t7600-merge.sh

diff --git a/Documentation/merge-options.txt b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
index 22783651b6..c2a263ba74 100644
--- a/Documentation/merge-options.txt
+++ b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
@@ -30,7 +30,9 @@ set to `no` at the beginning of them.
 --cleanup=<mode>::
 	This option determines how the merge message will be cleaned up
 	before commiting or being passed on. See linkgit:git-commit[1] for more
-	details.
+	details. In addition, if the '<mode>' is given a value of `scissors`,
+	scissors will be prepended to MERGE_MSG before being passed on in the case
+	of a merge conflict.
 
 --ff::
 	When the merge resolves as a fast-forward, only update the branch
diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index 9eb745b7ce..7923282ebb 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -665,6 +665,7 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 	const char *hook_arg2 = NULL;
 	int clean_message_contents = (cleanup_mode != COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE);
 	int old_display_comment_prefix;
+	int merge_contains_scissors = 0;
 
 	/* This checks and barfs if author is badly specified */
 	determine_author_info(author_ident);
@@ -725,6 +726,8 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 			strbuf_addbuf(&sb, &message);
 		hook_arg1 = "message";
 	} else if (!stat(git_path_merge_msg(the_repository), &statbuf)) {
+		size_t merge_msg_start;
+
 		/*
 		 * prepend SQUASH_MSG here if it exists and a
 		 * "merge --squash" was originally performed
@@ -735,8 +738,14 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 			hook_arg1 = "squash";
 		} else
 			hook_arg1 = "merge";
+
+		merge_msg_start = sb.len;
 		if (strbuf_read_file(&sb, git_path_merge_msg(the_repository), 0) < 0)
 			die_errno(_("could not read MERGE_MSG"));
+
+		if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS &&
+		    wt_status_locate_end(sb.buf + merge_msg_start, sb.len - merge_msg_start) < sb.len - merge_msg_start)
+			merge_contains_scissors = 1;
 	} else if (!stat(git_path_squash_msg(the_repository), &statbuf)) {
 		if (strbuf_read_file(&sb, git_path_squash_msg(the_repository), 0) < 0)
 			die_errno(_("could not read SQUASH_MSG"));
@@ -804,7 +813,8 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 		struct ident_split ci, ai;
 
 		if (whence != FROM_COMMIT) {
-			if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS)
+			if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS &&
+				!merge_contains_scissors)
 				wt_status_add_cut_line(s->fp);
 			status_printf_ln(s, GIT_COLOR_NORMAL,
 			    whence == FROM_MERGE
@@ -829,10 +839,10 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 				_("Please enter the commit message for your changes."
 				  " Lines starting\nwith '%c' will be ignored, and an empty"
 				  " message aborts the commit.\n"), comment_line_char);
-		else if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS &&
-			 whence == FROM_COMMIT)
-			wt_status_add_cut_line(s->fp);
-		else /* COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE, that is. */
+		else if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS) {
+			if (whence == FROM_COMMIT && !merge_contains_scissors)
+				wt_status_add_cut_line(s->fp);
+		} else /* COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE, that is. */
 			status_printf(s, GIT_COLOR_NORMAL,
 				_("Please enter the commit message for your changes."
 				  " Lines starting\n"
diff --git a/builtin/merge.c b/builtin/merge.c
index ab0db46ede..6514267efc 100644
--- a/builtin/merge.c
+++ b/builtin/merge.c
@@ -912,6 +912,20 @@ static int suggest_conflicts(void)
 	filename = git_path_merge_msg(the_repository);
 	fp = xfopen(filename, "a");
 
+	/*
+	 * We can't use cleanup_mode because if we're not using the editor,
+	 * get_cleanup_mode will return COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE instead, even
+	 * though the message is meant to be processed later by git-commit.
+	 * Thus, we will get the cleanup mode is returned we _are_ using an
+	 * editor.
+	 */
+	if (get_cleanup_mode(cleanup_arg, 1) == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS) {
+	    fputc('\n', fp);
+	    wt_status_add_cut_line(fp);
+	    /* comments out the newline from append_conflicts_hint */
+	    fputc(comment_line_char, fp);
+	}
+
 	append_conflicts_hint(&msgbuf);
 	fputs(msgbuf.buf, fp);
 	strbuf_release(&msgbuf);
diff --git a/t/t7600-merge.sh b/t/t7600-merge.sh
index d879efd330..2cb57e5878 100755
--- a/t/t7600-merge.sh
+++ b/t/t7600-merge.sh
@@ -246,6 +246,52 @@ test_expect_success 'merge --squash c3 with c7' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'merge c3 with c7 with commit.cleanup = scissors' '
+	git config commit.cleanup scissors &&
+	git reset --hard c3 &&
+	test_must_fail git merge c7 &&
+	cat result.9z >file &&
+	git commit --no-edit -a &&
+
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
+		Merge tag '"'"'c7'"'"'
+
+		# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+		# Do not modify or remove the line above.
+		# Everything below it will be ignored.
+		#
+		# Conflicts:
+		#	file
+		EOF
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >tmp &&
+	sed -e '1,/^$/d' <tmp >actual &&
+	test_i18ncmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'merge c3 with c7 with --squash commit.cleanup = scissors' '
+	git config commit.cleanup scissors &&
+	git reset --hard c3 &&
+	test_must_fail git merge --squash c7 &&
+	cat result.9z >file &&
+	git commit --no-edit -a &&
+
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
+		Squashed commit of the following:
+
+		$(git show -s c7)
+
+		# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+		# Do not modify or remove the line above.
+		# Everything below it will be ignored.
+		#
+		# Conflicts:
+		#	file
+		EOF
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >tmp &&
+	sed -e '1,/^$/d' <tmp >actual &&
+	test_i18ncmp expect actual
+'
+
 test_debug 'git log --graph --decorate --oneline --all'
 
 test_expect_success 'merge c1 with c2 and c3' '

builtin/commit.c, sequencer.c, sequencer.h

diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index 004b816635..3ac0a21a22 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -1165,20 +1165,7 @@ static int parse_and_validate_options(int argc, const char *argv[],
 		die(_("Only one of --include/--only/--all/--interactive/--patch can be used."));
 	if (argc == 0 && (also || (only && !amend && !allow_empty)))
 		die(_("No paths with --include/--only does not make sense."));
-	if (!cleanup_arg || !strcmp(cleanup_arg, "default"))
-		cleanup_mode = use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL :
-					    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
-	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "verbatim"))
-		cleanup_mode = COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE;
-	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "whitespace"))
-		cleanup_mode = COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
-	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "strip"))
-		cleanup_mode = COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL;
-	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "scissors"))
-		cleanup_mode = use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS :
-					    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
-	else
-		die(_("Invalid cleanup mode %s"), cleanup_arg);
+	cleanup_mode = get_cleanup_mode(cleanup_arg, use_editor);
 
 	handle_untracked_files_arg(s);
 
@@ -1615,11 +1602,7 @@ int cmd_commit(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		die(_("could not read commit message: %s"), strerror(saved_errno));
 	}
 
-	if (verbose || /* Truncate the message just before the diff, if any. */
-	    cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS)
-		strbuf_setlen(&sb, wt_status_locate_end(sb.buf, sb.len));
-	if (cleanup_mode != COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE)
-		strbuf_stripspace(&sb, cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL);
+	cleanup_message(&sb, cleanup_mode, verbose);
 
 	if (message_is_empty(&sb, cleanup_mode) && !allow_empty_message) {
 		rollback_index_files();
diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index f5370f4965..4f79892801 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -510,6 +510,25 @@ static int fast_forward_to(struct repository *r,
 	return 0;
 }
 
+enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode get_cleanup_mode(const char *cleanup_arg,
+	int use_editor)
+{
+	if (!cleanup_arg || !strcmp(cleanup_arg, "default"))
+		return use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL :
+				    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
+	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "verbatim"))
+		return COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE;
+	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "whitespace"))
+		return COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
+	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "strip"))
+		return COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL;
+	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "scissors"))
+		return use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS :
+				    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
+	else
+		die(_("Invalid cleanup mode %s"), cleanup_arg);
+}
+
 void append_conflicts_hint(struct index_state *istate,
 			   struct strbuf *msgbuf)
 {
@@ -1012,6 +1031,16 @@ static int rest_is_empty(const struct strbuf *sb, int start)
 	return 1;
 }
 
+void cleanup_message(struct strbuf *msgbuf,
+	enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode, int verbose)
+{
+	if (verbose || /* Truncate the message just before the diff, if any. */
+	    cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS)
+		strbuf_setlen(msgbuf, wt_status_locate_end(msgbuf->buf, msgbuf->len));
+	if (cleanup_mode != COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE)
+		strbuf_stripspace(msgbuf, cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL);
+}
+
 /*
  * Find out if the message in the strbuf contains only whitespace and
  * Signed-off-by lines.
diff --git a/sequencer.h b/sequencer.h
index 9d83f0f3e9..57ad6fc7de 100644
--- a/sequencer.h
+++ b/sequencer.h
@@ -115,7 +115,11 @@ extern const char sign_off_header[];
  */
 void append_signoff(struct strbuf *msgbuf, size_t ignore_footer, unsigned flag);
 
+enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode get_cleanup_mode(const char *cleanup_arg,
+	int use_editor);
 void append_conflicts_hint(struct index_state *istate, struct strbuf *msgbuf);
+void cleanup_message(struct strbuf *msgbuf,
+	enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode, int verbose);
 int message_is_empty(const struct strbuf *sb,
 		     enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode);
 int template_untouched(const struct strbuf *sb, const char *template_file,

diff --git a/t/t7600-merge.sh b/t/t7600-merge.sh
index 106148254d..d879efd330 100755
--- a/t/t7600-merge.sh
+++ b/t/t7600-merge.sh
@@ -233,8 +233,7 @@ test_expect_success 'merge --squash c3 with c7' '
 	cat result.9z >file &&
 	git commit --no-edit -a &&
 
-	{
-		cat <<-EOF
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
 		Squashed commit of the following:
 
 		$(git show -s c7)
@@ -242,8 +241,8 @@ test_expect_success 'merge --squash c3 with c7' '
 		# Conflicts:
 		#	file
 		EOF
-	} >expect &&
-	git cat-file commit HEAD | sed -e '1,/^$/d' >actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >tmp &&
+	sed -e '1,/^$/d' <tmp >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 

Documentation/merge-options.txt, builtin/merge.c, builtin/pull.c, t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh, wt-status.c, wt-status.h

diff --git a/Documentation/merge-options.txt b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
index 63a3fc0954..22783651b6 100644
--- a/Documentation/merge-options.txt
+++ b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
@@ -27,6 +27,11 @@ they run `git merge`. To make it easier to adjust such scripts to the
 updated behaviour, the environment variable `GIT_MERGE_AUTOEDIT` can be
 set to `no` at the beginning of them.
 
+--cleanup=<mode>::
+	This option determines how the merge message will be cleaned up
+	before commiting or being passed on. See linkgit:git-commit[1] for more
+	details.
+
 --ff::
 	When the merge resolves as a fast-forward, only update the branch
 	pointer, without creating a merge commit.  This is the default
diff --git a/builtin/merge.c b/builtin/merge.c
index dc0b7cc521..19fb3abb77 100644
--- a/builtin/merge.c
+++ b/builtin/merge.c
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #include "tag.h"
 #include "alias.h"
 #include "commit-reach.h"
+#include "wt-status.h"
 
 #define DEFAULT_TWOHEAD (1<<0)
 #define DEFAULT_OCTOPUS (1<<1)
@@ -97,6 +98,9 @@ enum ff_type {
 
 static enum ff_type fast_forward = FF_ALLOW;
 
+static const char *cleanup_arg;
+static enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode;
+
 static int option_parse_message(const struct option *opt,
 				const char *arg, int unset)
 {
@@ -245,6 +249,7 @@ static struct option builtin_merge_options[] = {
 		N_("perform a commit if the merge succeeds (default)")),
 	OPT_BOOL('e', "edit", &option_edit,
 		N_("edit message before committing")),
+	OPT_STRING(0, "cleanup", &cleanup_arg, N_("default"), N_("how to strip spaces and #comments from message")),
 	OPT_SET_INT(0, "ff", &fast_forward, N_("allow fast-forward (default)"), FF_ALLOW),
 	OPT_SET_INT_F(0, "ff-only", &fast_forward,
 		      N_("abort if fast-forward is not possible"),
@@ -608,6 +613,8 @@ static int git_merge_config(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 		return git_config_string(&pull_twohead, k, v);
 	else if (!strcmp(k, "pull.octopus"))
 		return git_config_string(&pull_octopus, k, v);
+	else if (!strcmp(k, "commit.cleanup"))
+		return git_config_string(&cleanup_arg, k, v);
 	else if (!strcmp(k, "merge.renormalize"))
 		option_renormalize = git_config_bool(k, v);
 	else if (!strcmp(k, "merge.ff")) {
@@ -793,23 +800,32 @@ static void abort_commit(struct commit_list *remoteheads, const char *err_msg)
 	exit(1);
 }
 
+static const char comment_line_explanation[] =
+N_("Lines starting with '%c' will be ignored.\n");
+
 static const char merge_editor_comment[] =
 N_("Please enter a commit message to explain why this merge is necessary,\n"
    "especially if it merges an updated upstream into a topic branch.\n"
    "\n"
-   "Lines starting with '%c' will be ignored, and an empty message aborts\n"
-   "the commit.\n");
+   "An empty message aborts the commit.\n");
 
 static void write_merge_heads(struct commit_list *);
 static void prepare_to_commit(struct commit_list *remoteheads)
 {
 	struct strbuf msg = STRBUF_INIT;
 	strbuf_addbuf(&msg, &merge_msg);
-	strbuf_addch(&msg, '\n');
 	if (squash)
 		BUG("the control must not reach here under --squash");
-	if (0 < option_edit)
-		strbuf_commented_addf(&msg, _(merge_editor_comment), comment_line_char);
+	if (0 < option_edit) {
+		strbuf_addch(&msg, '\n');
+		if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS)
+			wt_status_append_cut_line(&msg);
+		else
+			strbuf_commented_addf(&msg, _(comment_line_explanation), comment_line_char);
+
+		strbuf_commented_addf(&msg, "\n");
+		strbuf_commented_addf(&msg, _(merge_editor_comment));
+	}
 	if (signoff)
 		append_signoff(&msg, ignore_non_trailer(msg.buf, msg.len), 0);
 	write_merge_heads(remoteheads);
@@ -828,7 +844,7 @@ static void prepare_to_commit(struct commit_list *remoteheads)
 		abort_commit(remoteheads, NULL);
 
 	read_merge_msg(&msg);
-	strbuf_stripspace(&msg, 0 < option_edit);
+	cleanup_message(&msg, cleanup_mode, 0);
 	if (!msg.len)
 		abort_commit(remoteheads, _("Empty commit message."));
 	strbuf_release(&merge_msg);
@@ -876,7 +892,6 @@ static int finish_automerge(struct commit *head,
 	parents = remoteheads;
 	if (!head_subsumed || fast_forward == FF_NO)
 		commit_list_insert(head, &parents);
-	strbuf_addch(&merge_msg, '\n');
 	prepare_to_commit(remoteheads);
 	if (commit_tree(merge_msg.buf, merge_msg.len, result_tree, parents,
 			&result_commit, NULL, sign_commit))
@@ -1385,6 +1400,8 @@ int cmd_merge(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (option_edit < 0)
 		option_edit = default_edit_option();
 
+	cleanup_mode = get_cleanup_mode(cleanup_arg, 0 < option_edit);
+
 	if (!use_strategies) {
 		if (!remoteheads)
 			; /* already up-to-date */
diff --git a/builtin/pull.c b/builtin/pull.c
index 74808b9455..0cb458137b 100644
--- a/builtin/pull.c
+++ b/builtin/pull.c
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ static char *opt_signoff;
 static char *opt_squash;
 static char *opt_commit;
 static char *opt_edit;
+static char *opt_cleanup;
 static char *opt_ff;
 static char *opt_verify_signatures;
 static int opt_autostash = -1;
@@ -163,6 +164,9 @@ static struct option pull_options[] = {
 	OPT_PASSTHRU(0, "edit", &opt_edit, NULL,
 		N_("edit message before committing"),
 		PARSE_OPT_NOARG),
+	OPT_PASSTHRU(0, "cleanup", &opt_cleanup, NULL,
+		N_("how to strip spaces and #comments from message"),
+		PARSE_OPT_NOARG),
 	OPT_PASSTHRU(0, "ff", &opt_ff, NULL,
 		N_("allow fast-forward"),
 		PARSE_OPT_NOARG),
@@ -639,6 +643,8 @@ static int run_merge(void)
 		argv_array_push(&args, opt_commit);
 	if (opt_edit)
 		argv_array_push(&args, opt_edit);
+	if (opt_cleanup)
+		argv_array_push(&args, opt_cleanup);
 	if (opt_ff)
 		argv_array_push(&args, opt_ff);
 	if (opt_verify_signatures)
diff --git a/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh b/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh
index 89619cf446..3fcd58eb2c 100755
--- a/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh
+++ b/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh
@@ -47,4 +47,65 @@ test_expect_success 'merge --log appends to custom message' '
 	test_cmp exp.log actual
 '
 
+mesg_with_comment_and_newlines='
+# text
+
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'prepare file with comment line and trailing newlines'  '
+	printf "%s" "$mesg_with_comment_and_newlines" >expect
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (verbatim option)' '
+	git reset --hard c1 &&
+	git merge --cleanup=verbatim -F expect c2 &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d" >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (whitespace option)' '
+	git reset --hard c1 &&
+	{ echo;echo "# text";echo; } >text &&
+	echo "# text" >expect &&
+	git merge --cleanup=whitespace -F text c2 &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d">actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'cleanup merge messages (scissors option)' '
+	git reset --hard c1 &&
+	cat >text <<EOF &&
+
+# to be kept
+
+  # ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+# to be kept, too
+# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+to be removed
+# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+to be removed, too
+EOF
+
+	cat >expect <<EOF &&
+# to be kept
+
+  # ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+# to be kept, too
+EOF
+	git merge --cleanup=scissors -e -F text c2 &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d">actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (strip option)' '
+	git reset --hard c1 &&
+	{ echo;echo "# text";echo sample;echo; } >text &&
+	echo sample >expect &&
+	git merge --cleanup=strip -F text c2 &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d">actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+
+'
+
 test_done
diff --git a/wt-status.c b/wt-status.c
index 0fe3bcd4cd..2768205d78 100644
--- a/wt-status.c
+++ b/wt-status.c
@@ -995,13 +995,19 @@ size_t wt_status_locate_end(const char *s, size_t len)
 	return len;
 }
 
-void wt_status_add_cut_line(FILE *fp)
+void wt_status_append_cut_line(struct strbuf *buf)
 {
 	const char *explanation = _("Do not modify or remove the line above.\nEverything below it will be ignored.");
+
+	strbuf_commented_addf(buf, "%s", cut_line);
+	strbuf_add_commented_lines(buf, explanation, strlen(explanation));
+}
+
+void wt_status_add_cut_line(FILE *fp)
+{
 	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
 
-	fprintf(fp, "%c %s", comment_line_char, cut_line);
-	strbuf_add_commented_lines(&buf, explanation, strlen(explanation));
+	wt_status_append_cut_line(&buf);
 	fputs(buf.buf, fp);
 	strbuf_release(&buf);
 }
diff --git a/wt-status.h b/wt-status.h
index 3a95975032..64f1ddc9fd 100644
--- a/wt-status.h
+++ b/wt-status.h
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ struct wt_status {
 };
 
 size_t wt_status_locate_end(const char *s, size_t len);
+void wt_status_append_cut_line(struct strbuf *buf);
 void wt_status_add_cut_line(FILE *fp);
 void wt_status_prepare(struct repository *r, struct wt_status *s);
 void wt_status_print(struct wt_status *s);

Documentation/merge-options.txt, builtin/commit.c, builtin/merge.c, t/t7600-merge.sh

diff --git a/Documentation/merge-options.txt b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
index 22783651b6..c2a263ba74 100644
--- a/Documentation/merge-options.txt
+++ b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
@@ -30,7 +30,9 @@ set to `no` at the beginning of them.
 --cleanup=<mode>::
 	This option determines how the merge message will be cleaned up
 	before commiting or being passed on. See linkgit:git-commit[1] for more
-	details.
+	details. In addition, if the '<mode>' is given a value of `scissors`,
+	scissors will be prepended to MERGE_MSG before being passed on in the case
+	of a merge conflict.
 
