diff --git a/Documentation/diff-generate-patch.txt b/Documentation/diff-generate-patch.txt
index b10ff4caa6..2db8eacc3e 100644
--- a/Documentation/diff-generate-patch.txt
+++ b/Documentation/diff-generate-patch.txt
@@ -81,9 +81,9 @@ Combined diff format
 Any diff-generating command can take the `-c` or `--cc` option to
 produce a 'combined diff' when showing a merge. This is the default
 format when showing merges with linkgit:git-diff[1] or
-linkgit:git-show[1]. Note also that you can give the `-m` option to any
-of these commands to force generation of diffs with individual parents
-of a merge.
+linkgit:git-show[1]. Note also that you can give suitable
+`--diff-merges` option to any of these commands to force generation of
+diffs in specific format.
 
 A "combined diff" format looks like this:
 
diff --git a/Documentation/diff-options.txt b/Documentation/diff-options.txt
index 746b144c76..e5733ccb2d 100644
--- a/Documentation/diff-options.txt
+++ b/Documentation/diff-options.txt
@@ -33,6 +33,57 @@ endif::git-diff[]
 	show the patch by default, or to cancel the effect of `--patch`.
 endif::git-format-patch[]
 
+ifdef::git-log[]
+--diff-merges=(off|none|first-parent|1|separate|m|combined|c|dense-combined|cc)::
+--no-diff-merges::
+	Specify diff format to be used for merge commits. Default is
+	{diff-merges-default} unless `--first-parent` is in use, in which case
+	`first-parent` is the default.
++
+--diff-merges=(off|none):::
+--no-diff-merges:::
+	Disable output of diffs for merge commits. Useful to override
+	implied value.
++
+--diff-merges=first-parent:::
+--diff-merges=1:::
+	This option makes merge commits show the full diff with
+	respect to the first parent only.
++
+--diff-merges=separate:::
+--diff-merges=m:::
+-m:::
+	This makes merge commits show the full diff with respect to
+	each of the parents. Separate log entry and diff is generated
+	for each parent. `-m` doesn't produce any output without `-p`.
++
+--diff-merges=combined:::
+--diff-merges=c:::
+-c:::
+	With this option, diff output for a merge commit shows the
+	differences from each of the parents to the merge result
+	simultaneously instead of showing pairwise diff between a
+	parent and the result one at a time. Furthermore, it lists
+	only files which were modified from all parents. `-c` implies
+	`-p`.
++
+--diff-merges=dense-combined:::
+--diff-merges=cc:::
+--cc:::
+	With this option the output produced by
+	`--diff-merges=combined` is further compressed by omitting
+	uninteresting hunks whose contents in the parents have only
+	two variants and the merge result picks one of them without
+	modification.  `--cc` implies `-p`.
+
+--combined-all-paths::
+	This flag causes combined diffs (used for merge commits) to
+	list the name of the file from all parents.  It thus only has
+	effect when `--diff-merges=[dense-]combined` is in use, and
+	is likely only useful if filename changes are detected (i.e.
+	when either rename or copy detection have been requested).
+endif::git-log[]
+
 -U<n>::
 --unified=<n>::
 	Generate diffs with <n> lines of context instead of
diff --git a/Documentation/git-log.txt b/Documentation/git-log.txt
index dd189a353a..1bbf865a1b 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-log.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-log.txt
@@ -107,47 +107,15 @@ DIFF FORMATTING
 By default, `git log` does not generate any diff output. The options
 below can be used to show the changes made by each commit.
 
-Note that unless one of `-c`, `--cc`, or `-m` is given, merge commits
-will never show a diff, even if a diff format like `--patch` is
-selected, nor will they match search options like `-S`. The exception is
-when `--first-parent` is in use, in which merges are treated like normal
-single-parent commits (this can be overridden by providing a
-combined-diff option or with `--no-diff-merges`).
-
--c::
-	With this option, diff output for a merge commit
-	shows the differences from each of the parents to the merge result
-	simultaneously instead of showing pairwise diff between a parent
-	and the result one at a time. Furthermore, it lists only files
-	which were modified from all parents.
-
---cc::
-	This flag implies the `-c` option and further compresses the
-	patch output by omitting uninteresting hunks whose contents in
-	the parents have only two variants and the merge result picks
-	one of them without modification.
-
---combined-all-paths::
-	This flag causes combined diffs (used for merge commits) to
-	list the name of the file from all parents.  It thus only has
-	effect when -c or --cc are specified, and is likely only
-	useful if filename changes are detected (i.e. when either
-	rename or copy detection have been requested).
-
--m::
-	This flag makes the merge commits show the full diff like
-	regular commits; for each merge parent, a separate log entry
-	and diff is generated. An exception is that only diff against
-	the first parent is shown when `--first-parent` option is given;
-	in that case, the output represents the changes the merge
-	brought _into_ the then-current branch.
-
---diff-merges=off::
---no-diff-merges::
-	Disable output of diffs for merge commits (default). Useful to
-	override `-m`, `-c`, or `--cc`.
+Note that unless one of `--diff-merges` variants (including short
+`-m`, `-c`, and `--cc` options) is explicitly given, merge commits
+will not show a diff, even if a diff format like `--patch` is
+selected, nor will they match search options like `-S`. The exception
+is when `--first-parent` is in use, in which case `first-parent` is
+the default format.
 