 --ff::
 	When the merge resolves as a fast-forward, only update the branch
diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index 3ac0a21a22..eb549b57a3 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -665,6 +665,7 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 	const char *hook_arg2 = NULL;
 	int clean_message_contents = (cleanup_mode != COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE);
 	int old_display_comment_prefix;
+	int merge_contains_scissors = 0;
 
 	/* This checks and barfs if author is badly specified */
 	determine_author_info(author_ident);
@@ -725,6 +726,8 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 			strbuf_addbuf(&sb, &message);
 		hook_arg1 = "message";
 	} else if (!stat(git_path_merge_msg(the_repository), &statbuf)) {
+		size_t merge_msg_start;
+
 		/*
 		 * prepend SQUASH_MSG here if it exists and a
 		 * "merge --squash" was originally performed
@@ -735,8 +738,14 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 			hook_arg1 = "squash";
 		} else
 			hook_arg1 = "merge";
+
+		merge_msg_start = sb.len;
 		if (strbuf_read_file(&sb, git_path_merge_msg(the_repository), 0) < 0)
 			die_errno(_("could not read MERGE_MSG"));
+
+		if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS &&
+		    wt_status_locate_end(sb.buf + merge_msg_start, sb.len - merge_msg_start) < sb.len - merge_msg_start)
+			merge_contains_scissors = 1;
 	} else if (!stat(git_path_squash_msg(the_repository), &statbuf)) {
 		if (strbuf_read_file(&sb, git_path_squash_msg(the_repository), 0) < 0)
 			die_errno(_("could not read SQUASH_MSG"));
@@ -804,7 +813,8 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 		struct ident_split ci, ai;
 
 		if (whence != FROM_COMMIT) {
-			if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS)
+			if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS &&
+				!merge_contains_scissors)
 				wt_status_add_cut_line(s->fp);
 			status_printf_ln(s, GIT_COLOR_NORMAL,
 			    whence == FROM_MERGE
@@ -829,10 +839,10 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 				_("Please enter the commit message for your changes."
 				  " Lines starting\nwith '%c' will be ignored, and an empty"
 				  " message aborts the commit.\n"), comment_line_char);
-		else if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS &&
-			 whence == FROM_COMMIT)
-			wt_status_add_cut_line(s->fp);
-		else /* COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE, that is. */
+		else if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS) {
+			if (whence == FROM_COMMIT && !merge_contains_scissors)
+				wt_status_add_cut_line(s->fp);
+		} else /* COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE, that is. */
 			status_printf(s, GIT_COLOR_NORMAL,
 				_("Please enter the commit message for your changes."
 				  " Lines starting\n"
diff --git a/builtin/merge.c b/builtin/merge.c
index 19fb3abb77..fbf4a24850 100644
--- a/builtin/merge.c
+++ b/builtin/merge.c
@@ -912,6 +912,20 @@ static int suggest_conflicts(void)
 	filename = git_path_merge_msg(the_repository);
 	fp = xfopen(filename, "a");
 
+	/*
+	 * We can't use cleanup_mode because if we're not using the editor,
+	 * get_cleanup_mode will return COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE instead, even
+	 * though the message is meant to be processed later by git-commit.
+	 * Thus, we will get the cleanup mode is returned we _are_ using an
+	 * editor.
+	 */
+	if (get_cleanup_mode(cleanup_arg, 1) == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS) {
+	    fputc('\n', fp);
+	    wt_status_add_cut_line(fp);
+	    /* comments out the newline from append_conflicts_hint */
+	    fputc(comment_line_char, fp);
+	}
+
 	append_conflicts_hint(&the_index, &msgbuf);
 	fputs(msgbuf.buf, fp);
 	strbuf_release(&msgbuf);
diff --git a/t/t7600-merge.sh b/t/t7600-merge.sh
index d879efd330..2cb57e5878 100755
--- a/t/t7600-merge.sh
+++ b/t/t7600-merge.sh
@@ -246,6 +246,52 @@ test_expect_success 'merge --squash c3 with c7' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'merge c3 with c7 with commit.cleanup = scissors' '
+	git config commit.cleanup scissors &&
+	git reset --hard c3 &&
+	test_must_fail git merge c7 &&
+	cat result.9z >file &&
+	git commit --no-edit -a &&
+
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
+		Merge tag '"'"'c7'"'"'
+
+		# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+		# Do not modify or remove the line above.
+		# Everything below it will be ignored.
+		#
+		# Conflicts:
+		#	file
+		EOF
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >tmp &&
+	sed -e '1,/^$/d' <tmp >actual &&
+	test_i18ncmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'merge c3 with c7 with --squash commit.cleanup = scissors' '
+	git config commit.cleanup scissors &&
+	git reset --hard c3 &&
+	test_must_fail git merge --squash c7 &&
+	cat result.9z >file &&
+	git commit --no-edit -a &&
+
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
+		Squashed commit of the following:
+
+		$(git show -s c7)
+
+		# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+		# Do not modify or remove the line above.
+		# Everything below it will be ignored.
+		#
+		# Conflicts:
+		#	file
+		EOF
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >tmp &&
+	sed -e '1,/^$/d' <tmp >actual &&
+	test_i18ncmp expect actual
+'
+
 test_debug 'git log --graph --decorate --oneline --all'
 
 test_expect_success 'merge c1 with c2 and c3' '

diff --git a/t/t7600-merge.sh b/t/t7600-merge.sh
index 106148254d..d879efd330 100755
--- a/t/t7600-merge.sh
+++ b/t/t7600-merge.sh
@@ -233,8 +233,7 @@ test_expect_success 'merge --squash c3 with c7' '
 	cat result.9z >file &&
 	git commit --no-edit -a &&
 
-	{
-		cat <<-EOF
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
 		Squashed commit of the following:
 
 		$(git show -s c7)
@@ -242,8 +241,8 @@ test_expect_success 'merge --squash c3 with c7' '
 		# Conflicts:
 		#	file
 		EOF
-	} >expect &&
-	git cat-file commit HEAD | sed -e '1,/^$/d' >actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >tmp &&
+	sed -e '1,/^$/d' <tmp >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh b/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh
index 0db166152a..74ff925526 100755
--- a/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh
+++ b/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cherry-pick --no-commit does not set CHERRY_PICK_HEAD' '
 
 test_expect_success 'cherry-pick w/dirty tree does not set CHERRY_PICK_HEAD' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
-	echo foo > foo &&
+	echo foo >foo &&
 	test_must_fail git cherry-pick base &&
 	test_must_fail git rev-parse --verify CHERRY_PICK_HEAD
 '
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cherry-pick w/dirty tree does not set CHERRY_PICK_HEAD' '
 test_expect_success \
 	'cherry-pick --strategy=resolve w/dirty tree does not set CHERRY_PICK_HEAD' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
-	echo foo > foo &&
+	echo foo >foo &&
 	test_must_fail git cherry-pick --strategy=resolve base &&
 	test_must_fail git rev-parse --verify CHERRY_PICK_HEAD
 '
@@ -175,23 +175,23 @@ test_expect_success 'failed cherry-pick registers participants in index' '
 		git ls-files --stage foo &&
 		git checkout picked -- foo &&
 		git ls-files --stage foo
-	} > stages &&
+	} >stages &&
 	sed "
 		1 s/ 0	/ 1	/
 		2 s/ 0	/ 2	/
 		3 s/ 0	/ 3	/
-	" < stages > expected &&
+	" <stages >expected &&
 	git read-tree -u --reset HEAD &&
 
 	test_must_fail git cherry-pick picked &&
-	git ls-files --stage --unmerged > actual &&
+	git ls-files --stage --unmerged >actual &&
 
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'failed cherry-pick describes conflict in work tree' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
-	cat <<-EOF > expected &&
+	cat <<-EOF >expected &&
 	<<<<<<< HEAD
 	a
 	=======
@@ -201,14 +201,14 @@ test_expect_success 'failed cherry-pick describes conflict in work tree' '
 
 	test_must_fail git cherry-pick picked &&
 
-	sed "s/[a-f0-9]*\.\.\./objid/" foo > actual &&
+	sed "s/[a-f0-9]*\.\.\./objid/" foo >actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'diff3 -m style' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
 	git config merge.conflictstyle diff3 &&
-	cat <<-EOF > expected &&
+	cat <<-EOF >expected &&
 	<<<<<<< HEAD
 	a
 	||||||| parent of objid picked
@@ -220,14 +220,14 @@ test_expect_success 'diff3 -m style' '
 
 	test_must_fail git cherry-pick picked &&
 
-	sed "s/[a-f0-9]*\.\.\./objid/" foo > actual &&
+	sed "s/[a-f0-9]*\.\.\./objid/" foo >actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'revert also handles conflicts sanely' '
 	git config --unset merge.conflictstyle &&
 	pristine_detach initial &&
-	cat <<-EOF > expected &&
+	cat <<-EOF >expected &&
 	<<<<<<< HEAD
 	a
 	=======
@@ -241,24 +241,24 @@ test_expect_success 'revert also handles conflicts sanely' '
 		git ls-files --stage foo &&
 		git checkout base -- foo &&
 		git ls-files --stage foo
-	} > stages &&
+	} >stages &&
 	sed "
 		1 s/ 0	/ 1	/
 		2 s/ 0	/ 2	/
 		3 s/ 0	/ 3	/
-	" < stages > expected-stages &&
+	" <stages >expected-stages &&
 	git read-tree -u --reset HEAD &&
 
 	head=$(git rev-parse HEAD) &&
 	test_must_fail git revert picked &&
 	newhead=$(git rev-parse HEAD) &&
-	git ls-files --stage --unmerged > actual-stages &&
+	git ls-files --stage --unmerged >actual-stages &&
 
 	test "$head" = "$newhead" &&
 	test_must_fail git update-index --refresh -q &&
 	test_must_fail git diff-index --exit-code HEAD &&
 	test_cmp expected-stages actual-stages &&
-	sed "s/[a-f0-9]*\.\.\./objid/" foo > actual &&
+	sed "s/[a-f0-9]*\.\.\./objid/" foo >actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ test_expect_success 'revert --no-commit sets REVERT_HEAD' '
 
 test_expect_success 'revert w/dirty tree does not set REVERT_HEAD' '
 	pristine_detach base &&
-	echo foo > foo &&
+	echo foo >foo &&
 	test_must_fail git revert base &&
 	test_must_fail git rev-parse --verify CHERRY_PICK_HEAD &&
 	test_must_fail git rev-parse --verify REVERT_HEAD
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ test_expect_success 'failed commit does not clear REVERT_HEAD' '
 test_expect_success 'revert conflict, diff3 -m style' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
 	git config merge.conflictstyle diff3 &&
-	cat <<-EOF > expected &&
+	cat <<-EOF >expected &&
 	<<<<<<< HEAD
 	a
 	||||||| objid picked
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ test_expect_success 'revert conflict, diff3 -m style' '
 
 	test_must_fail git revert picked &&
 
-	sed "s/[a-f0-9]*\.\.\./objid/" foo > actual &&
+	sed "s/[a-f0-9]*\.\.\./objid/" foo >actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 

builtin/commit.c, sequencer.c, sequencer.h

diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index f17537474a..0df15e4851 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -1172,24 +1172,7 @@ static int parse_and_validate_options(int argc, const char *argv[],
 		die(_("Only one of --include/--only/--all/--interactive/--patch can be used."));
 	if (argc == 0 && (also || (only && !amend && !allow_empty)))
 		die(_("No paths with --include/--only does not make sense."));
-	if (!cleanup_arg || !strcmp(cleanup_arg, "default"))
-		cleanup_mode = use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL :
-					    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
-	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "verbatim"))
-		cleanup_mode = COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE;
-	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "whitespace"))
-		cleanup_mode = COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
-	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "strip"))
-		cleanup_mode = COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL;
-	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "scissors"))
-		cleanup_mode = use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS :
-					    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
-	/*
-	 * Please update _git_commit() in git-completion.bash when you
-	 * add new options.
-	 */
-	else
-		die(_("Invalid cleanup mode %s"), cleanup_arg);
+	cleanup_mode = get_cleanup_mode(cleanup_arg, use_editor);
 
 	handle_untracked_files_arg(s);
 
@@ -1626,11 +1609,7 @@ int cmd_commit(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		die(_("could not read commit message: %s"), strerror(saved_errno));
 	}
 
-	if (verbose || /* Truncate the message just before the diff, if any. */
-	    cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS)
-		strbuf_setlen(&sb, wt_status_locate_end(sb.buf, sb.len));
-	if (cleanup_mode != COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE)
-		strbuf_stripspace(&sb, cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL);
+	cleanup_message(&sb, cleanup_mode, verbose);
 
 	if (message_is_empty(&sb, cleanup_mode) && !allow_empty_message) {
 		rollback_index_files();
diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index 95dda23eee..224c823b43 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -511,6 +511,25 @@ static int fast_forward_to(struct repository *r,
 	return 0;
 }
 
+enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode get_cleanup_mode(const char *cleanup_arg,
+	int use_editor)
+{
+	if (!cleanup_arg || !strcmp(cleanup_arg, "default"))
+		return use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL :
+				    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
+	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "verbatim"))
+		return COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE;
+	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "whitespace"))
+		return COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
+	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "strip"))
+		return COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL;
+	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "scissors"))
+		return use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS :
+				    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
+	else
+		die(_("Invalid cleanup mode %s"), cleanup_arg);
+}
+
 void append_conflicts_hint(struct index_state *istate,
 			   struct strbuf *msgbuf)
 {
@@ -1013,6 +1032,16 @@ static int rest_is_empty(const struct strbuf *sb, int start)
 	return 1;
 }
 
+void cleanup_message(struct strbuf *msgbuf,
+	enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode, int verbose)
+{
+	if (verbose || /* Truncate the message just before the diff, if any. */
+	    cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS)
+		strbuf_setlen(msgbuf, wt_status_locate_end(msgbuf->buf, msgbuf->len));
+	if (cleanup_mode != COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE)
+		strbuf_stripspace(msgbuf, cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL);
+}
+
 /*
  * Find out if the message in the strbuf contains only whitespace and
  * Signed-off-by lines.
diff --git a/sequencer.h b/sequencer.h
index 4d505b3590..eb9bd97ef3 100644
--- a/sequencer.h
+++ b/sequencer.h
@@ -116,6 +116,12 @@ int rearrange_squash(struct repository *r);
 void append_signoff(struct strbuf *msgbuf, size_t ignore_footer, unsigned flag);
 
 void append_conflicts_hint(struct index_state *istate, struct strbuf *msgbuf);
+enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode get_cleanup_mode(const char *cleanup_arg,
+	int use_editor);
+
+void cleanup_message(struct strbuf *msgbuf,
+	enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode, int verbose);
+
 int message_is_empty(const struct strbuf *sb,
 		     enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode);
 int template_untouched(const struct strbuf *sb, const char *template_file,

builtin/commit.c, sequencer.c, sequencer.h

diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index 0df15e4851..81e3bd21ca 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -1172,7 +1172,7 @@ static int parse_and_validate_options(int argc, const char *argv[],
 		die(_("Only one of --include/--only/--all/--interactive/--patch can be used."));
 	if (argc == 0 && (also || (only && !amend && !allow_empty)))
 		die(_("No paths with --include/--only does not make sense."));
-	cleanup_mode = get_cleanup_mode(cleanup_arg, use_editor);
+	cleanup_mode = get_cleanup_mode(cleanup_arg, use_editor, 1);
 
 	handle_untracked_files_arg(s);
 
diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index 224c823b43..612621f221 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -172,17 +172,7 @@ static int git_sequencer_config(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 		if (status)
 			return status;
 
-		if (!strcmp(s, "verbatim"))
-			opts->default_msg_cleanup = COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE;
-		else if (!strcmp(s, "whitespace"))
-			opts->default_msg_cleanup = COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
-		else if (!strcmp(s, "strip"))
-			opts->default_msg_cleanup = COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL;
-		else if (!strcmp(s, "scissors"))
-			opts->default_msg_cleanup = COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
-		else
-			warning(_("invalid commit message cleanup mode '%s'"),
-				  s);
+		opts->default_msg_cleanup = get_cleanup_mode(s, 0, 0);
 
 		free((char *)s);
 		return status;
@@ -512,7 +502,7 @@ static int fast_forward_to(struct repository *r,
 }
 
 enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode get_cleanup_mode(const char *cleanup_arg,
-	int use_editor)
+	int use_editor, int die_on_error)
 {
 	if (!cleanup_arg || !strcmp(cleanup_arg, "default"))
 		return use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL :
@@ -526,7 +516,11 @@ enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode get_cleanup_mode(const char *cleanup_arg,
 	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "scissors"))
 		return use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS :
 				    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
-	else
+	else if (!die_on_error) {
+		warning(_("Invalid cleanup mode %s, falling back to default"), cleanup_arg);
+		return use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL :
+				    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
+	} else
 		die(_("Invalid cleanup mode %s"), cleanup_arg);
 }
 
diff --git a/sequencer.h b/sequencer.h
index eb9bd97ef3..e7908f558e 100644
--- a/sequencer.h
+++ b/sequencer.h
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ void append_signoff(struct strbuf *msgbuf, size_t ignore_footer, unsigned flag);
 
 void append_conflicts_hint(struct index_state *istate, struct strbuf *msgbuf);
 enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode get_cleanup_mode(const char *cleanup_arg,
-	int use_editor);
+	int use_editor, int die_on_error);
 
 void cleanup_message(struct strbuf *msgbuf,
 	enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode, int verbose);

Documentation/merge-options.txt, builtin/merge.c, builtin/pull.c, t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh, wt-status.c, wt-status.h

diff --git a/Documentation/merge-options.txt b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
index 92a7d936c1..646100ea9a 100644
--- a/Documentation/merge-options.txt
+++ b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
@@ -32,6 +32,11 @@ they run `git merge`. To make it easier to adjust such scripts to the
 updated behaviour, the environment variable `GIT_MERGE_AUTOEDIT` can be
 set to `no` at the beginning of them.
 
+--cleanup=<mode>::
+	This option determines how the merge message will be cleaned up
+	before commiting or being passed on. See linkgit:git-commit[1] for more
+	details.
+
 --ff::
 	When the merge resolves as a fast-forward, only update the branch
 	pointer, without creating a merge commit.  This is the default
diff --git a/builtin/merge.c b/builtin/merge.c
index 5ce8946d39..4f5fcf5ce9 100644
--- a/builtin/merge.c
+++ b/builtin/merge.c
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #include "tag.h"
 #include "alias.h"
 #include "commit-reach.h"
+#include "wt-status.h"
 
 #define DEFAULT_TWOHEAD (1<<0)
 #define DEFAULT_OCTOPUS (1<<1)
@@ -98,6 +99,9 @@ enum ff_type {
 
 static enum ff_type fast_forward = FF_ALLOW;
 
+static const char *cleanup_arg;
+static enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode;
+
 static int option_parse_message(const struct option *opt,
 				const char *arg, int unset)
 {
@@ -249,6 +253,7 @@ static struct option builtin_merge_options[] = {
 		N_("perform a commit if the merge succeeds (default)")),
 	OPT_BOOL('e', "edit", &option_edit,
 		N_("edit message before committing")),
+	OPT_STRING(0, "cleanup", &cleanup_arg, N_("default"), N_("how to strip spaces and #comments from message")),
 	OPT_SET_INT(0, "ff", &fast_forward, N_("allow fast-forward (default)"), FF_ALLOW),
 	OPT_SET_INT_F(0, "ff-only", &fast_forward,
 		      N_("abort if fast-forward is not possible"),
@@ -612,6 +617,8 @@ static int git_merge_config(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 		return git_config_string(&pull_twohead, k, v);
 	else if (!strcmp(k, "pull.octopus"))
 		return git_config_string(&pull_octopus, k, v);
+	else if (!strcmp(k, "commit.cleanup"))
+		return git_config_string(&cleanup_arg, k, v);
 	else if (!strcmp(k, "merge.renormalize"))
 		option_renormalize = git_config_bool(k, v);
 	else if (!strcmp(k, "merge.ff")) {
@@ -797,23 +804,32 @@ static void abort_commit(struct commit_list *remoteheads, const char *err_msg)
 	exit(1);
 }
 
+static const char comment_line_explanation[] =
+N_("Lines starting with '%c' will be ignored.\n");
+
 static const char merge_editor_comment[] =
 N_("Please enter a commit message to explain why this merge is necessary,\n"
    "especially if it merges an updated upstream into a topic branch.\n"
    "\n"
-   "Lines starting with '%c' will be ignored, and an empty message aborts\n"
-   "the commit.\n");
+   "An empty message aborts the commit.\n");
 
 static void write_merge_heads(struct commit_list *);
 static void prepare_to_commit(struct commit_list *remoteheads)
 {
 	struct strbuf msg = STRBUF_INIT;
 	strbuf_addbuf(&msg, &merge_msg);
-	strbuf_addch(&msg, '\n');
 	if (squash)
 		BUG("the control must not reach here under --squash");
-	if (0 < option_edit)
-		strbuf_commented_addf(&msg, _(merge_editor_comment), comment_line_char);
+	if (0 < option_edit) {
+		strbuf_addch(&msg, '\n');
+		if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS)
+			wt_status_append_cut_line(&msg);
+		else
+			strbuf_commented_addf(&msg, _(comment_line_explanation), comment_line_char);
+
+		strbuf_commented_addf(&msg, "\n");
+		strbuf_commented_addf(&msg, _(merge_editor_comment));
+	}
 	if (signoff)
 		append_signoff(&msg, ignore_non_trailer(msg.buf, msg.len), 0);
 	write_merge_heads(remoteheads);
@@ -832,7 +848,7 @@ static void prepare_to_commit(struct commit_list *remoteheads)
 		abort_commit(remoteheads, NULL);
 
 	read_merge_msg(&msg);
-	strbuf_stripspace(&msg, 0 < option_edit);
+	cleanup_message(&msg, cleanup_mode, 0);
 	if (!msg.len)
 		abort_commit(remoteheads, _("Empty commit message."));
 	strbuf_release(&merge_msg);
@@ -880,7 +896,6 @@ static int finish_automerge(struct commit *head,
 	parents = remoteheads;
 	if (!head_subsumed || fast_forward == FF_NO)
 		commit_list_insert(head, &parents);
-	strbuf_addch(&merge_msg, '\n');
 	prepare_to_commit(remoteheads);
 	if (commit_tree(merge_msg.buf, merge_msg.len, result_tree, parents,
 			&result_commit, NULL, sign_commit))
@@ -1389,6 +1404,8 @@ int cmd_merge(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (option_edit < 0)
 		option_edit = default_edit_option();
 
+	cleanup_mode = get_cleanup_mode(cleanup_arg, 0 < option_edit, 1);
+
 	if (!use_strategies) {
 		if (!remoteheads)
 			; /* already up-to-date */
diff --git a/builtin/pull.c b/builtin/pull.c
index 33db889955..3ec7882375 100644
--- a/builtin/pull.c
+++ b/builtin/pull.c
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ static char *opt_signoff;
 static char *opt_squash;
 static char *opt_commit;
 static char *opt_edit;
+static char *opt_cleanup;
 static char *opt_ff;
 static char *opt_verify_signatures;
 static int opt_autostash = -1;
@@ -168,6 +169,9 @@ static struct option pull_options[] = {
 	OPT_PASSTHRU(0, "edit", &opt_edit, NULL,
 		N_("edit message before committing"),
 		PARSE_OPT_NOARG),
+	OPT_PASSTHRU(0, "cleanup", &opt_cleanup, NULL,
+		N_("how to strip spaces and #comments from message"),
+		PARSE_OPT_NOARG),
 	OPT_PASSTHRU(0, "ff", &opt_ff, NULL,
 		N_("allow fast-forward"),
 		PARSE_OPT_NOARG),
@@ -644,6 +648,8 @@ static int run_merge(void)
 		argv_array_push(&args, opt_commit);
 	if (opt_edit)
 		argv_array_push(&args, opt_edit);
+	if (opt_cleanup)
+		argv_array_push(&args, opt_cleanup);
 	if (opt_ff)
 		argv_array_push(&args, opt_ff);
 	if (opt_verify_signatures)
diff --git a/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh b/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh
index 89619cf446..3fcd58eb2c 100755
--- a/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh
+++ b/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh
@@ -47,4 +47,65 @@ test_expect_success 'merge --log appends to custom message' '
 	test_cmp exp.log actual
 '
 
+mesg_with_comment_and_newlines='
+# text
+
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'prepare file with comment line and trailing newlines'  '
+	printf "%s" "$mesg_with_comment_and_newlines" >expect
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (verbatim option)' '
+	git reset --hard c1 &&
+	git merge --cleanup=verbatim -F expect c2 &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d" >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (whitespace option)' '
+	git reset --hard c1 &&
+	{ echo;echo "# text";echo; } >text &&
+	echo "# text" >expect &&
+	git merge --cleanup=whitespace -F text c2 &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d">actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'cleanup merge messages (scissors option)' '
+	git reset --hard c1 &&
+	cat >text <<EOF &&
+
+# to be kept
+
+  # ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+# to be kept, too
+# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+to be removed
+# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+to be removed, too
+EOF
+
+	cat >expect <<EOF &&
+# to be kept
+
+  # ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+# to be kept, too
+EOF
+	git merge --cleanup=scissors -e -F text c2 &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d">actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (strip option)' '
+	git reset --hard c1 &&
+	{ echo;echo "# text";echo sample;echo; } >text &&
+	echo sample >expect &&
+	git merge --cleanup=strip -F text c2 &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d">actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+
+'
+
 test_done
diff --git a/wt-status.c b/wt-status.c
index 445a36204a..b81fcd428d 100644
--- a/wt-status.c
+++ b/wt-status.c
@@ -1006,13 +1006,19 @@ size_t wt_status_locate_end(const char *s, size_t len)
 	return len;
 }
 
-void wt_status_add_cut_line(FILE *fp)
+void wt_status_append_cut_line(struct strbuf *buf)
 {
 	const char *explanation = _("Do not modify or remove the line above.\nEverything below it will be ignored.");
+
+	strbuf_commented_addf(buf, "%s", cut_line);
+	strbuf_add_commented_lines(buf, explanation, strlen(explanation));
+}
+
+void wt_status_add_cut_line(FILE *fp)
+{
 	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
 
-	fprintf(fp, "%c %s", comment_line_char, cut_line);
-	strbuf_add_commented_lines(&buf, explanation, strlen(explanation));
+	wt_status_append_cut_line(&buf);
 	fputs(buf.buf, fp);
 	strbuf_release(&buf);
 }
diff --git a/wt-status.h b/wt-status.h
index 3a95975032..64f1ddc9fd 100644
--- a/wt-status.h
+++ b/wt-status.h
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ struct wt_status {
 };
 
 size_t wt_status_locate_end(const char *s, size_t len);
+void wt_status_append_cut_line(struct strbuf *buf);
 void wt_status_add_cut_line(FILE *fp);
 void wt_status_prepare(struct repository *r, struct wt_status *s);
 void wt_status_print(struct wt_status *s);

Documentation/merge-options.txt, builtin/commit.c, builtin/merge.c, t/t7600-merge.sh

diff --git a/Documentation/merge-options.txt b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
index 646100ea9a..c7b889d6f5 100644
--- a/Documentation/merge-options.txt
+++ b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
@@ -35,7 +35,9 @@ set to `no` at the beginning of them.
 --cleanup=<mode>::
 	This option determines how the merge message will be cleaned up
 	before commiting or being passed on. See linkgit:git-commit[1] for more
-	details.
+	details. In addition, if the '<mode>' is given a value of `scissors`,
+	scissors will be appended to MERGE_MSG before being passed on in the
+	case of a merge conflict.
 
 --ff::
 	When the merge resolves as a fast-forward, only update the branch
diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index 81e3bd21ca..d8c4626a68 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -668,6 +668,7 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 	const char *hook_arg2 = NULL;
 	int clean_message_contents = (cleanup_mode != COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE);
 	int old_display_comment_prefix;
+	int merge_contains_scissors = 0;
 
 	/* This checks and barfs if author is badly specified */
 	determine_author_info(author_ident);
@@ -728,6 +729,8 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 			strbuf_addbuf(&sb, &message);
 		hook_arg1 = "message";
 	} else if (!stat(git_path_merge_msg(the_repository), &statbuf)) {
+		size_t merge_msg_start;
+
 		/*
 		 * prepend SQUASH_MSG here if it exists and a
 		 * "merge --squash" was originally performed
@@ -738,8 +741,14 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 			hook_arg1 = "squash";
 		} else
 			hook_arg1 = "merge";
+
+		merge_msg_start = sb.len;
 		if (strbuf_read_file(&sb, git_path_merge_msg(the_repository), 0) < 0)
 			die_errno(_("could not read MERGE_MSG"));
+
+		if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS &&
+		    wt_status_locate_end(sb.buf + merge_msg_start, sb.len - merge_msg_start) < sb.len - merge_msg_start)
+			merge_contains_scissors = 1;
 	} else if (!stat(git_path_squash_msg(the_repository), &statbuf)) {
 		if (strbuf_read_file(&sb, git_path_squash_msg(the_repository), 0) < 0)
 			die_errno(_("could not read SQUASH_MSG"));
@@ -807,7 +816,8 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 		struct ident_split ci, ai;
 
 		if (whence != FROM_COMMIT) {
-			if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS)
+			if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS &&
+				!merge_contains_scissors)
 				wt_status_add_cut_line(s->fp);
 			status_printf_ln(s, GIT_COLOR_NORMAL,
 			    whence == FROM_MERGE
@@ -832,10 +842,10 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 				_("Please enter the commit message for your changes."
 				  " Lines starting\nwith '%c' will be ignored, and an empty"
 				  " message aborts the commit.\n"), comment_line_char);
-		else if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS &&
-			 whence == FROM_COMMIT)
-			wt_status_add_cut_line(s->fp);
-		else /* COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE, that is. */
+		else if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS) {
+			if (whence == FROM_COMMIT && !merge_contains_scissors)
+				wt_status_add_cut_line(s->fp);
+		} else /* COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE, that is. */
 			status_printf(s, GIT_COLOR_NORMAL,
 				_("Please enter the commit message for your changes."
 				  " Lines starting\n"
diff --git a/builtin/merge.c b/builtin/merge.c
index 4f5fcf5ce9..b620d4bfcb 100644
--- a/builtin/merge.c
+++ b/builtin/merge.c
@@ -916,6 +916,20 @@ static int suggest_conflicts(void)
 	filename = git_path_merge_msg(the_repository);
 	fp = xfopen(filename, "a");
 
+	/*
+	 * We can't use cleanup_mode because if we're not using the editor,
+	 * get_cleanup_mode will return COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE instead, even
+	 * though the message is meant to be processed later by git-commit.
+	 * Thus, we will get the cleanup mode which is returned when we _are_ using
+	 * an editor.
+	 */
+	if (get_cleanup_mode(cleanup_arg, 1, 1) == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS) {
+	    fputc('\n', fp);
+	    wt_status_add_cut_line(fp);
+	    /* comments out the newline from append_conflicts_hint */
+	    fputc(comment_line_char, fp);
+	}
+
 	append_conflicts_hint(&the_index, &msgbuf);
 	fputs(msgbuf.buf, fp);
 	strbuf_release(&msgbuf);
diff --git a/t/t7600-merge.sh b/t/t7600-merge.sh
index d879efd330..2cb57e5878 100755
--- a/t/t7600-merge.sh
+++ b/t/t7600-merge.sh
@@ -246,6 +246,52 @@ test_expect_success 'merge --squash c3 with c7' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'merge c3 with c7 with commit.cleanup = scissors' '
+	git config commit.cleanup scissors &&
+	git reset --hard c3 &&
+	test_must_fail git merge c7 &&
+	cat result.9z >file &&
+	git commit --no-edit -a &&
+
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
+		Merge tag '"'"'c7'"'"'
+
+		# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+		# Do not modify or remove the line above.
+		# Everything below it will be ignored.
+		#
+		# Conflicts:
+		#	file
+		EOF
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >tmp &&
+	sed -e '1,/^$/d' <tmp >actual &&
+	test_i18ncmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'merge c3 with c7 with --squash commit.cleanup = scissors' '
+	git config commit.cleanup scissors &&
+	git reset --hard c3 &&
+	test_must_fail git merge --squash c7 &&
+	cat result.9z >file &&
+	git commit --no-edit -a &&
+
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
+		Squashed commit of the following:
+
+		$(git show -s c7)
+
+		# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+		# Do not modify or remove the line above.
+		# Everything below it will be ignored.
+		#
+		# Conflicts:
+		#	file
+		EOF
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >tmp &&
+	sed -e '1,/^$/d' <tmp >actual &&
+	test_i18ncmp expect actual
+'
+
 test_debug 'git log --graph --decorate --oneline --all'
 
 test_expect_success 'merge c1 with c2 and c3' '

sequencer.c, sequencer.h

diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index 612621f221..5d94e2c865 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -160,6 +160,22 @@ static GIT_PATH_FUNC(rebase_path_strategy_opts, "rebase-merge/strategy_opts")
 static GIT_PATH_FUNC(rebase_path_allow_rerere_autoupdate, "rebase-merge/allow_rerere_autoupdate")
 static GIT_PATH_FUNC(rebase_path_reschedule_failed_exec, "rebase-merge/reschedule-failed-exec")
 
+struct cleanup_config_mapping {
+    const char *config_value;
+    enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode editor_cleanup;
+    enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode no_editor_cleanup;
+};
+
+/* note that we assume that cleanup_config_mapping[0] contains the default settings */
+struct cleanup_config_mapping cleanup_config_mappings[] = {
+	{ "default", COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL, COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE },
+	{ "verbatim", COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE, COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE },
+	{ "whitespace", COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE, COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE },
+	{ "strip", COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL, COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL },
+	{ "scissors", COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS, COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE },
+	{ NULL, 0, 0 }
+};
+
 static int git_sequencer_config(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 {
 	struct replay_opts *opts = cb;
@@ -504,26 +520,42 @@ static int fast_forward_to(struct repository *r,
 enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode get_cleanup_mode(const char *cleanup_arg,
 	int use_editor, int die_on_error)
 {
-	if (!cleanup_arg || !strcmp(cleanup_arg, "default"))
-		return use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL :
-				    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
-	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "verbatim"))
-		return COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE;
-	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "whitespace"))
-		return COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
-	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "strip"))
-		return COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL;
-	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "scissors"))
-		return use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS :
-				    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
-	else if (!die_on_error) {
+	struct cleanup_config_mapping *default_mapping = &cleanup_config_mappings[0];
+	struct cleanup_config_mapping *current_mapping;
+
+	if (!cleanup_arg) {
+		return use_editor ? default_mapping->editor_cleanup :
+				    default_mapping->no_editor_cleanup;
+	}
+
+	for (current_mapping = cleanup_config_mappings; current_mapping->config_value; current_mapping++) {
+		if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, current_mapping->config_value)) {
+			return use_editor ? current_mapping->editor_cleanup :
+					    current_mapping->no_editor_cleanup;
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (!die_on_error) {
 		warning(_("Invalid cleanup mode %s, falling back to default"), cleanup_arg);
-		return use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL :
-				    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
+		return use_editor ? default_mapping->editor_cleanup :
+				    default_mapping->no_editor_cleanup;
 	} else
 		die(_("Invalid cleanup mode %s"), cleanup_arg);
 }
 
+const char *get_config_from_cleanup(enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode)
+{
+	struct cleanup_config_mapping *current_mapping;
+
+	for (current_mapping = &cleanup_config_mappings[1]; current_mapping->config_value; current_mapping++) {
+		if (cleanup_mode == current_mapping->editor_cleanup) {
+			return current_mapping->config_value;
+		}
+	}
+
+	BUG(_("invalid cleanup_mode provided"));
+}
+
 void append_conflicts_hint(struct index_state *istate,
 			   struct strbuf *msgbuf)
 {
@@ -2350,6 +2382,8 @@ static int populate_opts_cb(const char *key, const char *value, void *data)
 		opts->allow_rerere_auto =
 			git_config_bool_or_int(key, value, &error_flag) ?
 				RERERE_AUTOUPDATE : RERERE_NOAUTOUPDATE;
+	else if (!strcmp(key, "options.default-msg-cleanup"))
+		opts->default_msg_cleanup = get_cleanup_mode(value, 1, 1);
 	else
 		return error(_("invalid key: %s"), key);
 
@@ -2754,6 +2788,9 @@ static int save_opts(struct replay_opts *opts)
 		res |= git_config_set_in_file_gently(opts_file, "options.allow-rerere-auto",
 						     opts->allow_rerere_auto == RERERE_AUTOUPDATE ?
 						     "true" : "false");
+
+	res |= git_config_set_in_file_gently(opts_file, "options.default-msg-cleanup",
+					     get_config_from_cleanup(opts->default_msg_cleanup));
 	return res;
 }
 
diff --git a/sequencer.h b/sequencer.h
index e7908f558e..e3c1f44807 100644
--- a/sequencer.h
+++ b/sequencer.h
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ void append_signoff(struct strbuf *msgbuf, size_t ignore_footer, unsigned flag);
 void append_conflicts_hint(struct index_state *istate, struct strbuf *msgbuf);
 enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode get_cleanup_mode(const char *cleanup_arg,
 	int use_editor, int die_on_error);
+const char *get_config_from_cleanup(enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode);
 
 void cleanup_message(struct strbuf *msgbuf,
 	enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode, int verbose);

Documentation/git-cherry-pick.txt, Documentation/git-revert.txt, builtin/merge.c, builtin/rebase--interactive.c, builtin/revert.c, sequencer.c, sequencer.h, t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh

diff --git a/Documentation/git-cherry-pick.txt b/Documentation/git-cherry-pick.txt
index b8cfeec67e..b4ff8e136d 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-cherry-pick.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-cherry-pick.txt
@@ -57,6 +57,13 @@ OPTIONS
 	With this option, 'git cherry-pick' will let you edit the commit
 	message prior to committing.
 
+--cleanup=<mode>::
+	This option determines how the commit message will be cleaned up before
+	being passed on. See linkgit:git-commit[1] for more details. In
+	addition, if the '<mode>' is given a value of `scissors`, scissors will
+	be appended to MERGE_MSG before being passed on in the case of a
+	conflict.
+
 -x::
 	When recording the commit, append a line that says
 	"(cherry picked from commit ...)" to the original commit
diff --git a/Documentation/git-revert.txt b/Documentation/git-revert.txt
index 837707a8fd..bd4ad395a9 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-revert.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-revert.txt
@@ -66,6 +66,13 @@ more details.
 	With this option, 'git revert' will not start the commit
 	message editor.
 
+--cleanup=<mode>::
+	This option determines how the commit message will be cleaned up before
+	being passed on. See linkgit:git-commit[1] for more details. In
+	addition, if the '<mode>' is given a value of `scissors`, scissors will
+	be appended to MERGE_MSG before being passed on in the case of a
+	conflict.
+
 -n::
 --no-commit::
 	Usually the command automatically creates some commits with
diff --git a/builtin/merge.c b/builtin/merge.c
index b620d4bfcb..671d6a19a4 100644
--- a/builtin/merge.c
+++ b/builtin/merge.c
@@ -923,14 +923,7 @@ static int suggest_conflicts(void)
 	 * Thus, we will get the cleanup mode which is returned when we _are_ using
 	 * an editor.
 	 */
-	if (get_cleanup_mode(cleanup_arg, 1, 1) == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS) {
-	    fputc('\n', fp);
-	    wt_status_add_cut_line(fp);
-	    /* comments out the newline from append_conflicts_hint */
-	    fputc(comment_line_char, fp);
-	}
-
-	append_conflicts_hint(&the_index, &msgbuf);
+	append_conflicts_hint(&the_index, &msgbuf, get_cleanup_mode(cleanup_arg, 1, 1));
 	fputs(msgbuf.buf, fp);
 	strbuf_release(&msgbuf);
 	fclose(fp);
diff --git a/builtin/rebase--interactive.c b/builtin/rebase--interactive.c
index 888390f911..cf2151b271 100644
--- a/builtin/rebase--interactive.c
+++ b/builtin/rebase--interactive.c
@@ -199,10 +199,10 @@ int cmd_rebase__interactive(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 
+	opts.action = REPLAY_INTERACTIVE_REBASE;
 	sequencer_init_config(&opts);
 	git_config_get_bool("rebase.abbreviatecommands", &abbreviate_commands);
 
-	opts.action = REPLAY_INTERACTIVE_REBASE;
 	opts.allow_ff = 1;
 	opts.allow_empty = 1;
 
diff --git a/builtin/revert.c b/builtin/revert.c
index a47b53ceaf..e8168e0214 100644
--- a/builtin/revert.c
+++ b/builtin/revert.c
@@ -96,11 +96,13 @@ static int run_sequencer(int argc, const char **argv, struct replay_opts *opts)
 {
 	const char * const * usage_str = revert_or_cherry_pick_usage(opts);
 	const char *me = action_name(opts);
+	const char *cleanup_arg = NULL;
 	int cmd = 0;
 	struct option base_options[] = {
 		OPT_CMDMODE(0, "quit", &cmd, N_("end revert or cherry-pick sequence"), 'q'),
 		OPT_CMDMODE(0, "continue", &cmd, N_("resume revert or cherry-pick sequence"), 'c'),
 		OPT_CMDMODE(0, "abort", &cmd, N_("cancel revert or cherry-pick sequence"), 'a'),
+		OPT_STRING(0, "cleanup", &cleanup_arg, N_("default"), N_("how to strip spaces and #comments from message")),
 		OPT_BOOL('n', "no-commit", &opts->no_commit, N_("don't automatically commit")),
 		OPT_BOOL('e', "edit", &opts->edit, N_("edit the commit message")),
 		OPT_NOOP_NOARG('r', NULL),
@@ -137,6 +139,9 @@ static int run_sequencer(int argc, const char **argv, struct replay_opts *opts)
 	if (opts->keep_redundant_commits)
 		opts->allow_empty = 1;
 
+	if (cleanup_arg)
+		opts->default_msg_cleanup = get_cleanup_mode(cleanup_arg, 1, 1);
+
 	/* Check for incompatible command line arguments */
 	if (cmd) {
 		char *this_operation;
diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index 5d94e2c865..496554a474 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -176,6 +176,11 @@ struct cleanup_config_mapping cleanup_config_mappings[] = {
 	{ NULL, 0, 0 }
 };
 
+static inline int is_rebase_i(const struct replay_opts *opts)
+{
+	return opts->action == REPLAY_INTERACTIVE_REBASE;
+}
+
 static int git_sequencer_config(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 {
 	struct replay_opts *opts = cb;
@@ -188,7 +193,7 @@ static int git_sequencer_config(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 		if (status)
 			return status;
 
-		opts->default_msg_cleanup = get_cleanup_mode(s, 0, 0);
+		opts->default_msg_cleanup = get_cleanup_mode(s, !is_rebase_i(opts), 0);
 
 		free((char *)s);
 		return status;
@@ -212,11 +217,6 @@ void sequencer_init_config(struct replay_opts *opts)
 	git_config(git_sequencer_config, opts);
 }
 
-static inline int is_rebase_i(const struct replay_opts *opts)
-{
-	return opts->action == REPLAY_INTERACTIVE_REBASE;
-}
-
 static const char *get_dir(const struct replay_opts *opts)
 {
 	if (is_rebase_i(opts))
@@ -557,10 +557,16 @@ const char *get_config_from_cleanup(enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode)
 }
 
 void append_conflicts_hint(struct index_state *istate,
-			   struct strbuf *msgbuf)
+		struct strbuf *msgbuf, enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode)
 {
 	int i;
 
+	if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS) {
+		strbuf_addch(msgbuf, '\n');
+		wt_status_append_cut_line(msgbuf);
+		strbuf_addch(msgbuf, comment_line_char);
+	}
+
 	strbuf_addch(msgbuf, '\n');
 	strbuf_commented_addf(msgbuf, "Conflicts:\n");
 	for (i = 0; i < istate->cache_nr;) {
@@ -628,7 +634,7 @@ static int do_recursive_merge(struct repository *r,
 			_(action_name(opts)));
 
 	if (!clean)
-		append_conflicts_hint(r->index, msgbuf);
+		append_conflicts_hint(r->index, msgbuf, opts->default_msg_cleanup);
 
 	return !clean;
 }
diff --git a/sequencer.h b/sequencer.h
index e3c1f44807..95ff9db508 100644
--- a/sequencer.h
+++ b/sequencer.h
@@ -115,7 +115,8 @@ int rearrange_squash(struct repository *r);
  */
 void append_signoff(struct strbuf *msgbuf, size_t ignore_footer, unsigned flag);
 
-void append_conflicts_hint(struct index_state *istate, struct strbuf *msgbuf);
+void append_conflicts_hint(struct index_state *istate,
+		struct strbuf *msgbuf, enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode);
 enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode get_cleanup_mode(const char *cleanup_arg,
 	int use_editor, int die_on_error);
 const char *get_config_from_cleanup(enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode);
diff --git a/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh b/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh
index 74ff925526..c3894ca9d6 100755
--- a/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh
+++ b/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh
@@ -189,6 +189,46 @@ test_expect_success 'failed cherry-pick registers participants in index' '
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success \
+	'cherry-pick conflict, ensure commit.cleanup = scissors places scissors line properly' '
+	pristine_detach initial &&
+	git config commit.cleanup scissors &&
+	cat <<-EOF >expected &&
+		picked
+
+		# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+		# Do not modify or remove the line above.
+		# Everything below it will be ignored.
+		#
+		# Conflicts:
+		#	foo
+		EOF
+
+	test_must_fail git cherry-pick picked &&
+
+	test_i18ncmp expected .git/MERGE_MSG
+'
+
+test_expect_success \
+	'cherry-pick conflict, ensure cleanup=scissors places scissors line properly' '
+	pristine_detach initial &&
+	git config --unset commit.cleanup &&
+	cat <<-EOF >expected &&
+		picked
+
+		# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+		# Do not modify or remove the line above.
+		# Everything below it will be ignored.
+		#
+		# Conflicts:
+		#	foo
+		EOF
+
+	test_must_fail git cherry-pick --cleanup=scissors picked &&
+
+	test_i18ncmp expected .git/MERGE_MSG
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'failed cherry-pick describes conflict in work tree' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
 	cat <<-EOF >expected &&
@@ -335,6 +375,52 @@ test_expect_success 'revert conflict, diff3 -m style' '
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success \
+	'revert conflict, ensure commit.cleanup = scissors places scissors line properly' '
+	pristine_detach initial &&
+	git config commit.cleanup scissors &&
+	cat >expected <<-EOF &&
+		Revert "picked"
+
+		This reverts commit OBJID.
+
+		# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+		# Do not modify or remove the line above.
+		# Everything below it will be ignored.
+		#
+		# Conflicts:
+		#	foo
+		EOF
+
+	test_must_fail git revert picked &&
+
+	sed "s/$OID_REGEX/OBJID/" .git/MERGE_MSG >actual &&
+	test_i18ncmp expected actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success \
+	'revert conflict, ensure cleanup=scissors places scissors line properly' '
+	pristine_detach initial &&
+	git config --unset commit.cleanup &&
+	cat >expected <<-EOF &&
+		Revert "picked"
+
+		This reverts commit OBJID.
+
+		# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+		# Do not modify or remove the line above.
+		# Everything below it will be ignored.
+		#
+		# Conflicts:
+		#	foo
+		EOF
+
+	test_must_fail git revert --cleanup=scissors picked &&
+
+	sed "s/$OID_REGEX/OBJID/" .git/MERGE_MSG >actual &&
+	test_i18ncmp expected actual
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'failed cherry-pick does not forget -s' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
 	test_must_fail git cherry-pick -s picked &&

Documentation/git-cherry-pick.txt, Documentation/git-revert.txt, Documentation/merge-options.txt, builtin/commit.c, builtin/merge.c, builtin/pull.c, builtin/revert.c, builtin/tag.c, parse-options.h, sequencer.c, sequencer.h, t/t7502-commit-porcelain.sh, t/t7600-merge.sh, t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh

diff --git a/Documentation/git-cherry-pick.txt b/Documentation/git-cherry-pick.txt
index b4ff8e136d..2601e1868e 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-cherry-pick.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-cherry-pick.txt
@@ -60,9 +60,9 @@ OPTIONS
 --cleanup=<mode>::
 	This option determines how the commit message will be cleaned up before
 	being passed on. See linkgit:git-commit[1] for more details. In
-	addition, if the '<mode>' is given a value of `scissors`, scissors will
-	be appended to MERGE_MSG before being passed on in the case of a
-	conflict.
+	particular, if the '<mode>' is given a value of `scissors`, scissors
+	will be appended to `MERGE_MSG` before being passed on to the commit
+	machinery in the case of a conflict.
 