 :git-log: 1
+:diff-merges-default: `off`
 include::diff-options.txt[]
 
 include::diff-generate-patch.txt[]
diff --git a/Documentation/git-show.txt b/Documentation/git-show.txt
index fcf528c1b3..2b1bc7288d 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-show.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-show.txt
@@ -45,10 +45,13 @@ include::pretty-options.txt[]
 include::pretty-formats.txt[]
 
 
-COMMON DIFF OPTIONS
--------------------
+DIFF FORMATTING
+---------------
+The options below can be used to change the way `git show` generates
+diff output.
 
 :git-log: 1
+:diff-merges-default: `dense-combined`
 include::diff-options.txt[]
 
 include::diff-generate-patch.txt[]
diff --git a/Documentation/rev-list-options.txt b/Documentation/rev-list-options.txt
index 002379056a..96cc89d157 100644
--- a/Documentation/rev-list-options.txt
+++ b/Documentation/rev-list-options.txt
@@ -130,6 +130,11 @@ parents) and `--max-parents=-1` (negative numbers denote no upper limit).
 	this option allows you to ignore the individual commits
 	brought in to your history by such a merge.
 
+ifdef::git-log[]
+	This option also changes default diff format for merge commits
+	to `first-parent`, see `--diff-merges=first-parent` for details.
+endif::git-log[]
+
 --not::
 	Reverses the meaning of the '{caret}' prefix (or lack thereof)
 	for all following revision specifiers, up to the next `--not`.
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 34d15d50b9..b797033c58 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -860,6 +860,7 @@ LIB_OBJS += date.o
 LIB_OBJS += decorate.o
 LIB_OBJS += delta-islands.o
 LIB_OBJS += diff-delta.o
+LIB_OBJS += diff-merges.o
 LIB_OBJS += diff-lib.o
 LIB_OBJS += diff-no-index.o
 LIB_OBJS += diff.o
diff --git a/builtin/diff-files.c b/builtin/diff-files.c
index 1e352dd8f7..4742a4559b 100644
--- a/builtin/diff-files.c
+++ b/builtin/diff-files.c
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include "cache.h"
 #include "config.h"
 #include "diff.h"
+#include "diff-merges.h"
 #include "commit.h"
 #include "revision.h"
 #include "builtin.h"
@@ -69,9 +70,9 @@ int cmd_diff_files(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	 * was not asked to.  "diff-files -c -p" should not densify
 	 * (the user should ask with "diff-files --cc" explicitly).
 	 */
-	if (rev.max_count == -1 && !rev.combine_merges &&
+	if (rev.max_count == -1 &&
 	    (rev.diffopt.output_format & DIFF_FORMAT_PATCH))
-		rev.combine_merges = rev.dense_combined_merges = 1;
+		diff_merges_set_dense_combined_if_unset(&rev);
 
 	if (read_cache_preload(&rev.diffopt.pathspec) < 0) {
 		perror("read_cache_preload");
diff --git a/builtin/diff.c b/builtin/diff.c
index 780c33877f..5cfe1717e8 100644
--- a/builtin/diff.c
+++ b/builtin/diff.c
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include "blob.h"
 #include "tag.h"
 #include "diff.h"
+#include "diff-merges.h"
 #include "diffcore.h"
 #include "revision.h"
 #include "log-tree.h"
@@ -216,8 +217,8 @@ static int builtin_diff_combined(struct rev_info *revs,
 	if (argc > 1)
 		usage(builtin_diff_usage);
 