 -x::
 	When recording the commit, append a line that says
diff --git a/Documentation/git-revert.txt b/Documentation/git-revert.txt
index bd4ad395a9..cabeb9df2c 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-revert.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-revert.txt
@@ -69,9 +69,9 @@ more details.
 --cleanup=<mode>::
 	This option determines how the commit message will be cleaned up before
 	being passed on. See linkgit:git-commit[1] for more details. In
-	addition, if the '<mode>' is given a value of `scissors`, scissors will
-	be appended to MERGE_MSG before being passed on in the case of a
-	conflict.
+	particular, if the '<mode>' is given a value of `scissors`, scissors
+	will be appended to `MERGE_MSG` before being passed on to the commit
+	machinery in the case of a conflict.
 
 -n::
 --no-commit::
diff --git a/Documentation/merge-options.txt b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
index c7b889d6f5..405e16c617 100644
--- a/Documentation/merge-options.txt
+++ b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ set to `no` at the beginning of them.
 	This option determines how the merge message will be cleaned up
 	before commiting or being passed on. See linkgit:git-commit[1] for more
 	details. In addition, if the '<mode>' is given a value of `scissors`,
-	scissors will be appended to MERGE_MSG before being passed on in the
-	case of a merge conflict.
+	scissors will be appended to `MERGE_MSG` before being passed on to the
+	commit machinery in the case of a merge conflict.
 
 --ff::
 	When the merge resolves as a fast-forward, only update the branch
diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index d8c4626a68..b9159c2e7b 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -1483,7 +1483,7 @@ int cmd_commit(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		OPT_BOOL('s', "signoff", &signoff, N_("add Signed-off-by:")),
 		OPT_FILENAME('t', "template", &template_file, N_("use specified template file")),
 		OPT_BOOL('e', "edit", &edit_flag, N_("force edit of commit")),
-		OPT_STRING(0, "cleanup", &cleanup_arg, N_("default"), N_("how to strip spaces and #comments from message")),
+		OPT_CLEANUP(&cleanup_arg),
 		OPT_BOOL(0, "status", &include_status, N_("include status in commit message template")),
 		{ OPTION_STRING, 'S', "gpg-sign", &sign_commit, N_("key-id"),
 		  N_("GPG sign commit"), PARSE_OPT_OPTARG, NULL, (intptr_t) "" },
diff --git a/builtin/merge.c b/builtin/merge.c
index 671d6a19a4..90c64346e9 100644
--- a/builtin/merge.c
+++ b/builtin/merge.c
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ static struct option builtin_merge_options[] = {
 		N_("perform a commit if the merge succeeds (default)")),
 	OPT_BOOL('e', "edit", &option_edit,
 		N_("edit message before committing")),
-	OPT_STRING(0, "cleanup", &cleanup_arg, N_("default"), N_("how to strip spaces and #comments from message")),
+	OPT_CLEANUP(&cleanup_arg),
 	OPT_SET_INT(0, "ff", &fast_forward, N_("allow fast-forward (default)"), FF_ALLOW),
 	OPT_SET_INT_F(0, "ff-only", &fast_forward,
 		      N_("abort if fast-forward is not possible"),
diff --git a/builtin/pull.c b/builtin/pull.c
index 3ec7882375..292c1dac27 100644
--- a/builtin/pull.c
+++ b/builtin/pull.c
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ static struct option pull_options[] = {
 		PARSE_OPT_NOARG),
 	OPT_PASSTHRU(0, "cleanup", &opt_cleanup, NULL,
 		N_("how to strip spaces and #comments from message"),
-		PARSE_OPT_NOARG),
+		0),
 	OPT_PASSTHRU(0, "ff", &opt_ff, NULL,
 		N_("allow fast-forward"),
 		PARSE_OPT_NOARG),
diff --git a/builtin/revert.c b/builtin/revert.c
index e8168e0214..41e7392c24 100644
--- a/builtin/revert.c
+++ b/builtin/revert.c
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ static int run_sequencer(int argc, const char **argv, struct replay_opts *opts)
 		OPT_CMDMODE(0, "quit", &cmd, N_("end revert or cherry-pick sequence"), 'q'),
 		OPT_CMDMODE(0, "continue", &cmd, N_("resume revert or cherry-pick sequence"), 'c'),
 		OPT_CMDMODE(0, "abort", &cmd, N_("cancel revert or cherry-pick sequence"), 'a'),
-		OPT_STRING(0, "cleanup", &cleanup_arg, N_("default"), N_("how to strip spaces and #comments from message")),
+		OPT_CLEANUP(&cleanup_arg),
 		OPT_BOOL('n', "no-commit", &opts->no_commit, N_("don't automatically commit")),
 		OPT_BOOL('e', "edit", &opts->edit, N_("edit the commit message")),
 		OPT_NOOP_NOARG('r', NULL),
diff --git a/builtin/tag.c b/builtin/tag.c
index 02f6bd1279..a3870fbdba 100644
--- a/builtin/tag.c
+++ b/builtin/tag.c
@@ -397,8 +397,7 @@ int cmd_tag(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		OPT_FILENAME('F', "file", &msgfile, N_("read message from file")),
 		OPT_BOOL('e', "edit", &edit_flag, N_("force edit of tag message")),
 		OPT_BOOL('s', "sign", &opt.sign, N_("annotated and GPG-signed tag")),
-		OPT_STRING(0, "cleanup", &cleanup_arg, N_("mode"),
-			N_("how to strip spaces and #comments from message")),
+		OPT_CLEANUP(&cleanup_arg),
 		OPT_STRING('u', "local-user", &keyid, N_("key-id"),
 					N_("use another key to sign the tag")),
 		OPT__FORCE(&force, N_("replace the tag if exists"), 0),
diff --git a/parse-options.h b/parse-options.h
index 7d83e2971d..85faaee390 100644
--- a/parse-options.h
+++ b/parse-options.h
@@ -303,5 +303,6 @@ int parse_opt_passthru_argv(const struct option *, const char *, int);
 #define OPT_NO_CONTAINS(v, h) _OPT_CONTAINS_OR_WITH("no-contains", v, h, PARSE_OPT_NONEG)
 #define OPT_WITH(v, h) _OPT_CONTAINS_OR_WITH("with", v, h, PARSE_OPT_HIDDEN | PARSE_OPT_NONEG)
 #define OPT_WITHOUT(v, h) _OPT_CONTAINS_OR_WITH("without", v, h, PARSE_OPT_HIDDEN | PARSE_OPT_NONEG)
+#define OPT_CLEANUP(v) OPT_STRING(0, "cleanup", v, N_("mode"), N_("how to strip spaces and #comments from message"))
 
 #endif
diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index 496554a474..ea4687c3da 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -161,13 +161,13 @@ static GIT_PATH_FUNC(rebase_path_allow_rerere_autoupdate, "rebase-merge/allow_re
 static GIT_PATH_FUNC(rebase_path_reschedule_failed_exec, "rebase-merge/reschedule-failed-exec")
 
 struct cleanup_config_mapping {
-    const char *config_value;
-    enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode editor_cleanup;
-    enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode no_editor_cleanup;
+	const char *value;
+	enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode editor;
+	enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode no_editor;
 };
 
-/* note that we assume that cleanup_config_mapping[0] contains the default settings */
-struct cleanup_config_mapping cleanup_config_mappings[] = {
+/* the 0th element of this array must be the "default" */
+static struct cleanup_config_mapping cleanup_config_mapping[] = {
 	{ "default", COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL, COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE },
 	{ "verbatim", COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE, COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE },
 	{ "whitespace", COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE, COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE },
@@ -520,40 +520,35 @@ static int fast_forward_to(struct repository *r,
 enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode get_cleanup_mode(const char *cleanup_arg,
 	int use_editor, int die_on_error)
 {
-	struct cleanup_config_mapping *default_mapping = &cleanup_config_mappings[0];
-	struct cleanup_config_mapping *current_mapping;
+	struct cleanup_config_mapping *def = &cleanup_config_mapping[0];
+	struct cleanup_config_mapping *p;
 
-	if (!cleanup_arg) {
-		return use_editor ? default_mapping->editor_cleanup :
-				    default_mapping->no_editor_cleanup;
-	}
+	if (!cleanup_arg)
+		return use_editor ? def->editor :
+				    def->no_editor;
 
-	for (current_mapping = cleanup_config_mappings; current_mapping->config_value; current_mapping++) {
-		if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, current_mapping->config_value)) {
-			return use_editor ? current_mapping->editor_cleanup :
-					    current_mapping->no_editor_cleanup;
-		}
-	}
+	for (p = cleanup_config_mapping; p->value; p++)
+		if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, p->value))
+			return use_editor ? p->editor :
+					    p->no_editor;
 
 	if (!die_on_error) {
-		warning(_("Invalid cleanup mode %s, falling back to default"), cleanup_arg);
-		return use_editor ? default_mapping->editor_cleanup :
-				    default_mapping->no_editor_cleanup;
+		warning(_("invalid cleanup mode %s, falling back to default"), cleanup_arg);
+		return use_editor ? def->editor :
+				    def->no_editor;
 	} else
-		die(_("Invalid cleanup mode %s"), cleanup_arg);
+		die(_("invalid cleanup mode %s"), cleanup_arg);
 }
 
-const char *get_config_from_cleanup(enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode)
+static const char *describe_cleanup_mode(enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode)
 {
-	struct cleanup_config_mapping *current_mapping;
+	struct cleanup_config_mapping *curr;
 
-	for (current_mapping = &cleanup_config_mappings[1]; current_mapping->config_value; current_mapping++) {
-		if (cleanup_mode == current_mapping->editor_cleanup) {
-			return current_mapping->config_value;
-		}
-	}
+	for (curr = &cleanup_config_mapping[1]; curr->value; curr++)
+		if (cleanup_mode == curr->editor)
+			return curr->value;
 
-	BUG(_("invalid cleanup_mode provided"));
+	BUG("invalid cleanup_mode provided (%d)", cleanup_mode);
 }
 
 void append_conflicts_hint(struct index_state *istate,
@@ -2796,7 +2791,7 @@ static int save_opts(struct replay_opts *opts)
 						     "true" : "false");
 
 	res |= git_config_set_in_file_gently(opts_file, "options.default-msg-cleanup",
-					     get_config_from_cleanup(opts->default_msg_cleanup));
+					     describe_cleanup_mode(opts->default_msg_cleanup));
 	return res;
 }
 
diff --git a/sequencer.h b/sequencer.h
index 95ff9db508..830d8232f6 100644
--- a/sequencer.h
+++ b/sequencer.h
@@ -119,7 +119,6 @@ void append_conflicts_hint(struct index_state *istate,
 		struct strbuf *msgbuf, enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode);
 enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode get_cleanup_mode(const char *cleanup_arg,
 	int use_editor, int die_on_error);
-const char *get_config_from_cleanup(enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode);
 
 void cleanup_message(struct strbuf *msgbuf,
 	enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode, int verbose);
diff --git a/t/t7502-commit-porcelain.sh b/t/t7502-commit-porcelain.sh
index ca4a740da0..f035e4a507 100755
--- a/t/t7502-commit-porcelain.sh
+++ b/t/t7502-commit-porcelain.sh
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@ commit_msg_is () {
 # Arguments: [<prefix] [<commit message>] [<commit options>]
 check_summary_oneline() {
 	test_tick &&
-	git commit ${3+"$3"} -m "$2" | head -1 > act &&
+	git commit ${3+"$3"} -m "$2" >act &&
+	head -1 <act >tmp &&
+	mv tmp act &&
 
 	# branch name
 	SUMMARY_PREFIX="$(git name-rev --name-only HEAD)" &&
@@ -68,7 +70,7 @@ test_expect_success 'output summary format for merges' '
 	git checkout recursive-a &&
 	test_must_fail git merge recursive-b &&
 	# resolve the conflict
-	echo commit-a > file1 &&
+	echo commit-a >file1 &&
 	git add file1 &&
 	check_summary_oneline "" "Merge"
 '
@@ -142,8 +144,8 @@ test_expect_success 'sign off' '
 	>positive &&
 	git add positive &&
 	git commit -s -m "thank you" &&
-	actual=$(git cat-file commit HEAD | sed -ne "s/Signed-off-by: //p") &&
-	expected=$(git var GIT_COMMITTER_IDENT | sed -e "s/>.*/>/") &&
+	actual=$(git cat-file commit HEAD >tmp && sed -ne "s/Signed-off-by: //p" <tmp && rm tmp) &&
+	expected=$(git var GIT_COMMITTER_IDENT >tmp && sed -e "s/>.*/>/" <tmp && rm tmp) &&
 	test "z$actual" = "z$expected"
 
 '
@@ -153,8 +155,8 @@ test_expect_success 'multiple -m' '
 	>negative &&
 	git add negative &&
 	git commit -m "one" -m "two" -m "three" &&
-	actual=$(git cat-file commit HEAD | sed -e "1,/^\$/d") &&
-	expected=$(echo one; echo; echo two; echo; echo three) &&
+	actual=$(git cat-file commit HEAD >tmp && sed -e "1,/^\$/d" <tmp && rm tmp) &&
+	expected=$(test_write_lines "one" "" "two" "" "three") &&
 	test "z$actual" = "z$expected"
 
 '
@@ -163,7 +165,9 @@ test_expect_success 'verbose' '
 
 	echo minus >negative &&
 	git add negative &&
-	git status -v | sed -ne "/^diff --git /p" >actual &&
+	git status -v >actual &&
+	sed -ne "/^diff --git /p" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	echo "diff --git a/negative b/negative" >expect &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 
@@ -189,7 +193,9 @@ test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (verbatim option,-t)' '
 
 	echo >>negative &&
 	git commit --cleanup=verbatim --no-status -t expect -a &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d" >actual &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 
 '
@@ -198,7 +204,9 @@ test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (verbatim option,-F)' '
 
 	echo >>negative &&
 	git commit --cleanup=verbatim -F expect -a &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d">actual &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 
 '
@@ -207,7 +215,9 @@ test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (verbatim option,-m)' '
 
 	echo >>negative &&
 	git commit --cleanup=verbatim -m "$mesg_with_comment_and_newlines" -a &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d">actual &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 
 '
@@ -215,10 +225,12 @@ test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (verbatim option,-m)' '
 test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (whitespace option,-F)' '
 
 	echo >>negative &&
-	{ echo;echo "# text";echo; } >text &&
+	test_write_lines "" "# text" "" >text &&
 	echo "# text" >expect &&
 	git commit --cleanup=whitespace -F text -a &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d">actual &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 
 '
@@ -226,48 +238,54 @@ test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (whitespace option,-F)' '
 test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (scissors option,-F,-e)' '
 
 	echo >>negative &&
-	cat >text <<EOF &&
+	cat >text <<-\EOF &&
 
-# to be kept
+	# to be kept
 
-  # ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
-# to be kept, too
-# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
-to be removed
-# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
-to be removed, too
-EOF
+	  # ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+	# to be kept, too
+	# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+	to be removed
+	# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+	to be removed, too
+	EOF
 
-	cat >expect <<EOF &&
-# to be kept
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+	# to be kept
 
-  # ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
-# to be kept, too
-EOF
+	  # ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+	# to be kept, too
+	EOF
 	git commit --cleanup=scissors -e -F text -a &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d">actual &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (scissors option,-F,-e, scissors on first line)' '
 
 	echo >>negative &&
-	cat >text <<EOF &&
-# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
-to be removed
-EOF
+	cat >text <<-\EOF &&
+	# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+	to be removed
+	EOF
 	git commit --cleanup=scissors -e -F text -a --allow-empty-message &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d">actual &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (strip option,-F)' '
 
 	echo >>negative &&
-	{ echo;echo "# text";echo sample;echo; } >text &&
+	test_write_lines "" "# text" "sample" "" >text &&
 	echo sample >expect &&
 	git commit --cleanup=strip -F text -a &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d">actual &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 
 '
@@ -275,7 +293,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (strip option,-F)' '
 test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (strip option,-F,-e)' '
 
 	echo >>negative &&
-	{ echo;echo sample;echo; } >text &&
+	test_write_lines "" "sample" "" >text &&
 	git commit -e -F text -a &&
 	head -n 4 .git/COMMIT_EDITMSG >actual
 '
@@ -387,7 +405,7 @@ test_expect_success AUTOIDENT 'message shows committer when it is automatic' '
 '
 
 write_script .git/FAKE_EDITOR <<EOF
-echo editor started > "$(pwd)/.git/result"
+echo editor started >"$(pwd)/.git/result"
 exit 0
 EOF
 
@@ -455,7 +473,7 @@ EOF
 test_expect_success EXECKEEPSPID 'a SIGTERM should break locks' '
 	echo >>negative &&
 	! "$SHELL_PATH" -c '\''
-	  echo kill -TERM $$ >> .git/FAKE_EDITOR
+	  echo kill -TERM $$ >>.git/FAKE_EDITOR
 	  GIT_EDITOR=.git/FAKE_EDITOR
 	  export GIT_EDITOR
 	  exec git commit -a'\'' &&
@@ -471,7 +489,9 @@ test_expect_success 'Hand committing of a redundant merge removes dups' '
 	test_must_fail git merge second master &&
 	git checkout master g &&
 	EDITOR=: git commit -a &&
-	git cat-file commit HEAD | sed -n -e "s/^parent //p" -e "/^$/q" >actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -n -e "s/^parent //p" -e "/^$/q" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 
 '
@@ -480,7 +500,9 @@ test_expect_success 'A single-liner subject with a token plus colon is not a foo
 
 	git reset --hard &&
 	git commit -s -m "hello: kitty" --allow-empty &&
-	git cat-file commit HEAD | sed -e "1,/^$/d" >actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_line_count = 3 actual
 
 '
diff --git a/t/t7600-merge.sh b/t/t7600-merge.sh
index 2cb57e5878..ed11b08db2 100755
--- a/t/t7600-merge.sh
+++ b/t/t7600-merge.sh
@@ -234,15 +234,16 @@ test_expect_success 'merge --squash c3 with c7' '
 	git commit --no-edit -a &&
 
 	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
-		Squashed commit of the following:
+	Squashed commit of the following:
 
-		$(git show -s c7)
+	$(git show -s c7)
 
-		# Conflicts:
-		#	file
-		EOF
-	git cat-file commit HEAD >tmp &&
-	sed -e '1,/^$/d' <tmp >actual &&
+	# Conflicts:
+	#	file
+	EOF
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e '1,/^$/d' <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
@@ -253,18 +254,19 @@ test_expect_success 'merge c3 with c7 with commit.cleanup = scissors' '
 	cat result.9z >file &&
 	git commit --no-edit -a &&
 
-	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
-		Merge tag '"'"'c7'"'"'
-
-		# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
-		# Do not modify or remove the line above.
-		# Everything below it will be ignored.
-		#
-		# Conflicts:
-		#	file
-		EOF
-	git cat-file commit HEAD >tmp &&
-	sed -e '1,/^$/d' <tmp >actual &&
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+	Merge tag '"'"'c7'"'"'
+
+	# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+	# Do not modify or remove the line above.
+	# Everything below it will be ignored.
+	#
+	# Conflicts:
+	#	file
+	EOF
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e '1,/^$/d' <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_i18ncmp expect actual
 '
 
@@ -276,19 +278,20 @@ test_expect_success 'merge c3 with c7 with --squash commit.cleanup = scissors' '
 	git commit --no-edit -a &&
 
 	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
-		Squashed commit of the following:
-
-		$(git show -s c7)
-
-		# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
-		# Do not modify or remove the line above.
-		# Everything below it will be ignored.
-		#
-		# Conflicts:
-		#	file
-		EOF
-	git cat-file commit HEAD >tmp &&
-	sed -e '1,/^$/d' <tmp >actual &&
+	Squashed commit of the following:
+
+	$(git show -s c7)
+
+	# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+	# Do not modify or remove the line above.
+	# Everything below it will be ignored.
+	#
+	# Conflicts:
+	#	file
+	EOF
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e '1,/^$/d' <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_i18ncmp expect actual
 '
 
@@ -728,7 +731,7 @@ cat >editor <<\EOF
 	cat <"$1"
 ) >"$1.tmp" && mv "$1.tmp" "$1"
 # strip comments and blank lines from end of message
-sed -e '/^#/d' < "$1" | sed -e :a -e '/^\n*$/{$d;N;ba' -e '}' > expected
+sed -e '/^#/d' < "$1" | sed -e :a -e '/^\n*$/{$d;N;ba' -e '}' >expected
 EOF
 chmod 755 editor
 
@@ -859,7 +862,7 @@ EOF
 test_expect_success EXECKEEPSPID 'killed merge can be completed with --continue' '
 	git reset --hard c0 &&
 	! "$SHELL_PATH" -c '\''
-	  echo kill -TERM $$ >> .git/FAKE_EDITOR
+	  echo kill -TERM $$ >>.git/FAKE_EDITOR
 	  GIT_EDITOR=.git/FAKE_EDITOR
 	  export GIT_EDITOR
 	  exec git merge --no-ff --edit c1'\'' &&
diff --git a/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh b/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh
index 3fcd58eb2c..c9685a318d 100755
--- a/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh
+++ b/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh
@@ -36,14 +36,18 @@ test_expect_success 'setup' '
 test_expect_success 'merge c2 with a custom message' '
 	git reset --hard c1 &&
 	git merge -m "$(cat exp.subject)" c2 &&
-	git cat-file commit HEAD | sed -e "1,/^$/d" >actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_cmp exp.subject actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'merge --log appends to custom message' '
 	git reset --hard c1 &&
 	git merge --log -m "$(cat exp.subject)" c2 &&
-	git cat-file commit HEAD | sed -e "1,/^$/d" >actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_cmp exp.log actual
 '
 
@@ -59,53 +63,59 @@ test_expect_success 'prepare file with comment line and trailing newlines'  '
 test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (verbatim option)' '
 	git reset --hard c1 &&
 	git merge --cleanup=verbatim -F expect c2 &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d" >actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (whitespace option)' '
 	git reset --hard c1 &&
-	{ echo;echo "# text";echo; } >text &&
+	test_write_lines "" "# text" "" >text &&
 	echo "# text" >expect &&
 	git merge --cleanup=whitespace -F text c2 &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d">actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
-
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'cleanup merge messages (scissors option)' '
 	git reset --hard c1 &&
-	cat >text <<EOF &&
+	cat >text <<-\EOF &&
 
-# to be kept
+	# to be kept
 
-  # ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
-# to be kept, too
-# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
-to be removed
-# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
-to be removed, too
-EOF
+	  # ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+	# to be kept, too
+	# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+	to be removed
+	# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+	to be removed, too
+	EOF
 
-	cat >expect <<EOF &&
-# to be kept
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+	# to be kept
 
-  # ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
-# to be kept, too
-EOF
+	  # ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+	# to be kept, too
+	EOF
 	git merge --cleanup=scissors -e -F text c2 &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d">actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (strip option)' '
 	git reset --hard c1 &&
-	{ echo;echo "# text";echo sample;echo; } >text &&
+	test_write_lines "" "# text" "sample" "" >text &&
 	echo sample >expect &&
 	git merge --cleanup=strip -F text c2 &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d">actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
-
 '
 
 test_done

diff --git a/t/t7600-merge.sh b/t/t7600-merge.sh
index 106148254d..a9620cd991 100755
--- a/t/t7600-merge.sh
+++ b/t/t7600-merge.sh
@@ -233,17 +233,17 @@ test_expect_success 'merge --squash c3 with c7' '
 	cat result.9z >file &&
 	git commit --no-edit -a &&
 
-	{
-		cat <<-EOF
-		Squashed commit of the following:
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
+	Squashed commit of the following:
 
-		$(git show -s c7)
+	$(git show -s c7)
 
-		# Conflicts:
-		#	file
-		EOF
-	} >expect &&
-	git cat-file commit HEAD | sed -e '1,/^$/d' >actual &&
+	# Conflicts:
+	#	file
+	EOF
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e '1,/^$/d' <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
@@ -683,7 +683,7 @@ cat >editor <<\EOF
 	cat <"$1"
 ) >"$1.tmp" && mv "$1.tmp" "$1"
 # strip comments and blank lines from end of message
-sed -e '/^#/d' < "$1" | sed -e :a -e '/^\n*$/{$d;N;ba' -e '}' > expected
+sed -e '/^#/d' < "$1" | sed -e :a -e '/^\n*$/{$d;N;ba' -e '}' >expected
 EOF
 chmod 755 editor
 
@@ -814,7 +814,7 @@ EOF
 test_expect_success EXECKEEPSPID 'killed merge can be completed with --continue' '
 	git reset --hard c0 &&
 	! "$SHELL_PATH" -c '\''
-	  echo kill -TERM $$ >> .git/FAKE_EDITOR
+	  echo kill -TERM $$ >>.git/FAKE_EDITOR
 	  GIT_EDITOR=.git/FAKE_EDITOR
 	  export GIT_EDITOR
 	  exec git merge --no-ff --edit c1'\'' &&

diff --git a/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh b/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh
index 0db166152a..74ff925526 100755
--- a/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh
+++ b/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cherry-pick --no-commit does not set CHERRY_PICK_HEAD' '
 
 test_expect_success 'cherry-pick w/dirty tree does not set CHERRY_PICK_HEAD' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
-	echo foo > foo &&
+	echo foo >foo &&
 	test_must_fail git cherry-pick base &&
 	test_must_fail git rev-parse --verify CHERRY_PICK_HEAD
 '
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cherry-pick w/dirty tree does not set CHERRY_PICK_HEAD' '
 test_expect_success \
 	'cherry-pick --strategy=resolve w/dirty tree does not set CHERRY_PICK_HEAD' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
-	echo foo > foo &&
+	echo foo >foo &&
 	test_must_fail git cherry-pick --strategy=resolve base &&
 	test_must_fail git rev-parse --verify CHERRY_PICK_HEAD
 '
@@ -175,23 +175,23 @@ test_expect_success 'failed cherry-pick registers participants in index' '
 		git ls-files --stage foo &&
 		git checkout picked -- foo &&
 		git ls-files --stage foo
-	} > stages &&
+	} >stages &&
 	sed "
 		1 s/ 0	/ 1	/
 		2 s/ 0	/ 2	/
 		3 s/ 0	/ 3	/
-	" < stages > expected &&
+	" <stages >expected &&
 	git read-tree -u --reset HEAD &&
 
 	test_must_fail git cherry-pick picked &&
-	git ls-files --stage --unmerged > actual &&
+	git ls-files --stage --unmerged >actual &&
 
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'failed cherry-pick describes conflict in work tree' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
-	cat <<-EOF > expected &&
+	cat <<-EOF >expected &&
 	<<<<<<< HEAD
 	a
 	=======
@@ -201,14 +201,14 @@ test_expect_success 'failed cherry-pick describes conflict in work tree' '
 
 	test_must_fail git cherry-pick picked &&
 
-	sed "s/[a-f0-9]*\.\.\./objid/" foo > actual &&
+	sed "s/[a-f0-9]*\.\.\./objid/" foo >actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'diff3 -m style' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
 	git config merge.conflictstyle diff3 &&
-	cat <<-EOF > expected &&
+	cat <<-EOF >expected &&
 	<<<<<<< HEAD
 	a
 	||||||| parent of objid picked
@@ -220,14 +220,14 @@ test_expect_success 'diff3 -m style' '
 
 	test_must_fail git cherry-pick picked &&
 
-	sed "s/[a-f0-9]*\.\.\./objid/" foo > actual &&
+	sed "s/[a-f0-9]*\.\.\./objid/" foo >actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'revert also handles conflicts sanely' '
 	git config --unset merge.conflictstyle &&
 	pristine_detach initial &&
-	cat <<-EOF > expected &&
+	cat <<-EOF >expected &&
 	<<<<<<< HEAD
 	a
 	=======
@@ -241,24 +241,24 @@ test_expect_success 'revert also handles conflicts sanely' '
 		git ls-files --stage foo &&
 		git checkout base -- foo &&
 		git ls-files --stage foo
-	} > stages &&
+	} >stages &&
 	sed "
 		1 s/ 0	/ 1	/
 		2 s/ 0	/ 2	/
 		3 s/ 0	/ 3	/
-	" < stages > expected-stages &&
+	" <stages >expected-stages &&
 	git read-tree -u --reset HEAD &&
 
 	head=$(git rev-parse HEAD) &&
 	test_must_fail git revert picked &&
 	newhead=$(git rev-parse HEAD) &&
-	git ls-files --stage --unmerged > actual-stages &&
+	git ls-files --stage --unmerged >actual-stages &&
 
 	test "$head" = "$newhead" &&
 	test_must_fail git update-index --refresh -q &&
 	test_must_fail git diff-index --exit-code HEAD &&
 	test_cmp expected-stages actual-stages &&
-	sed "s/[a-f0-9]*\.\.\./objid/" foo > actual &&
+	sed "s/[a-f0-9]*\.\.\./objid/" foo >actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ test_expect_success 'revert --no-commit sets REVERT_HEAD' '
 
 test_expect_success 'revert w/dirty tree does not set REVERT_HEAD' '
 	pristine_detach base &&
-	echo foo > foo &&
+	echo foo >foo &&
 	test_must_fail git revert base &&
 	test_must_fail git rev-parse --verify CHERRY_PICK_HEAD &&
 	test_must_fail git rev-parse --verify REVERT_HEAD
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ test_expect_success 'failed commit does not clear REVERT_HEAD' '
 test_expect_success 'revert conflict, diff3 -m style' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
 	git config merge.conflictstyle diff3 &&
-	cat <<-EOF > expected &&
+	cat <<-EOF >expected &&
 	<<<<<<< HEAD
 	a
 	||||||| objid picked
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ test_expect_success 'revert conflict, diff3 -m style' '
 
 	test_must_fail git revert picked &&
 
-	sed "s/[a-f0-9]*\.\.\./objid/" foo > actual &&
+	sed "s/[a-f0-9]*\.\.\./objid/" foo >actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh b/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh
index 89619cf446..b045fdb413 100755
--- a/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh
+++ b/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh
@@ -36,14 +36,18 @@ test_expect_success 'setup' '
 test_expect_success 'merge c2 with a custom message' '
 	git reset --hard c1 &&
 	git merge -m "$(cat exp.subject)" c2 &&
-	git cat-file commit HEAD | sed -e "1,/^$/d" >actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_cmp exp.subject actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'merge --log appends to custom message' '
 	git reset --hard c1 &&
 	git merge --log -m "$(cat exp.subject)" c2 &&
-	git cat-file commit HEAD | sed -e "1,/^$/d" >actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_cmp exp.log actual
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t7502-commit-porcelain.sh b/t/t7502-commit-porcelain.sh
index ca4a740da0..f035e4a507 100755
--- a/t/t7502-commit-porcelain.sh
+++ b/t/t7502-commit-porcelain.sh
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@ commit_msg_is () {
 # Arguments: [<prefix] [<commit message>] [<commit options>]
 check_summary_oneline() {
 	test_tick &&
-	git commit ${3+"$3"} -m "$2" | head -1 > act &&
+	git commit ${3+"$3"} -m "$2" >act &&
+	head -1 <act >tmp &&
+	mv tmp act &&
 
 	# branch name
 	SUMMARY_PREFIX="$(git name-rev --name-only HEAD)" &&
@@ -68,7 +70,7 @@ test_expect_success 'output summary format for merges' '
 	git checkout recursive-a &&
 	test_must_fail git merge recursive-b &&
 	# resolve the conflict
-	echo commit-a > file1 &&
+	echo commit-a >file1 &&
 	git add file1 &&
 	check_summary_oneline "" "Merge"
 '
@@ -142,8 +144,8 @@ test_expect_success 'sign off' '
 	>positive &&
 	git add positive &&
 	git commit -s -m "thank you" &&
-	actual=$(git cat-file commit HEAD | sed -ne "s/Signed-off-by: //p") &&
-	expected=$(git var GIT_COMMITTER_IDENT | sed -e "s/>.*/>/") &&
+	actual=$(git cat-file commit HEAD >tmp && sed -ne "s/Signed-off-by: //p" <tmp && rm tmp) &&
+	expected=$(git var GIT_COMMITTER_IDENT >tmp && sed -e "s/>.*/>/" <tmp && rm tmp) &&
 	test "z$actual" = "z$expected"
 
 '
@@ -153,8 +155,8 @@ test_expect_success 'multiple -m' '
 	>negative &&
 	git add negative &&
 	git commit -m "one" -m "two" -m "three" &&
-	actual=$(git cat-file commit HEAD | sed -e "1,/^\$/d") &&
-	expected=$(echo one; echo; echo two; echo; echo three) &&
+	actual=$(git cat-file commit HEAD >tmp && sed -e "1,/^\$/d" <tmp && rm tmp) &&
+	expected=$(test_write_lines "one" "" "two" "" "three") &&
 	test "z$actual" = "z$expected"
 
 '
@@ -163,7 +165,9 @@ test_expect_success 'verbose' '
 
 	echo minus >negative &&
 	git add negative &&
-	git status -v | sed -ne "/^diff --git /p" >actual &&
+	git status -v >actual &&
+	sed -ne "/^diff --git /p" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	echo "diff --git a/negative b/negative" >expect &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 
@@ -189,7 +193,9 @@ test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (verbatim option,-t)' '
 
 	echo >>negative &&
 	git commit --cleanup=verbatim --no-status -t expect -a &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d" >actual &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 
 '
@@ -198,7 +204,9 @@ test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (verbatim option,-F)' '
 
 	echo >>negative &&
 	git commit --cleanup=verbatim -F expect -a &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d">actual &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 
 '
@@ -207,7 +215,9 @@ test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (verbatim option,-m)' '
 
 	echo >>negative &&
 	git commit --cleanup=verbatim -m "$mesg_with_comment_and_newlines" -a &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d">actual &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 
 '
@@ -215,10 +225,12 @@ test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (verbatim option,-m)' '
 test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (whitespace option,-F)' '
 
 	echo >>negative &&
-	{ echo;echo "# text";echo; } >text &&
+	test_write_lines "" "# text" "" >text &&
 	echo "# text" >expect &&
 	git commit --cleanup=whitespace -F text -a &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d">actual &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 
 '
@@ -226,48 +238,54 @@ test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (whitespace option,-F)' '
 test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (scissors option,-F,-e)' '
 
 	echo >>negative &&
-	cat >text <<EOF &&
+	cat >text <<-\EOF &&
 
-# to be kept
+	# to be kept
 
-  # ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
-# to be kept, too
-# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
-to be removed
-# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
-to be removed, too
-EOF
+	  # ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+	# to be kept, too
+	# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+	to be removed
+	# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+	to be removed, too
+	EOF
 
-	cat >expect <<EOF &&
-# to be kept
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+	# to be kept
 
-  # ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
-# to be kept, too
-EOF
+	  # ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+	# to be kept, too
+	EOF
 	git commit --cleanup=scissors -e -F text -a &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d">actual &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (scissors option,-F,-e, scissors on first line)' '
 
 	echo >>negative &&
-	cat >text <<EOF &&
-# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
-to be removed
-EOF
+	cat >text <<-\EOF &&
+	# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+	to be removed
+	EOF
 	git commit --cleanup=scissors -e -F text -a --allow-empty-message &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d">actual &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (strip option,-F)' '
 
 	echo >>negative &&
-	{ echo;echo "# text";echo sample;echo; } >text &&
+	test_write_lines "" "# text" "sample" "" >text &&
 	echo sample >expect &&
 	git commit --cleanup=strip -F text -a &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD |sed -e "1,/^\$/d">actual &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 
 '
@@ -275,7 +293,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (strip option,-F)' '
 test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (strip option,-F,-e)' '
 
 	echo >>negative &&
-	{ echo;echo sample;echo; } >text &&
+	test_write_lines "" "sample" "" >text &&
 	git commit -e -F text -a &&
 	head -n 4 .git/COMMIT_EDITMSG >actual
 '
@@ -387,7 +405,7 @@ test_expect_success AUTOIDENT 'message shows committer when it is automatic' '
 '
 
 write_script .git/FAKE_EDITOR <<EOF
-echo editor started > "$(pwd)/.git/result"
+echo editor started >"$(pwd)/.git/result"
 exit 0
 EOF
 
@@ -455,7 +473,7 @@ EOF
 test_expect_success EXECKEEPSPID 'a SIGTERM should break locks' '
 	echo >>negative &&
 	! "$SHELL_PATH" -c '\''
-	  echo kill -TERM $$ >> .git/FAKE_EDITOR
+	  echo kill -TERM $$ >>.git/FAKE_EDITOR
 	  GIT_EDITOR=.git/FAKE_EDITOR
 	  export GIT_EDITOR
 	  exec git commit -a'\'' &&
@@ -471,7 +489,9 @@ test_expect_success 'Hand committing of a redundant merge removes dups' '
 	test_must_fail git merge second master &&
 	git checkout master g &&
 	EDITOR=: git commit -a &&
-	git cat-file commit HEAD | sed -n -e "s/^parent //p" -e "/^$/q" >actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -n -e "s/^parent //p" -e "/^$/q" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 
 '
@@ -480,7 +500,9 @@ test_expect_success 'A single-liner subject with a token plus colon is not a foo
 
 	git reset --hard &&
 	git commit -s -m "hello: kitty" --allow-empty &&
-	git cat-file commit HEAD | sed -e "1,/^$/d" >actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
 	test_line_count = 3 actual
 
 '

builtin/commit.c, sequencer.c, sequencer.h

diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index f17537474a..0df15e4851 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -1172,24 +1172,7 @@ static int parse_and_validate_options(int argc, const char *argv[],
 		die(_("Only one of --include/--only/--all/--interactive/--patch can be used."));
 	if (argc == 0 && (also || (only && !amend && !allow_empty)))
 		die(_("No paths with --include/--only does not make sense."));
-	if (!cleanup_arg || !strcmp(cleanup_arg, "default"))
-		cleanup_mode = use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL :
-					    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
-	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "verbatim"))
-		cleanup_mode = COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE;
-	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "whitespace"))
-		cleanup_mode = COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
-	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "strip"))
-		cleanup_mode = COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL;
-	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "scissors"))
-		cleanup_mode = use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS :
-					    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
-	/*
-	 * Please update _git_commit() in git-completion.bash when you
-	 * add new options.
-	 */
-	else
-		die(_("Invalid cleanup mode %s"), cleanup_arg);
+	cleanup_mode = get_cleanup_mode(cleanup_arg, use_editor);
 
 	handle_untracked_files_arg(s);
 
@@ -1626,11 +1609,7 @@ int cmd_commit(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		die(_("could not read commit message: %s"), strerror(saved_errno));
 	}
 
-	if (verbose || /* Truncate the message just before the diff, if any. */
-	    cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS)
-		strbuf_setlen(&sb, wt_status_locate_end(sb.buf, sb.len));
-	if (cleanup_mode != COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE)
-		strbuf_stripspace(&sb, cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL);
+	cleanup_message(&sb, cleanup_mode, verbose);
 
 	if (message_is_empty(&sb, cleanup_mode) && !allow_empty_message) {
 		rollback_index_files();
diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index 95dda23eee..224c823b43 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -511,6 +511,25 @@ static int fast_forward_to(struct repository *r,
 	return 0;
 }
 
+enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode get_cleanup_mode(const char *cleanup_arg,
+	int use_editor)
+{
+	if (!cleanup_arg || !strcmp(cleanup_arg, "default"))
+		return use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL :
+				    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
+	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "verbatim"))
+		return COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE;
+	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "whitespace"))
+		return COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
+	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "strip"))
+		return COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL;
+	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "scissors"))
+		return use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS :
+				    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
+	else
+		die(_("Invalid cleanup mode %s"), cleanup_arg);
+}
+
 void append_conflicts_hint(struct index_state *istate,
 			   struct strbuf *msgbuf)
 {
@@ -1013,6 +1032,16 @@ static int rest_is_empty(const struct strbuf *sb, int start)
 	return 1;
 }
 