-	if (!revs->dense_combined_merges && !revs->combine_merges)
-		revs->dense_combined_merges = revs->combine_merges = 1;
+	diff_merges_set_dense_combined_if_unset(revs);
+
 	for (i = 1; i < ents; i++)
 		oid_array_append(&parents, &ent[i].item->oid);
 	diff_tree_combined(&ent[0].item->oid, &parents, revs);
@@ -265,9 +266,9 @@ static int builtin_diff_files(struct rev_info *revs, int argc, const char **argv
 	 * dense one, --cc can be explicitly asked for, or just rely
 	 * on the default).
 	 */
-	if (revs->max_count == -1 && !revs->combine_merges &&
+	if (revs->max_count == -1 &&
 	    (revs->diffopt.output_format & DIFF_FORMAT_PATCH))
-		revs->combine_merges = revs->dense_combined_merges = 1;
+		diff_merges_set_dense_combined_if_unset(revs);
 
 	setup_work_tree();
 	if (read_cache_preload(&revs->diffopt.pathspec) < 0) {
diff --git a/builtin/log.c b/builtin/log.c
index fd282def43..d0cbaaf68a 100644
--- a/builtin/log.c
+++ b/builtin/log.c
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "color.h"
 #include "commit.h"
 #include "diff.h"
+#include "diff-merges.h"
 #include "revision.h"
 #include "log-tree.h"
 #include "builtin.h"
@@ -607,15 +608,10 @@ static int show_tree_object(const struct object_id *oid,
 static void show_setup_revisions_tweak(struct rev_info *rev,
 				       struct setup_revision_opt *opt)
 {
-	if (rev->ignore_merges < 0) {
-		/* There was no "-m" variant on the command line */
-		rev->ignore_merges = 0;
-		if (!rev->first_parent_only && !rev->combine_merges) {
-			/* No "--first-parent", "-c", or "--cc" */
-			rev->combine_merges = 1;
-			rev->dense_combined_merges = 1;
-		}
-	}
+	if (rev->first_parent_only)
+		diff_merges_default_to_first_parent(rev);
+	else
+		diff_merges_default_to_dense_combined(rev);
 	if (!rev->diffopt.output_format)
 		rev->diffopt.output_format = DIFF_FORMAT_PATCH;
 }
@@ -736,12 +732,8 @@ static void log_setup_revisions_tweak(struct rev_info *rev,
 	    rev->prune_data.nr == 1)
 		rev->diffopt.flags.follow_renames = 1;
 
-	/* Turn --cc/-c into -p --cc/-c when -p was not given */
-	if (!rev->diffopt.output_format && rev->combine_merges)
-		rev->diffopt.output_format = DIFF_FORMAT_PATCH;
-
-	if (rev->first_parent_only && rev->ignore_merges < 0)
-		rev->ignore_merges = 0;
+	if (rev->first_parent_only)
+		diff_merges_default_to_first_parent(rev);
 }
 
 int cmd_log(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
diff --git a/builtin/merge.c b/builtin/merge.c
index 1cff730715..eb00b273e6 100644
--- a/builtin/merge.c
+++ b/builtin/merge.c
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include "lockfile.h"
 #include "run-command.h"
 #include "diff.h"
+#include "diff-merges.h"
 #include "refs.h"
 #include "refspec.h"
 #include "commit.h"
@@ -409,7 +410,7 @@ static void squash_message(struct commit *commit, struct commit_list *remotehead
 	printf(_("Squash commit -- not updating HEAD\n"));
 
 	repo_init_revisions(the_repository, &rev, NULL);
-	rev.ignore_merges = 1;
+	diff_merges_suppress(&rev);
 	rev.commit_format = CMIT_FMT_MEDIUM;
 