+void cleanup_message(struct strbuf *msgbuf,
+	enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode, int verbose)
+{
+	if (verbose || /* Truncate the message just before the diff, if any. */
+	    cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS)
+		strbuf_setlen(msgbuf, wt_status_locate_end(msgbuf->buf, msgbuf->len));
+	if (cleanup_mode != COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE)
+		strbuf_stripspace(msgbuf, cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL);
+}
+
 /*
  * Find out if the message in the strbuf contains only whitespace and
  * Signed-off-by lines.
diff --git a/sequencer.h b/sequencer.h
index 4d505b3590..eb9bd97ef3 100644
--- a/sequencer.h
+++ b/sequencer.h
@@ -116,6 +116,12 @@ int rearrange_squash(struct repository *r);
 void append_signoff(struct strbuf *msgbuf, size_t ignore_footer, unsigned flag);
 
 void append_conflicts_hint(struct index_state *istate, struct strbuf *msgbuf);
+enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode get_cleanup_mode(const char *cleanup_arg,
+	int use_editor);
+
+void cleanup_message(struct strbuf *msgbuf,
+	enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode, int verbose);
+
 int message_is_empty(const struct strbuf *sb,
 		     enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode);
 int template_untouched(const struct strbuf *sb, const char *template_file,

builtin/commit.c, builtin/tag.c, parse-options.h

diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index 0df15e4851..8277da8474 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -1473,7 +1473,7 @@ int cmd_commit(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		OPT_BOOL('s', "signoff", &signoff, N_("add Signed-off-by:")),
 		OPT_FILENAME('t', "template", &template_file, N_("use specified template file")),
 		OPT_BOOL('e', "edit", &edit_flag, N_("force edit of commit")),
-		OPT_STRING(0, "cleanup", &cleanup_arg, N_("default"), N_("how to strip spaces and #comments from message")),
+		OPT_CLEANUP(&cleanup_arg),
 		OPT_BOOL(0, "status", &include_status, N_("include status in commit message template")),
 		{ OPTION_STRING, 'S', "gpg-sign", &sign_commit, N_("key-id"),
 		  N_("GPG sign commit"), PARSE_OPT_OPTARG, NULL, (intptr_t) "" },
diff --git a/builtin/tag.c b/builtin/tag.c
index 02f6bd1279..a3870fbdba 100644
--- a/builtin/tag.c
+++ b/builtin/tag.c
@@ -397,8 +397,7 @@ int cmd_tag(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		OPT_FILENAME('F', "file", &msgfile, N_("read message from file")),
 		OPT_BOOL('e', "edit", &edit_flag, N_("force edit of tag message")),
 		OPT_BOOL('s', "sign", &opt.sign, N_("annotated and GPG-signed tag")),
-		OPT_STRING(0, "cleanup", &cleanup_arg, N_("mode"),
-			N_("how to strip spaces and #comments from message")),
+		OPT_CLEANUP(&cleanup_arg),
 		OPT_STRING('u', "local-user", &keyid, N_("key-id"),
 					N_("use another key to sign the tag")),
 		OPT__FORCE(&force, N_("replace the tag if exists"), 0),
diff --git a/parse-options.h b/parse-options.h
index 7d83e2971d..85faaee390 100644
--- a/parse-options.h
+++ b/parse-options.h
@@ -303,5 +303,6 @@ int parse_opt_passthru_argv(const struct option *, const char *, int);
 #define OPT_NO_CONTAINS(v, h) _OPT_CONTAINS_OR_WITH("no-contains", v, h, PARSE_OPT_NONEG)
 #define OPT_WITH(v, h) _OPT_CONTAINS_OR_WITH("with", v, h, PARSE_OPT_HIDDEN | PARSE_OPT_NONEG)
 #define OPT_WITHOUT(v, h) _OPT_CONTAINS_OR_WITH("without", v, h, PARSE_OPT_HIDDEN | PARSE_OPT_NONEG)
+#define OPT_CLEANUP(v) OPT_STRING(0, "cleanup", v, N_("mode"), N_("how to strip spaces and #comments from message"))
 
 #endif

builtin/commit.c, sequencer.c, sequencer.h

diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index 8277da8474..ba1e6027ba 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -1172,7 +1172,7 @@ static int parse_and_validate_options(int argc, const char *argv[],
 		die(_("Only one of --include/--only/--all/--interactive/--patch can be used."));
 	if (argc == 0 && (also || (only && !amend && !allow_empty)))
 		die(_("No paths with --include/--only does not make sense."));
-	cleanup_mode = get_cleanup_mode(cleanup_arg, use_editor);
+	cleanup_mode = get_cleanup_mode(cleanup_arg, use_editor, 1);
 
 	handle_untracked_files_arg(s);
 
diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index 224c823b43..2cbfb848dd 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -172,17 +172,7 @@ static int git_sequencer_config(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 		if (status)
 			return status;
 
-		if (!strcmp(s, "verbatim"))
-			opts->default_msg_cleanup = COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE;
-		else if (!strcmp(s, "whitespace"))
-			opts->default_msg_cleanup = COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
-		else if (!strcmp(s, "strip"))
-			opts->default_msg_cleanup = COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL;
-		else if (!strcmp(s, "scissors"))
-			opts->default_msg_cleanup = COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
-		else
-			warning(_("invalid commit message cleanup mode '%s'"),
-				  s);
+		opts->default_msg_cleanup = get_cleanup_mode(s, 0, 0);
 
 		free((char *)s);
 		return status;
@@ -512,7 +502,7 @@ static int fast_forward_to(struct repository *r,
 }
 
 enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode get_cleanup_mode(const char *cleanup_arg,
-	int use_editor)
+	int use_editor, int die_on_error)
 {
 	if (!cleanup_arg || !strcmp(cleanup_arg, "default"))
 		return use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL :
@@ -526,8 +516,12 @@ enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode get_cleanup_mode(const char *cleanup_arg,
 	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "scissors"))
 		return use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS :
 				    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
-	else
-		die(_("Invalid cleanup mode %s"), cleanup_arg);
+	else if (!die_on_error) {
+		warning(_("invalid cleanup mode %s, falling back to default"), cleanup_arg);
+		return use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL :
+				    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
+	} else
+		die(_("invalid cleanup mode %s"), cleanup_arg);
 }
 
 void append_conflicts_hint(struct index_state *istate,
diff --git a/sequencer.h b/sequencer.h
index eb9bd97ef3..e7908f558e 100644
--- a/sequencer.h
+++ b/sequencer.h
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ void append_signoff(struct strbuf *msgbuf, size_t ignore_footer, unsigned flag);
 
 void append_conflicts_hint(struct index_state *istate, struct strbuf *msgbuf);
 enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode get_cleanup_mode(const char *cleanup_arg,
-	int use_editor);
+	int use_editor, int die_on_error);
 
 void cleanup_message(struct strbuf *msgbuf,
 	enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode, int verbose);

Documentation/merge-options.txt, builtin/merge.c, builtin/pull.c, t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh, wt-status.c, wt-status.h

diff --git a/Documentation/merge-options.txt b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
index 92a7d936c1..646100ea9a 100644
--- a/Documentation/merge-options.txt
+++ b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
@@ -32,6 +32,11 @@ they run `git merge`. To make it easier to adjust such scripts to the
 updated behaviour, the environment variable `GIT_MERGE_AUTOEDIT` can be
 set to `no` at the beginning of them.
 
+--cleanup=<mode>::
+	This option determines how the merge message will be cleaned up
+	before commiting or being passed on. See linkgit:git-commit[1] for more
+	details.
+
 --ff::
 	When the merge resolves as a fast-forward, only update the branch
 	pointer, without creating a merge commit.  This is the default
diff --git a/builtin/merge.c b/builtin/merge.c
index 5ce8946d39..7be03a2610 100644
--- a/builtin/merge.c
+++ b/builtin/merge.c
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #include "tag.h"
 #include "alias.h"
 #include "commit-reach.h"
+#include "wt-status.h"
 
 #define DEFAULT_TWOHEAD (1<<0)
 #define DEFAULT_OCTOPUS (1<<1)
@@ -98,6 +99,9 @@ enum ff_type {
 
 static enum ff_type fast_forward = FF_ALLOW;
 
+static const char *cleanup_arg;
+static enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode;
+
 static int option_parse_message(const struct option *opt,
 				const char *arg, int unset)
 {
@@ -249,6 +253,7 @@ static struct option builtin_merge_options[] = {
 		N_("perform a commit if the merge succeeds (default)")),
 	OPT_BOOL('e', "edit", &option_edit,
 		N_("edit message before committing")),
+	OPT_CLEANUP(&cleanup_arg),
 	OPT_SET_INT(0, "ff", &fast_forward, N_("allow fast-forward (default)"), FF_ALLOW),
 	OPT_SET_INT_F(0, "ff-only", &fast_forward,
 		      N_("abort if fast-forward is not possible"),
@@ -612,6 +617,8 @@ static int git_merge_config(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 		return git_config_string(&pull_twohead, k, v);
 	else if (!strcmp(k, "pull.octopus"))
 		return git_config_string(&pull_octopus, k, v);
+	else if (!strcmp(k, "commit.cleanup"))
+		return git_config_string(&cleanup_arg, k, v);
 	else if (!strcmp(k, "merge.renormalize"))
 		option_renormalize = git_config_bool(k, v);
 	else if (!strcmp(k, "merge.ff")) {
@@ -797,23 +804,32 @@ static void abort_commit(struct commit_list *remoteheads, const char *err_msg)
 	exit(1);
 }
 
+static const char comment_line_explanation[] =
+N_("Lines starting with '%c' will be ignored.\n");
+
 static const char merge_editor_comment[] =
 N_("Please enter a commit message to explain why this merge is necessary,\n"
    "especially if it merges an updated upstream into a topic branch.\n"
    "\n"
-   "Lines starting with '%c' will be ignored, and an empty message aborts\n"
-   "the commit.\n");
+   "An empty message aborts the commit.\n");
 
 static void write_merge_heads(struct commit_list *);
 static void prepare_to_commit(struct commit_list *remoteheads)
 {
 	struct strbuf msg = STRBUF_INIT;
 	strbuf_addbuf(&msg, &merge_msg);
-	strbuf_addch(&msg, '\n');
 	if (squash)
 		BUG("the control must not reach here under --squash");
-	if (0 < option_edit)
-		strbuf_commented_addf(&msg, _(merge_editor_comment), comment_line_char);
+	if (0 < option_edit) {
+		strbuf_addch(&msg, '\n');
+		if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS)
+			wt_status_append_cut_line(&msg);
+		else
+			strbuf_commented_addf(&msg, _(comment_line_explanation), comment_line_char);
+
+		strbuf_commented_addf(&msg, "\n");
+		strbuf_commented_addf(&msg, _(merge_editor_comment));
+	}
 	if (signoff)
 		append_signoff(&msg, ignore_non_trailer(msg.buf, msg.len), 0);
 	write_merge_heads(remoteheads);
@@ -832,7 +848,7 @@ static void prepare_to_commit(struct commit_list *remoteheads)
 		abort_commit(remoteheads, NULL);
 
 	read_merge_msg(&msg);
-	strbuf_stripspace(&msg, 0 < option_edit);
+	cleanup_message(&msg, cleanup_mode, 0);
 	if (!msg.len)
 		abort_commit(remoteheads, _("Empty commit message."));
 	strbuf_release(&merge_msg);
@@ -880,7 +896,6 @@ static int finish_automerge(struct commit *head,
 	parents = remoteheads;
 	if (!head_subsumed || fast_forward == FF_NO)
 		commit_list_insert(head, &parents);
-	strbuf_addch(&merge_msg, '\n');
 	prepare_to_commit(remoteheads);
 	if (commit_tree(merge_msg.buf, merge_msg.len, result_tree, parents,
 			&result_commit, NULL, sign_commit))
@@ -1389,6 +1404,8 @@ int cmd_merge(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (option_edit < 0)
 		option_edit = default_edit_option();
 
+	cleanup_mode = get_cleanup_mode(cleanup_arg, 0 < option_edit, 1);
+
 	if (!use_strategies) {
 		if (!remoteheads)
 			; /* already up-to-date */
diff --git a/builtin/pull.c b/builtin/pull.c
index 33db889955..292c1dac27 100644
--- a/builtin/pull.c
+++ b/builtin/pull.c
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ static char *opt_signoff;
 static char *opt_squash;
 static char *opt_commit;
 static char *opt_edit;
+static char *opt_cleanup;
 static char *opt_ff;
 static char *opt_verify_signatures;
 static int opt_autostash = -1;
@@ -168,6 +169,9 @@ static struct option pull_options[] = {
 	OPT_PASSTHRU(0, "edit", &opt_edit, NULL,
 		N_("edit message before committing"),
 		PARSE_OPT_NOARG),
+	OPT_PASSTHRU(0, "cleanup", &opt_cleanup, NULL,
+		N_("how to strip spaces and #comments from message"),
+		0),
 	OPT_PASSTHRU(0, "ff", &opt_ff, NULL,
 		N_("allow fast-forward"),
 		PARSE_OPT_NOARG),
@@ -644,6 +648,8 @@ static int run_merge(void)
 		argv_array_push(&args, opt_commit);
 	if (opt_edit)
 		argv_array_push(&args, opt_edit);
+	if (opt_cleanup)
+		argv_array_push(&args, opt_cleanup);
 	if (opt_ff)
 		argv_array_push(&args, opt_ff);
 	if (opt_verify_signatures)
diff --git a/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh b/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh
index b045fdb413..c9685a318d 100755
--- a/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh
+++ b/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh
@@ -51,4 +51,71 @@ test_expect_success 'merge --log appends to custom message' '
 	test_cmp exp.log actual
 '
 
+mesg_with_comment_and_newlines='
+# text
+
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'prepare file with comment line and trailing newlines'  '
+	printf "%s" "$mesg_with_comment_and_newlines" >expect
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (verbatim option)' '
+	git reset --hard c1 &&
+	git merge --cleanup=verbatim -F expect c2 &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (whitespace option)' '
+	git reset --hard c1 &&
+	test_write_lines "" "# text" "" >text &&
+	echo "# text" >expect &&
+	git merge --cleanup=whitespace -F text c2 &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'cleanup merge messages (scissors option)' '
+	git reset --hard c1 &&
+	cat >text <<-\EOF &&
+
+	# to be kept
+
+	  # ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+	# to be kept, too
+	# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+	to be removed
+	# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+	to be removed, too
+	EOF
+
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+	# to be kept
+
+	  # ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+	# to be kept, too
+	EOF
+	git merge --cleanup=scissors -e -F text c2 &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (strip option)' '
+	git reset --hard c1 &&
+	test_write_lines "" "# text" "sample" "" >text &&
+	echo sample >expect &&
+	git merge --cleanup=strip -F text c2 &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e "1,/^$/d" <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
 test_done
diff --git a/wt-status.c b/wt-status.c
index 445a36204a..b81fcd428d 100644
--- a/wt-status.c
+++ b/wt-status.c
@@ -1006,13 +1006,19 @@ size_t wt_status_locate_end(const char *s, size_t len)
 	return len;
 }
 
-void wt_status_add_cut_line(FILE *fp)
+void wt_status_append_cut_line(struct strbuf *buf)
 {
 	const char *explanation = _("Do not modify or remove the line above.\nEverything below it will be ignored.");
+
+	strbuf_commented_addf(buf, "%s", cut_line);
+	strbuf_add_commented_lines(buf, explanation, strlen(explanation));
+}
+
+void wt_status_add_cut_line(FILE *fp)
+{
 	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
 
-	fprintf(fp, "%c %s", comment_line_char, cut_line);
-	strbuf_add_commented_lines(&buf, explanation, strlen(explanation));
+	wt_status_append_cut_line(&buf);
 	fputs(buf.buf, fp);
 	strbuf_release(&buf);
 }
diff --git a/wt-status.h b/wt-status.h
index 3a95975032..64f1ddc9fd 100644
--- a/wt-status.h
+++ b/wt-status.h
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ struct wt_status {
 };
 
 size_t wt_status_locate_end(const char *s, size_t len);
+void wt_status_append_cut_line(struct strbuf *buf);
 void wt_status_add_cut_line(FILE *fp);
 void wt_status_prepare(struct repository *r, struct wt_status *s);
 void wt_status_print(struct wt_status *s);

Documentation/merge-options.txt, builtin/commit.c, builtin/merge.c, t/t7600-merge.sh

diff --git a/Documentation/merge-options.txt b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
index 646100ea9a..405e16c617 100644
--- a/Documentation/merge-options.txt
+++ b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
@@ -35,7 +35,9 @@ set to `no` at the beginning of them.
 --cleanup=<mode>::
 	This option determines how the merge message will be cleaned up
 	before commiting or being passed on. See linkgit:git-commit[1] for more
-	details.
+	details. In addition, if the '<mode>' is given a value of `scissors`,
+	scissors will be appended to `MERGE_MSG` before being passed on to the
+	commit machinery in the case of a merge conflict.
 
 --ff::
 	When the merge resolves as a fast-forward, only update the branch
diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index ba1e6027ba..b9159c2e7b 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -668,6 +668,7 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 	const char *hook_arg2 = NULL;
 	int clean_message_contents = (cleanup_mode != COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE);
 	int old_display_comment_prefix;
+	int merge_contains_scissors = 0;
 
 	/* This checks and barfs if author is badly specified */
 	determine_author_info(author_ident);
@@ -728,6 +729,8 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 			strbuf_addbuf(&sb, &message);
 		hook_arg1 = "message";
 	} else if (!stat(git_path_merge_msg(the_repository), &statbuf)) {
+		size_t merge_msg_start;
+
 		/*
 		 * prepend SQUASH_MSG here if it exists and a
 		 * "merge --squash" was originally performed
@@ -738,8 +741,14 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 			hook_arg1 = "squash";
 		} else
 			hook_arg1 = "merge";
+
+		merge_msg_start = sb.len;
 		if (strbuf_read_file(&sb, git_path_merge_msg(the_repository), 0) < 0)
 			die_errno(_("could not read MERGE_MSG"));
+
+		if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS &&
+		    wt_status_locate_end(sb.buf + merge_msg_start, sb.len - merge_msg_start) < sb.len - merge_msg_start)
+			merge_contains_scissors = 1;
 	} else if (!stat(git_path_squash_msg(the_repository), &statbuf)) {
 		if (strbuf_read_file(&sb, git_path_squash_msg(the_repository), 0) < 0)
 			die_errno(_("could not read SQUASH_MSG"));
@@ -807,7 +816,8 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 		struct ident_split ci, ai;
 
 		if (whence != FROM_COMMIT) {
-			if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS)
+			if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS &&
+				!merge_contains_scissors)
 				wt_status_add_cut_line(s->fp);
 			status_printf_ln(s, GIT_COLOR_NORMAL,
 			    whence == FROM_MERGE
@@ -832,10 +842,10 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 				_("Please enter the commit message for your changes."
 				  " Lines starting\nwith '%c' will be ignored, and an empty"
 				  " message aborts the commit.\n"), comment_line_char);
-		else if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS &&
-			 whence == FROM_COMMIT)
-			wt_status_add_cut_line(s->fp);
-		else /* COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE, that is. */
+		else if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS) {
+			if (whence == FROM_COMMIT && !merge_contains_scissors)
+				wt_status_add_cut_line(s->fp);
+		} else /* COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE, that is. */
 			status_printf(s, GIT_COLOR_NORMAL,
 				_("Please enter the commit message for your changes."
 				  " Lines starting\n"
diff --git a/builtin/merge.c b/builtin/merge.c
index 7be03a2610..86c54bff76 100644
--- a/builtin/merge.c
+++ b/builtin/merge.c
@@ -916,6 +916,20 @@ static int suggest_conflicts(void)
 	filename = git_path_merge_msg(the_repository);
 	fp = xfopen(filename, "a");
 
+	/*
+	 * We can't use cleanup_mode because if we're not using the editor,
+	 * get_cleanup_mode will return COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE instead, even
+	 * though the message is meant to be processed later by git-commit.
+	 * Thus, we will get the cleanup mode which is returned when we _are_ using
+	 * an editor.
+	 */
+	if (get_cleanup_mode(cleanup_arg, 1, 1) == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS) {
+	    fputc('\n', fp);
+	    wt_status_add_cut_line(fp);
+	    /* comments out the newline from append_conflicts_hint */
+	    fputc(comment_line_char, fp);
+	}
+
 	append_conflicts_hint(&the_index, &msgbuf);
 	fputs(msgbuf.buf, fp);
 	strbuf_release(&msgbuf);
diff --git a/t/t7600-merge.sh b/t/t7600-merge.sh
index a9620cd991..ed11b08db2 100755
--- a/t/t7600-merge.sh
+++ b/t/t7600-merge.sh
@@ -247,6 +247,54 @@ test_expect_success 'merge --squash c3 with c7' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'merge c3 with c7 with commit.cleanup = scissors' '
+	git config commit.cleanup scissors &&
+	git reset --hard c3 &&
+	test_must_fail git merge c7 &&
+	cat result.9z >file &&
+	git commit --no-edit -a &&
+
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+	Merge tag '"'"'c7'"'"'
+
+	# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+	# Do not modify or remove the line above.
+	# Everything below it will be ignored.
+	#
+	# Conflicts:
+	#	file
+	EOF
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e '1,/^$/d' <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
+	test_i18ncmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'merge c3 with c7 with --squash commit.cleanup = scissors' '
+	git config commit.cleanup scissors &&
+	git reset --hard c3 &&
+	test_must_fail git merge --squash c7 &&
+	cat result.9z >file &&
+	git commit --no-edit -a &&
+
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
+	Squashed commit of the following:
+
+	$(git show -s c7)
+
+	# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+	# Do not modify or remove the line above.
+	# Everything below it will be ignored.
+	#
+	# Conflicts:
+	#	file
+	EOF
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
+	sed -e '1,/^$/d' <actual >tmp &&
+	mv tmp actual &&
+	test_i18ncmp expect actual
+'
+
 test_debug 'git log --graph --decorate --oneline --all'
 
 test_expect_success 'merge c1 with c2 and c3' '

diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index 2cbfb848dd..f782e8bab2 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -160,6 +160,22 @@ static GIT_PATH_FUNC(rebase_path_strategy_opts, "rebase-merge/strategy_opts")
 static GIT_PATH_FUNC(rebase_path_allow_rerere_autoupdate, "rebase-merge/allow_rerere_autoupdate")
 static GIT_PATH_FUNC(rebase_path_reschedule_failed_exec, "rebase-merge/reschedule-failed-exec")
 
+struct cleanup_config_mapping {
+	const char *value;
+	enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode editor;
+	enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode no_editor;
+};
+
+/* the 0th element of this array must be the "default" */
+static struct cleanup_config_mapping cleanup_config_mapping[] = {
+	{ "default", COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL, COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE },
+	{ "verbatim", COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE, COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE },
+	{ "whitespace", COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE, COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE },
+	{ "strip", COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL, COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL },
+	{ "scissors", COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS, COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE },
+	{ NULL, 0, 0 }
+};
+
 static int git_sequencer_config(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 {
 	struct replay_opts *opts = cb;
@@ -504,26 +520,37 @@ static int fast_forward_to(struct repository *r,
 enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode get_cleanup_mode(const char *cleanup_arg,
 	int use_editor, int die_on_error)
 {
-	if (!cleanup_arg || !strcmp(cleanup_arg, "default"))
-		return use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL :
-				    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
-	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "verbatim"))
-		return COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_NONE;
-	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "whitespace"))
-		return COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
-	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "strip"))
-		return COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL;
-	else if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, "scissors"))
-		return use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS :
-				    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
-	else if (!die_on_error) {
+	struct cleanup_config_mapping *def = &cleanup_config_mapping[0];
+	struct cleanup_config_mapping *p;
+
+	if (!cleanup_arg)
+		return use_editor ? def->editor :
+				    def->no_editor;
+
+	for (p = cleanup_config_mapping; p->value; p++)
+		if (!strcmp(cleanup_arg, p->value))
+			return use_editor ? p->editor :
+					    p->no_editor;
+
+	if (!die_on_error) {
 		warning(_("invalid cleanup mode %s, falling back to default"), cleanup_arg);
-		return use_editor ? COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_ALL :
-				    COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SPACE;
+		return use_editor ? def->editor :
+				    def->no_editor;
 	} else
 		die(_("invalid cleanup mode %s"), cleanup_arg);
 }
 
+static const char *describe_cleanup_mode(enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode)
+{
+	struct cleanup_config_mapping *curr;
+
+	for (curr = &cleanup_config_mapping[1]; curr->value; curr++)
+		if (cleanup_mode == curr->editor)
+			return curr->value;
+
+	BUG("invalid cleanup_mode provided (%d)", cleanup_mode);
+}
+
 void append_conflicts_hint(struct index_state *istate,
 			   struct strbuf *msgbuf)
 {
@@ -2350,6 +2377,8 @@ static int populate_opts_cb(const char *key, const char *value, void *data)
 		opts->allow_rerere_auto =
 			git_config_bool_or_int(key, value, &error_flag) ?
 				RERERE_AUTOUPDATE : RERERE_NOAUTOUPDATE;
+	else if (!strcmp(key, "options.default-msg-cleanup"))
+		opts->default_msg_cleanup = get_cleanup_mode(value, 1, 1);
 	else
 		return error(_("invalid key: %s"), key);
 
@@ -2754,6 +2783,9 @@ static int save_opts(struct replay_opts *opts)
 		res |= git_config_set_in_file_gently(opts_file, "options.allow-rerere-auto",
 						     opts->allow_rerere_auto == RERERE_AUTOUPDATE ?
 						     "true" : "false");
+
+	res |= git_config_set_in_file_gently(opts_file, "options.default-msg-cleanup",
+					     describe_cleanup_mode(opts->default_msg_cleanup));
 	return res;
 }
 

Documentation/git-cherry-pick.txt, Documentation/git-revert.txt, builtin/merge.c, builtin/rebase--interactive.c, builtin/revert.c, sequencer.c, sequencer.h, t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh

diff --git a/Documentation/git-cherry-pick.txt b/Documentation/git-cherry-pick.txt
index b8cfeec67e..2601e1868e 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-cherry-pick.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-cherry-pick.txt
@@ -57,6 +57,13 @@ OPTIONS
 	With this option, 'git cherry-pick' will let you edit the commit
 	message prior to committing.
 
+--cleanup=<mode>::
+	This option determines how the commit message will be cleaned up before
+	being passed on. See linkgit:git-commit[1] for more details. In
+	particular, if the '<mode>' is given a value of `scissors`, scissors
+	will be appended to `MERGE_MSG` before being passed on to the commit
+	machinery in the case of a conflict.
+
 -x::
 	When recording the commit, append a line that says
 	"(cherry picked from commit ...)" to the original commit
diff --git a/Documentation/git-revert.txt b/Documentation/git-revert.txt
index 837707a8fd..cabeb9df2c 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-revert.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-revert.txt
@@ -66,6 +66,13 @@ more details.
 	With this option, 'git revert' will not start the commit
 	message editor.
 
+--cleanup=<mode>::
+	This option determines how the commit message will be cleaned up before
+	being passed on. See linkgit:git-commit[1] for more details. In
+	particular, if the '<mode>' is given a value of `scissors`, scissors
+	will be appended to `MERGE_MSG` before being passed on to the commit
+	machinery in the case of a conflict.
+
 -n::
 --no-commit::
 	Usually the command automatically creates some commits with
diff --git a/builtin/merge.c b/builtin/merge.c
index 86c54bff76..90c64346e9 100644
--- a/builtin/merge.c
+++ b/builtin/merge.c
@@ -923,14 +923,7 @@ static int suggest_conflicts(void)
 	 * Thus, we will get the cleanup mode which is returned when we _are_ using
 	 * an editor.
 	 */
-	if (get_cleanup_mode(cleanup_arg, 1, 1) == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS) {
-	    fputc('\n', fp);
-	    wt_status_add_cut_line(fp);
-	    /* comments out the newline from append_conflicts_hint */
-	    fputc(comment_line_char, fp);
-	}
-
-	append_conflicts_hint(&the_index, &msgbuf);
+	append_conflicts_hint(&the_index, &msgbuf, get_cleanup_mode(cleanup_arg, 1, 1));
 	fputs(msgbuf.buf, fp);
 	strbuf_release(&msgbuf);
 	fclose(fp);
diff --git a/builtin/rebase--interactive.c b/builtin/rebase--interactive.c
index 888390f911..cf2151b271 100644
--- a/builtin/rebase--interactive.c
+++ b/builtin/rebase--interactive.c
@@ -199,10 +199,10 @@ int cmd_rebase__interactive(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 
+	opts.action = REPLAY_INTERACTIVE_REBASE;
 	sequencer_init_config(&opts);
 	git_config_get_bool("rebase.abbreviatecommands", &abbreviate_commands);
 
-	opts.action = REPLAY_INTERACTIVE_REBASE;
 	opts.allow_ff = 1;
 	opts.allow_empty = 1;
 
diff --git a/builtin/revert.c b/builtin/revert.c
index a47b53ceaf..41e7392c24 100644
--- a/builtin/revert.c
+++ b/builtin/revert.c
@@ -96,11 +96,13 @@ static int run_sequencer(int argc, const char **argv, struct replay_opts *opts)
 {
 	const char * const * usage_str = revert_or_cherry_pick_usage(opts);
 	const char *me = action_name(opts);
+	const char *cleanup_arg = NULL;
 	int cmd = 0;
 	struct option base_options[] = {
 		OPT_CMDMODE(0, "quit", &cmd, N_("end revert or cherry-pick sequence"), 'q'),
 		OPT_CMDMODE(0, "continue", &cmd, N_("resume revert or cherry-pick sequence"), 'c'),
 		OPT_CMDMODE(0, "abort", &cmd, N_("cancel revert or cherry-pick sequence"), 'a'),
+		OPT_CLEANUP(&cleanup_arg),
 		OPT_BOOL('n', "no-commit", &opts->no_commit, N_("don't automatically commit")),
 		OPT_BOOL('e', "edit", &opts->edit, N_("edit the commit message")),
 		OPT_NOOP_NOARG('r', NULL),
@@ -137,6 +139,9 @@ static int run_sequencer(int argc, const char **argv, struct replay_opts *opts)
 	if (opts->keep_redundant_commits)
 		opts->allow_empty = 1;
 
+	if (cleanup_arg)
+		opts->default_msg_cleanup = get_cleanup_mode(cleanup_arg, 1, 1);
+
 	/* Check for incompatible command line arguments */
 	if (cmd) {
 		char *this_operation;
diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index f782e8bab2..ea4687c3da 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -176,6 +176,11 @@ static struct cleanup_config_mapping cleanup_config_mapping[] = {
 	{ NULL, 0, 0 }
 };
 
+static inline int is_rebase_i(const struct replay_opts *opts)
+{
+	return opts->action == REPLAY_INTERACTIVE_REBASE;
+}
+
 static int git_sequencer_config(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 {
 	struct replay_opts *opts = cb;
@@ -188,7 +193,7 @@ static int git_sequencer_config(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 		if (status)
 			return status;
 
-		opts->default_msg_cleanup = get_cleanup_mode(s, 0, 0);
+		opts->default_msg_cleanup = get_cleanup_mode(s, !is_rebase_i(opts), 0);
 
 		free((char *)s);
 		return status;
@@ -212,11 +217,6 @@ void sequencer_init_config(struct replay_opts *opts)
 	git_config(git_sequencer_config, opts);
 }
 
-static inline int is_rebase_i(const struct replay_opts *opts)
-{
-	return opts->action == REPLAY_INTERACTIVE_REBASE;
-}
-
 static const char *get_dir(const struct replay_opts *opts)
 {
 	if (is_rebase_i(opts))
@@ -552,10 +552,16 @@ static const char *describe_cleanup_mode(enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mo
 }
 
 void append_conflicts_hint(struct index_state *istate,
-			   struct strbuf *msgbuf)
+		struct strbuf *msgbuf, enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode)
 {
 	int i;
 
+	if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS) {
+		strbuf_addch(msgbuf, '\n');
+		wt_status_append_cut_line(msgbuf);
+		strbuf_addch(msgbuf, comment_line_char);
+	}
+
 	strbuf_addch(msgbuf, '\n');
 	strbuf_commented_addf(msgbuf, "Conflicts:\n");
 	for (i = 0; i < istate->cache_nr;) {
@@ -623,7 +629,7 @@ static int do_recursive_merge(struct repository *r,
 			_(action_name(opts)));
 
 	if (!clean)
-		append_conflicts_hint(r->index, msgbuf);
+		append_conflicts_hint(r->index, msgbuf, opts->default_msg_cleanup);
 
 	return !clean;
 }
diff --git a/sequencer.h b/sequencer.h
index e7908f558e..830d8232f6 100644
--- a/sequencer.h
+++ b/sequencer.h
@@ -115,7 +115,8 @@ int rearrange_squash(struct repository *r);
  */
 void append_signoff(struct strbuf *msgbuf, size_t ignore_footer, unsigned flag);
 
-void append_conflicts_hint(struct index_state *istate, struct strbuf *msgbuf);
+void append_conflicts_hint(struct index_state *istate,
+		struct strbuf *msgbuf, enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode cleanup_mode);
 enum commit_msg_cleanup_mode get_cleanup_mode(const char *cleanup_arg,
 	int use_editor, int die_on_error);
 
diff --git a/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh b/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh
index 74ff925526..c3894ca9d6 100755
--- a/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh
+++ b/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh
@@ -189,6 +189,46 @@ test_expect_success 'failed cherry-pick registers participants in index' '
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success \
+	'cherry-pick conflict, ensure commit.cleanup = scissors places scissors line properly' '
+	pristine_detach initial &&
+	git config commit.cleanup scissors &&
+	cat <<-EOF >expected &&
+		picked
+
+		# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+		# Do not modify or remove the line above.
+		# Everything below it will be ignored.
+		#
+		# Conflicts:
+		#	foo
+		EOF
+
+	test_must_fail git cherry-pick picked &&
+
+	test_i18ncmp expected .git/MERGE_MSG
+'
+
+test_expect_success \
+	'cherry-pick conflict, ensure cleanup=scissors places scissors line properly' '
+	pristine_detach initial &&
+	git config --unset commit.cleanup &&
+	cat <<-EOF >expected &&
+		picked
+
+		# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+		# Do not modify or remove the line above.
+		# Everything below it will be ignored.
+		#
+		# Conflicts:
+		#	foo
+		EOF
+
+	test_must_fail git cherry-pick --cleanup=scissors picked &&
+
+	test_i18ncmp expected .git/MERGE_MSG
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'failed cherry-pick describes conflict in work tree' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
 	cat <<-EOF >expected &&
@@ -335,6 +375,52 @@ test_expect_success 'revert conflict, diff3 -m style' '
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success \
+	'revert conflict, ensure commit.cleanup = scissors places scissors line properly' '
+	pristine_detach initial &&
+	git config commit.cleanup scissors &&
+	cat >expected <<-EOF &&
+		Revert "picked"
+
+		This reverts commit OBJID.
+
+		# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+		# Do not modify or remove the line above.
+		# Everything below it will be ignored.
+		#
+		# Conflicts:
+		#	foo
+		EOF
+
+	test_must_fail git revert picked &&
+
+	sed "s/$OID_REGEX/OBJID/" .git/MERGE_MSG >actual &&
+	test_i18ncmp expected actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success \
+	'revert conflict, ensure cleanup=scissors places scissors line properly' '
+	pristine_detach initial &&
+	git config --unset commit.cleanup &&
+	cat >expected <<-EOF &&
+		Revert "picked"
+
+		This reverts commit OBJID.
+
+		# ------------------------ >8 ------------------------
+		# Do not modify or remove the line above.
+		# Everything below it will be ignored.
+		#
+		# Conflicts:
+		#	foo
+		EOF
+
+	test_must_fail git revert --cleanup=scissors picked &&
+
+	sed "s/$OID_REGEX/OBJID/" .git/MERGE_MSG >actual &&
+	test_i18ncmp expected actual
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'failed cherry-pick does not forget -s' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
 	test_must_fail git cherry-pick -s picked &&

Documentation/git-cherry-pick.txt, Documentation/git-revert.txt, Documentation/merge-options.txt, builtin/merge.c, builtin/pull.c, t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh, t/t5521-pull-options.sh, t/t7502-commit-porcelain.sh, t/t7600-merge.sh, t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh

diff --git a/Documentation/git-cherry-pick.txt b/Documentation/git-cherry-pick.txt
index 2601e1868e..cbb663a843 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-cherry-pick.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-cherry-pick.txt
@@ -59,10 +59,10 @@ OPTIONS
 
 --cleanup=<mode>::
 	This option determines how the commit message will be cleaned up before
-	being passed on. See linkgit:git-commit[1] for more details. In
-	particular, if the '<mode>' is given a value of `scissors`, scissors
-	will be appended to `MERGE_MSG` before being passed on to the commit
-	machinery in the case of a conflict.
+	being passed on to the commit machinery. See linkgit:git-commit[1] for more
+	details. In particular, if the '<mode>' is given a value of `scissors`,
+	scissors will be appended to `MERGE_MSG` before being passed on in the case
+	of a conflict.
 
 -x::
 	When recording the commit, append a line that says
diff --git a/Documentation/git-revert.txt b/Documentation/git-revert.txt
index cabeb9df2c..7fd254df92 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-revert.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-revert.txt
@@ -68,10 +68,10 @@ more details.
 
 --cleanup=<mode>::
 	This option determines how the commit message will be cleaned up before
-	being passed on. See linkgit:git-commit[1] for more details. In
-	particular, if the '<mode>' is given a value of `scissors`, scissors
-	will be appended to `MERGE_MSG` before being passed on to the commit
-	machinery in the case of a conflict.
+	being passed on to the commit machinery. See linkgit:git-commit[1] for more
+	details. In particular, if the '<mode>' is given a value of `scissors`,
+	scissors will be appended to `MERGE_MSG` before being passed on in the case
+	of a conflict.
 
 -n::
 --no-commit::
diff --git a/Documentation/merge-options.txt b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
index 405e16c617..61876dbc33 100644
--- a/Documentation/merge-options.txt
+++ b/Documentation/merge-options.txt
@@ -33,11 +33,11 @@ updated behaviour, the environment variable `GIT_MERGE_AUTOEDIT` can be
 set to `no` at the beginning of them.
 
 --cleanup=<mode>::
-	This option determines how the merge message will be cleaned up
-	before commiting or being passed on. See linkgit:git-commit[1] for more
-	details. In addition, if the '<mode>' is given a value of `scissors`,
-	scissors will be appended to `MERGE_MSG` before being passed on to the
-	commit machinery in the case of a merge conflict.
+	This option determines how the merge message will be cleaned up before
+	commiting. See linkgit:git-commit[1] for more details. In addition, if
+	the '<mode>' is given a value of `scissors`, scissors will be appended
+	to `MERGE_MSG` before being passed on to the commit machinery in the
+	case of a merge conflict.
 
 --ff::
 	When the merge resolves as a fast-forward, only update the branch
diff --git a/builtin/merge.c b/builtin/merge.c
index 90c64346e9..235cd3b2e1 100644
--- a/builtin/merge.c
+++ b/builtin/merge.c
@@ -804,14 +804,17 @@ static void abort_commit(struct commit_list *remoteheads, const char *err_msg)
 	exit(1);
 }
 
-static const char comment_line_explanation[] =
-N_("Lines starting with '%c' will be ignored.\n");
-
 static const char merge_editor_comment[] =
 N_("Please enter a commit message to explain why this merge is necessary,\n"
    "especially if it merges an updated upstream into a topic branch.\n"
-   "\n"
-   "An empty message aborts the commit.\n");
+   "\n");
+
+static const char scissors_editor_comment[] =
+N_("An empty message aborts the commit.\n");
+
+static const char no_scissors_editor_comment[] =
+N_("Lines starting with '%c' will be ignored, and an empty message aborts\n"
+   "the commit.\n");
 
 static void write_merge_heads(struct commit_list *);
 static void prepare_to_commit(struct commit_list *remoteheads)
@@ -824,11 +827,12 @@ static void prepare_to_commit(struct commit_list *remoteheads)
 		strbuf_addch(&msg, '\n');
 		if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS)
 			wt_status_append_cut_line(&msg);
-		else
-			strbuf_commented_addf(&msg, _(comment_line_explanation), comment_line_char);
 
 		strbuf_commented_addf(&msg, "\n");
 		strbuf_commented_addf(&msg, _(merge_editor_comment));
+		strbuf_commented_addf(&msg, _(cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS ?
+			scissors_editor_comment :
+			no_scissors_editor_comment), comment_line_char);
 	}
 	if (signoff)
 		append_signoff(&msg, ignore_non_trailer(msg.buf, msg.len), 0);
diff --git a/builtin/pull.c b/builtin/pull.c
index 292c1dac27..55ebb5808e 100644
--- a/builtin/pull.c
+++ b/builtin/pull.c
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include "lockfile.h"
 #include "wt-status.h"
 #include "commit-reach.h"
+#include "sequencer.h"
 
 enum rebase_type {
 	REBASE_INVALID = -1,
@@ -881,6 +882,22 @@ int cmd_pull(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 
 	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, pull_options, pull_usage, 0);
 
+	if (opt_cleanup) {
+		const char *prefix = "--cleanup=";
+		const char *cleanup_arg;
+
+		if (strncmp(opt_cleanup, prefix, strlen(prefix)))
+			BUG("expecting prefix %s, argument is %s", prefix, opt_cleanup);
+
+		cleanup_arg = &opt_cleanup[strlen(prefix)];
+
+		/*
+		 * this only checks the validity of cleanup_arg; we don't need
+		 * a valid value for use_editor
+		 */
+		get_cleanup_mode(cleanup_arg, 0, 1);
+	}
+
 	parse_repo_refspecs(argc, argv, &repo, &refspecs);
 
 	if (!opt_ff)
diff --git a/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh b/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh
index c3894ca9d6..a584b11c98 100755
--- a/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh
+++ b/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ test_expect_success 'failed cherry-pick registers participants in index' '
 		1 s/ 0	/ 1	/
 		2 s/ 0	/ 2	/
 		3 s/ 0	/ 3	/
-	" <stages >expected &&
+	" stages >expected &&
 	git read-tree -u --reset HEAD &&
 
 	test_must_fail git cherry-pick picked &&
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ test_expect_success 'revert also handles conflicts sanely' '
 		1 s/ 0	/ 1	/
 		2 s/ 0	/ 2	/
 		3 s/ 0	/ 3	/
-	" <stages >expected-stages &&
+	" stages >expected-stages &&
 	git read-tree -u --reset HEAD &&
 
 	head=$(git rev-parse HEAD) &&
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ test_expect_success 'commit after failed cherry-pick does not add duplicated -s'
 	pristine_detach initial &&
 	test_must_fail git cherry-pick -s picked-signed &&
 	git commit -a -s &&
-	test $(git show -s |grep -c "Signed-off-by") = 1
+	test $(git show -s >tmp && grep -c "Signed-off-by" tmp && rm tmp) = 1
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'commit after failed cherry-pick adds -s at the right place' '
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ test_expect_success 'commit after failed cherry-pick adds -s at the right place'
 	Signed-off-by: C O Mitter <committer@example.com>
 	# Conflicts:
 	EOF
-	grep -e "^# Conflicts:" -e '^Signed-off-by' <.git/COMMIT_EDITMSG >actual &&
+	grep -e "^# Conflicts:" -e '^Signed-off-by' .git/COMMIT_EDITMSG >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual &&
 
 	cat <<-\EOF >expected &&
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ test_expect_success 'commit --amend -s places the sign-off at the right place' '
 
 	# emulate old-style conflicts block
 	mv .git/MERGE_MSG .git/MERGE_MSG+ &&
-	sed -e "/^# Conflicts:/,\$s/^# *//" <.git/MERGE_MSG+ >.git/MERGE_MSG &&
+	sed -e "/^# Conflicts:/,\$s/^# *//" .git/MERGE_MSG+ >.git/MERGE_MSG &&
 
 	git commit -a &&
 	git commit --amend -s &&
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ test_expect_success 'commit --amend -s places the sign-off at the right place' '
 	Signed-off-by: C O Mitter <committer@example.com>
 	Conflicts:
 	EOF
-	grep -e "^Conflicts:" -e '^Signed-off-by' <.git/COMMIT_EDITMSG >actual &&
+	grep -e "^Conflicts:" -e '^Signed-off-by' .git/COMMIT_EDITMSG >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t5521-pull-options.sh b/t/t5521-pull-options.sh
index c19d8dbc9d..ccde8ba491 100755
--- a/t/t5521-pull-options.sh
+++ b/t/t5521-pull-options.sh
@@ -77,6 +77,14 @@ test_expect_success 'git pull -q -v' '
 	test_must_be_empty out &&
 	test -s err)
 '
+test_expect_success 'git pull --cleanup errors early on invalid argument' '
+	mkdir clonedcleanup &&
+	(cd clonedcleanup && git init &&
+	test_must_fail git pull --cleanup invalid "../parent" >out 2>err &&
+	test_must_be_empty out &&
+	test -s err)
+'
+
 
 test_expect_success 'git pull --force' '
 	mkdir clonedoldstyle &&
diff --git a/t/t7502-commit-porcelain.sh b/t/t7502-commit-porcelain.sh
index f035e4a507..5733d9cd34 100755
--- a/t/t7502-commit-porcelain.sh
+++ b/t/t7502-commit-porcelain.sh
@@ -16,9 +16,8 @@ commit_msg_is () {
 # Arguments: [<prefix] [<commit message>] [<commit options>]
 check_summary_oneline() {
 	test_tick &&
-	git commit ${3+"$3"} -m "$2" >act &&
-	head -1 <act >tmp &&
-	mv tmp act &&
+	git commit ${3+"$3"} -m "$2" >raw &&
+	head -n 1 raw >act &&
 
 	# branch name
 	SUMMARY_PREFIX="$(git name-rev --name-only HEAD)" &&
@@ -144,9 +143,11 @@ test_expect_success 'sign off' '
 	>positive &&
 	git add positive &&
 	git commit -s -m "thank you" &&
-	actual=$(git cat-file commit HEAD >tmp && sed -ne "s/Signed-off-by: //p" <tmp && rm tmp) &&
-	expected=$(git var GIT_COMMITTER_IDENT >tmp && sed -e "s/>.*/>/" <tmp && rm tmp) &&
-	test "z$actual" = "z$expected"
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >commit.msg &&
+	sed -ne "s/Signed-off-by: //p" commit.msg >actual &&
+	git var GIT_COMMITTER_IDENT >ident &&
+	sed -e "s/>.*/>/" ident >expected &&
+	test_cmp expected actual
 
 '
 
@@ -155,7 +156,7 @@ test_expect_success 'multiple -m' '
 	>negative &&
 	git add negative &&
 	git commit -m "one" -m "two" -m "three" &&
-	actual=$(git cat-file commit HEAD >tmp && sed -e "1,/^\$/d" <tmp && rm tmp) &&
+	actual=$(git cat-file commit HEAD >tmp && sed -e "1,/^\$/d" tmp && rm tmp) &&
 	expected=$(test_write_lines "one" "" "two" "" "three") &&
 	test "z$actual" = "z$expected"
 
@@ -165,9 +166,8 @@ test_expect_success 'verbose' '
 
 	echo minus >negative &&
 	git add negative &&
-	git status -v >actual &&
-	sed -ne "/^diff --git /p" <actual >tmp &&
-	mv tmp actual &&
+	git status -v >raw &&
+	sed -ne "/^diff --git /p" raw >actual &&
 	echo "diff --git a/negative b/negative" >expect &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 
@@ -193,9 +193,8 @@ test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (verbatim option,-t)' '
 
 	echo >>negative &&
 	git commit --cleanup=verbatim --no-status -t expect -a &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD >actual &&
-	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" <actual >tmp &&
-	mv tmp actual &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD >raw &&
+	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" raw >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 
 '
@@ -204,9 +203,8 @@ test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (verbatim option,-F)' '
 
 	echo >>negative &&
 	git commit --cleanup=verbatim -F expect -a &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD >actual &&
-	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" <actual >tmp &&
-	mv tmp actual &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD >raw &&
+	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" raw >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 
 '
@@ -215,9 +213,8 @@ test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (verbatim option,-m)' '
 
 	echo >>negative &&
 	git commit --cleanup=verbatim -m "$mesg_with_comment_and_newlines" -a &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD >actual &&
-	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" <actual >tmp &&
-	mv tmp actual &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD >raw &&
+	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" raw >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 
 '
@@ -228,9 +225,8 @@ test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (whitespace option,-F)' '
 	test_write_lines "" "# text" "" >text &&
 	echo "# text" >expect &&
 	git commit --cleanup=whitespace -F text -a &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD >actual &&
-	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" <actual >tmp &&
-	mv tmp actual &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD >raw &&
+	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" raw >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 
 '
@@ -257,9 +253,8 @@ test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (scissors option,-F,-e)' '
 	# to be kept, too
 	EOF
 	git commit --cleanup=scissors -e -F text -a &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD >actual &&
-	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" <actual >tmp &&
-	mv tmp actual &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD >raw &&
+	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" raw >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
@@ -271,9 +266,8 @@ test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (scissors option,-F,-e, scissors on
 	to be removed
 	EOF
 	git commit --cleanup=scissors -e -F text -a --allow-empty-message &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD >actual &&
-	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" <actual >tmp &&
-	mv tmp actual &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD >raw &&
+	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" raw >actual &&
 	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
@@ -283,9 +277,8 @@ test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (strip option,-F)' '
 	test_write_lines "" "# text" "sample" "" >text &&
 	echo sample >expect &&
 	git commit --cleanup=strip -F text -a &&
-	git cat-file -p HEAD >actual &&
-	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" <actual >tmp &&
-	mv tmp actual &&
+	git cat-file -p HEAD >raw &&
+	sed -e "1,/^\$/d" raw >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 
 '
@@ -489,9 +482,8 @@ test_expect_success 'Hand committing of a redundant merge removes dups' '
 	test_must_fail git merge second master &&
 	git checkout master g &&
 	EDITOR=: git commit -a &&
-	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
-	sed -n -e "s/^parent //p" -e "/^$/q" <actual >tmp &&
-	mv tmp actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >raw &&
+	sed -n -e "s/^parent //p" -e "/^$/q" raw >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 
 '
@@ -500,9 +492,8 @@ test_expect_success 'A single-liner subject with a token plus colon is not a foo
 
 	git reset --hard &&
 	git commit -s -m "hello: kitty" --allow-empty &&
-	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
-	sed -e "1,/^$/d" <actual >tmp &&
-	mv tmp actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >raw &&
+	sed -e "1,/^$/d" raw >actual &&
 	test_line_count = 3 actual
 
 '
diff --git a/t/t7600-merge.sh b/t/t7600-merge.sh
index ed11b08db2..7f9c68cbe7 100755
--- a/t/t7600-merge.sh
+++ b/t/t7600-merge.sh
@@ -241,9 +241,8 @@ test_expect_success 'merge --squash c3 with c7' '
 	# Conflicts:
 	#	file
 	EOF
-	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
-	sed -e '1,/^$/d' <actual >tmp &&
-	mv tmp actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >raw &&
+	sed -e '1,/^$/d' raw >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
@@ -264,9 +263,8 @@ test_expect_success 'merge c3 with c7 with commit.cleanup = scissors' '
 	# Conflicts:
 	#	file
 	EOF
-	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
-	sed -e '1,/^$/d' <actual >tmp &&
-	mv tmp actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >raw &&
+	sed -e '1,/^$/d' raw >actual &&
 	test_i18ncmp expect actual
 '
 
@@ -289,9 +287,8 @@ test_expect_success 'merge c3 with c7 with --squash commit.cleanup = scissors' '
 	# Conflicts:
 	#	file
 	EOF
-	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
-	sed -e '1,/^$/d' <actual >tmp &&
-	mv tmp actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >raw &&
+	sed -e '1,/^$/d' raw >actual &&
 	test_i18ncmp expect actual
 '
 
@@ -728,10 +725,10 @@ cat >editor <<\EOF
 (
 	echo "Merge work done on the side branch c1"
 	echo
-	cat <"$1"
+	cat "$1"
 ) >"$1.tmp" && mv "$1.tmp" "$1"
 # strip comments and blank lines from end of message
-sed -e '/^#/d' < "$1" | sed -e :a -e '/^\n*$/{$d;N;ba' -e '}' >expected
+sed -e '/^#/d' "$1" | sed -e :a -e '/^\n*$/{$d;N;ba' -e '}' >expected
 EOF
 chmod 755 editor
 
@@ -816,14 +813,14 @@ test_expect_success 'set up mod-256 conflict scenario' '
 	git commit -m base &&
 
 	# one side changes the first line of each to "master"
-	sed s/-1/-master/ <file >tmp &&
+	sed s/-1/-master/ file >tmp &&
 	mv tmp file &&
 	git commit -am master &&
 
 	# and the other to "side"; merging the two will
 	# yield 256 separate conflicts
 	git checkout -b side HEAD^ &&
-	sed s/-1/-side/ <file >tmp &&
+	sed s/-1/-side/ file >tmp &&
 	mv tmp file &&
 	git commit -am side
 '
diff --git a/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh b/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh
index c9685a318d..cd4f9607dc 100755
--- a/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh
+++ b/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh
@@ -16,16 +16,16 @@ create_merge_msgs() {
 }
 
 test_expect_success 'setup' '
-	echo c0 > c0.c &&
+	echo c0 >c0.c &&
 	git add c0.c &&
 	git commit -m c0 &&
 	git tag c0 &&
-	echo c1 > c1.c &&
+	echo c1 >c1.c &&
 	git add c1.c &&
 	git commit -m c1 &&
 	git tag c1 &&
 	git reset --hard c0 &&
-	echo c2 > c2.c &&
+	echo c2 >c2.c &&
 	git add c2.c &&
 	git commit -m c2 &&
 	git tag c2 &&
@@ -36,18 +36,16 @@ test_expect_success 'setup' '
 test_expect_success 'merge c2 with a custom message' '
 	git reset --hard c1 &&
 	git merge -m "$(cat exp.subject)" c2 &&
-	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
-	sed -e "1,/^$/d" <actual >tmp &&
-	mv tmp actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >raw &&
+	sed -e "1,/^$/d" raw >actual &&
 	test_cmp exp.subject actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'merge --log appends to custom message' '
 	git reset --hard c1 &&
 	git merge --log -m "$(cat exp.subject)" c2 &&
-	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
-	sed -e "1,/^$/d" <actual >tmp &&
-	mv tmp actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >raw &&
+	sed -e "1,/^$/d" raw >actual &&
 	test_cmp exp.log actual
 '
 
@@ -63,9 +61,8 @@ test_expect_success 'prepare file with comment line and trailing newlines'  '
 test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (verbatim option)' '
 	git reset --hard c1 &&
 	git merge --cleanup=verbatim -F expect c2 &&
-	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
-	sed -e "1,/^$/d" <actual >tmp &&
-	mv tmp actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >raw &&
+	sed -e "1,/^$/d" raw >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
@@ -74,9 +71,8 @@ test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (whitespace option)' '
 	test_write_lines "" "# text" "" >text &&
 	echo "# text" >expect &&
 	git merge --cleanup=whitespace -F text c2 &&
-	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
-	sed -e "1,/^$/d" <actual >tmp &&
-	mv tmp actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >raw &&
+	sed -e "1,/^$/d" raw >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
@@ -101,9 +97,8 @@ test_expect_success 'cleanup merge messages (scissors option)' '
 	# to be kept, too
 	EOF
 	git merge --cleanup=scissors -e -F text c2 &&
-	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
-	sed -e "1,/^$/d" <actual >tmp &&
-	mv tmp actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >raw &&
+	sed -e "1,/^$/d" raw >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
@@ -112,9 +107,8 @@ test_expect_success 'cleanup commit messages (strip option)' '
 	test_write_lines "" "# text" "sample" "" >text &&
 	echo sample >expect &&
 	git merge --cleanup=strip -F text c2 &&
-	git cat-file commit HEAD >actual &&
-	sed -e "1,/^$/d" <actual >tmp &&
-	mv tmp actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >raw &&
+	sed -e "1,/^$/d" raw >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t7600-merge.sh b/t/t7600-merge.sh
index 106148254d..2f4c2801fb 100755
--- a/t/t7600-merge.sh
+++ b/t/t7600-merge.sh
@@ -233,17 +233,16 @@ test_expect_success 'merge --squash c3 with c7' '
 	cat result.9z >file &&
 	git commit --no-edit -a &&
 
-	{
-		cat <<-EOF
-		Squashed commit of the following:
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
+	Squashed commit of the following:
 
-		$(git show -s c7)
+	$(git show -s c7)
 
-		# Conflicts:
-		#	file
-		EOF
-	} >expect &&
-	git cat-file commit HEAD | sed -e '1,/^$/d' >actual &&
+	# Conflicts:
+	#	file
+	EOF
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >raw &&
+	sed -e '1,/^$/d' raw >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
@@ -680,10 +679,10 @@ cat >editor <<\EOF
 (
 	echo "Merge work done on the side branch c1"
 	echo
-	cat <"$1"
+	cat "$1"
 ) >"$1.tmp" && mv "$1.tmp" "$1"
 # strip comments and blank lines from end of message
-sed -e '/^#/d' < "$1" | sed -e :a -e '/^\n*$/{$d;N;ba' -e '}' > expected
+sed -e '/^#/d' "$1" | sed -e :a -e '/^\n*$/{$d;N;ba' -e '}' >expected
 EOF
 chmod 755 editor
 
@@ -768,14 +767,14 @@ test_expect_success 'set up mod-256 conflict scenario' '
 	git commit -m base &&
 
 	# one side changes the first line of each to "master"
-	sed s/-1/-master/ <file >tmp &&
+	sed s/-1/-master/ file >tmp &&
 	mv tmp file &&
 	git commit -am master &&
 
 	# and the other to "side"; merging the two will
 	# yield 256 separate conflicts
 	git checkout -b side HEAD^ &&
-	sed s/-1/-side/ <file >tmp &&
+	sed s/-1/-side/ file >tmp &&
 	mv tmp file &&
 	git commit -am side
 '
@@ -814,7 +813,7 @@ EOF
 test_expect_success EXECKEEPSPID 'killed merge can be completed with --continue' '
 	git reset --hard c0 &&
 	! "$SHELL_PATH" -c '\''
-	  echo kill -TERM $$ >> .git/FAKE_EDITOR
+	  echo kill -TERM $$ >>.git/FAKE_EDITOR
 	  GIT_EDITOR=.git/FAKE_EDITOR
 	  export GIT_EDITOR
 	  exec git merge --no-ff --edit c1'\'' &&

diff --git a/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh b/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh
index 0db166152a..777fb23d18 100755
--- a/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh
+++ b/t/t3507-cherry-pick-conflict.sh
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cherry-pick --no-commit does not set CHERRY_PICK_HEAD' '
 
 test_expect_success 'cherry-pick w/dirty tree does not set CHERRY_PICK_HEAD' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
-	echo foo > foo &&
+	echo foo >foo &&
 	test_must_fail git cherry-pick base &&
 	test_must_fail git rev-parse --verify CHERRY_PICK_HEAD
 '
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cherry-pick w/dirty tree does not set CHERRY_PICK_HEAD' '
 test_expect_success \
 	'cherry-pick --strategy=resolve w/dirty tree does not set CHERRY_PICK_HEAD' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
-	echo foo > foo &&
+	echo foo >foo &&
 	test_must_fail git cherry-pick --strategy=resolve base &&
 	test_must_fail git rev-parse --verify CHERRY_PICK_HEAD
 '
@@ -175,23 +175,23 @@ test_expect_success 'failed cherry-pick registers participants in index' '
 		git ls-files --stage foo &&
 		git checkout picked -- foo &&
 		git ls-files --stage foo
-	} > stages &&
+	} >stages &&
 	sed "
 		1 s/ 0	/ 1	/
 		2 s/ 0	/ 2	/
 		3 s/ 0	/ 3	/
-	" < stages > expected &&
+	" stages >expected &&
 	git read-tree -u --reset HEAD &&
 
 	test_must_fail git cherry-pick picked &&
-	git ls-files --stage --unmerged > actual &&
+	git ls-files --stage --unmerged >actual &&
 
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'failed cherry-pick describes conflict in work tree' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
-	cat <<-EOF > expected &&
+	cat <<-EOF >expected &&
 	<<<<<<< HEAD
 	a
 	=======
@@ -201,14 +201,14 @@ test_expect_success 'failed cherry-pick describes conflict in work tree' '
 
 	test_must_fail git cherry-pick picked &&
 
-	sed "s/[a-f0-9]*\.\.\./objid/" foo > actual &&
+	sed "s/[a-f0-9]*\.\.\./objid/" foo >actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'diff3 -m style' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
 	git config merge.conflictstyle diff3 &&
-	cat <<-EOF > expected &&
+	cat <<-EOF >expected &&
 	<<<<<<< HEAD
 	a
 	||||||| parent of objid picked
@@ -220,14 +220,14 @@ test_expect_success 'diff3 -m style' '
 
 	test_must_fail git cherry-pick picked &&
 
-	sed "s/[a-f0-9]*\.\.\./objid/" foo > actual &&
+	sed "s/[a-f0-9]*\.\.\./objid/" foo >actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'revert also handles conflicts sanely' '
 	git config --unset merge.conflictstyle &&
 	pristine_detach initial &&
-	cat <<-EOF > expected &&
+	cat <<-EOF >expected &&
 	<<<<<<< HEAD
 	a
 	=======
@@ -241,24 +241,24 @@ test_expect_success 'revert also handles conflicts sanely' '
 		git ls-files --stage foo &&
 		git checkout base -- foo &&
 		git ls-files --stage foo
-	} > stages &&
+	} >stages &&
 	sed "
 		1 s/ 0	/ 1	/
 		2 s/ 0	/ 2	/
 		3 s/ 0	/ 3	/
-	" < stages > expected-stages &&
+	" stages >expected-stages &&
 	git read-tree -u --reset HEAD &&
 
 	head=$(git rev-parse HEAD) &&
 	test_must_fail git revert picked &&
 	newhead=$(git rev-parse HEAD) &&
-	git ls-files --stage --unmerged > actual-stages &&
+	git ls-files --stage --unmerged >actual-stages &&
 
 	test "$head" = "$newhead" &&
 	test_must_fail git update-index --refresh -q &&
 	test_must_fail git diff-index --exit-code HEAD &&
 	test_cmp expected-stages actual-stages &&
-	sed "s/[a-f0-9]*\.\.\./objid/" foo > actual &&
+	sed "s/[a-f0-9]*\.\.\./objid/" foo >actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ test_expect_success 'revert --no-commit sets REVERT_HEAD' '
 
 test_expect_success 'revert w/dirty tree does not set REVERT_HEAD' '
 	pristine_detach base &&
-	echo foo > foo &&
+	echo foo >foo &&
 	test_must_fail git revert base &&
 	test_must_fail git rev-parse --verify CHERRY_PICK_HEAD &&
 	test_must_fail git rev-parse --verify REVERT_HEAD
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ test_expect_success 'failed commit does not clear REVERT_HEAD' '
 test_expect_success 'revert conflict, diff3 -m style' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
 	git config merge.conflictstyle diff3 &&
-	cat <<-EOF > expected &&
+	cat <<-EOF >expected &&
 	<<<<<<< HEAD
 	a
 	||||||| objid picked
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ test_expect_success 'revert conflict, diff3 -m style' '
 
 	test_must_fail git revert picked &&
 
-	sed "s/[a-f0-9]*\.\.\./objid/" foo > actual &&
+	sed "s/[a-f0-9]*\.\.\./objid/" foo >actual &&
 	test_cmp expected actual
 '
 
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ test_expect_success 'commit after failed cherry-pick does not add duplicated -s'
 	pristine_detach initial &&
 	test_must_fail git cherry-pick -s picked-signed &&
 	git commit -a -s &&
-	test $(git show -s |grep -c "Signed-off-by") = 1
+	test $(git show -s >tmp && grep -c "Signed-off-by" tmp && rm tmp) = 1
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'commit after failed cherry-pick adds -s at the right place' '
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ test_expect_success 'commit after failed cherry-pick adds -s at the right place'
 	Signed-off-by: C O Mitter <committer@example.com>
 	# Conflicts:
 	EOF
-	grep -e "^# Conflicts:" -e '^Signed-off-by' <.git/COMMIT_EDITMSG >actual &&
+	grep -e "^# Conflicts:" -e '^Signed-off-by' .git/COMMIT_EDITMSG >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual &&
 
 	cat <<-\EOF >expected &&
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ test_expect_success 'commit --amend -s places the sign-off at the right place' '
 
 	# emulate old-style conflicts block
 	mv .git/MERGE_MSG .git/MERGE_MSG+ &&
-	sed -e "/^# Conflicts:/,\$s/^# *//" <.git/MERGE_MSG+ >.git/MERGE_MSG &&
+	sed -e "/^# Conflicts:/,\$s/^# *//" .git/MERGE_MSG+ >.git/MERGE_MSG &&
 
 	git commit -a &&
 	git commit --amend -s &&
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ test_expect_success 'commit --amend -s places the sign-off at the right place' '
 	Signed-off-by: C O Mitter <committer@example.com>
 	Conflicts:
 	EOF
-	grep -e "^Conflicts:" -e '^Signed-off-by' <.git/COMMIT_EDITMSG >actual &&
+	grep -e "^Conflicts:" -e '^Signed-off-by' .git/COMMIT_EDITMSG >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh b/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh
index 89619cf446..aba1279132 100755
--- a/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh
+++ b/t/t7604-merge-custom-message.sh
@@ -16,16 +16,16 @@ create_merge_msgs() {
 }
 
 test_expect_success 'setup' '
-	echo c0 > c0.c &&
+	echo c0 >c0.c &&
 	git add c0.c &&
 	git commit -m c0 &&
 	git tag c0 &&
-	echo c1 > c1.c &&
+	echo c1 >c1.c &&
 	git add c1.c &&
 	git commit -m c1 &&
 	git tag c1 &&
 	git reset --hard c0 &&
-	echo c2 > c2.c &&
+	echo c2 >c2.c &&
 	git add c2.c &&
 	git commit -m c2 &&
 	git tag c2 &&
@@ -36,14 +36,16 @@ test_expect_success 'setup' '
 test_expect_success 'merge c2 with a custom message' '
 	git reset --hard c1 &&
 	git merge -m "$(cat exp.subject)" c2 &&
-	git cat-file commit HEAD | sed -e "1,/^$/d" >actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >raw &&
+	sed -e "1,/^$/d" raw >actual &&
 	test_cmp exp.subject actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'merge --log appends to custom message' '
 	git reset --hard c1 &&
 	git merge --log -m "$(cat exp.subject)" c2 &&
-	git cat-file commit HEAD | sed -e "1,/^$/d" >actual &&
+	git cat-file commit HEAD >raw &&
+	sed -e "1,/^$/d" raw >actual &&
 	test_cmp exp.log actual
 '