 	commit->object.flags |= UNINTERESTING;
diff --git a/diff-merges.c b/diff-merges.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..146bb50316
--- /dev/null
+++ b/diff-merges.c
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+#include "diff-merges.h"
+
+#include "revision.h"
+
+static void suppress(struct rev_info *revs)
+{
+	revs->separate_merges = 0;
+	revs->first_parent_merges = 0;
+	revs->combine_merges = 0;
+	revs->dense_combined_merges = 0;
+	revs->combined_all_paths = 0;
+	revs->combined_imply_patch = 0;
+	revs->merges_need_diff = 0;
+}
+
+static void set_separate(struct rev_info *revs)
+{
+	suppress(revs);
+	revs->separate_merges = 1;
+}
+
+static void set_first_parent(struct rev_info *revs)
+{
+	set_separate(revs);
+	revs->first_parent_merges = 1;
+}
+
+static void set_m(struct rev_info *revs)
+{
+	/*
+	 * To "diff-index", "-m" means "match missing", and to the "log"
+	 * family of commands, it means "show full diff for merges". Set
+	 * both fields appropriately.
+	 */
+	set_separate(revs);
+	revs->match_missing = 1;
+}
+
+static void set_combined(struct rev_info *revs)
+{
+	suppress(revs);
+	revs->combine_merges = 1;
+	revs->dense_combined_merges = 0;
+}
+
+static void set_dense_combined(struct rev_info *revs)
+{
+	suppress(revs);
+	revs->combine_merges = 1;
+	revs->dense_combined_merges = 1;
+}
+
+static void set_diff_merges(struct rev_info *revs, const char *optarg)
+{
+	if (!strcmp(optarg, "off") || !strcmp(optarg, "none")) {
+		suppress(revs);
+		/* Return early to leave revs->merges_need_diff unset */
+		return;
+	}
+
+	if (!strcmp(optarg, "1") || !strcmp(optarg, "first-parent"))
+		set_first_parent(revs);
+	else if (!strcmp(optarg, "m") || !strcmp(optarg, "separate"))
+		set_separate(revs);
+	else if (!strcmp(optarg, "c") || !strcmp(optarg, "combined"))
+		set_combined(revs);
+	else if (!strcmp(optarg, "cc") || !strcmp(optarg, "dense-combined"))
+		set_dense_combined(revs);
+	else
+		die(_("unknown value for --diff-merges: %s"), optarg);
+
+	/* The flag is cleared by set_xxx() functions, so don't move this up */
+	revs->merges_need_diff = 1;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Public functions. They are in the order they are called.
+ */
+
+int diff_merges_parse_opts(struct rev_info *revs, const char **argv)
+{
+	int argcount = 1;
+	const char *optarg;
+	const char *arg = argv[0];
+
+	if (!strcmp(arg, "-m")) {
+		set_m(revs);
+	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "-c")) {
+		set_combined(revs);
+		revs->combined_imply_patch = 1;
+	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "--cc")) {
+		set_dense_combined(revs);
+		revs->combined_imply_patch = 1;
+	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "--no-diff-merges")) {
+		suppress(revs);
+	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "--combined-all-paths")) {
+		revs->combined_all_paths = 1;
+	} else if ((argcount = parse_long_opt("diff-merges", argv, &optarg))) {
+		set_diff_merges(revs, optarg);
+	} else
+		return 0;
+
+	revs->explicit_diff_merges = 1;
+	return argcount;
+}
+
+void diff_merges_suppress(struct rev_info *revs)
+{
+	suppress(revs);
+}
+
+void diff_merges_default_to_first_parent(struct rev_info *revs)
+{
+	if (!revs->explicit_diff_merges)
+		revs->separate_merges = 1;
+	if (revs->separate_merges)
+		revs->first_parent_merges = 1;
+}
+
+void diff_merges_default_to_dense_combined(struct rev_info *revs)
+{
+	if (!revs->explicit_diff_merges)
+		set_dense_combined(revs);
+}
+
+void diff_merges_set_dense_combined_if_unset(struct rev_info *revs)
+{
+	if (!revs->combine_merges)
+		set_dense_combined(revs);
+}
+
+void diff_merges_setup_revs(struct rev_info *revs)
+{
+	if (revs->combine_merges == 0)
+		revs->dense_combined_merges = 0;
+	if (revs->separate_merges == 0)
+		revs->first_parent_merges = 0;
+	if (revs->combined_all_paths && !revs->combine_merges)
+		die("--combined-all-paths makes no sense without -c or --cc");
+	if (revs->combined_imply_patch)
+		revs->diff = 1;
+	if (revs->combined_imply_patch || revs->merges_need_diff) {
+		if (!revs->diffopt.output_format)
+			revs->diffopt.output_format = DIFF_FORMAT_PATCH;
+	}
+}
diff --git a/diff-merges.h b/diff-merges.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..659467c99a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/diff-merges.h
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#ifndef DIFF_MERGES_H
+#define DIFF_MERGES_H
+
+/*
+ * diff-merges - utility module to handle command-line options for
+ * selection of particular diff format of merge commits
+ * representation.
+ */
+
+struct rev_info;
+
+int diff_merges_parse_opts(struct rev_info *revs, const char **argv);
+
+void diff_merges_suppress(struct rev_info *revs);
+
+void diff_merges_default_to_first_parent(struct rev_info *revs);
+
+void diff_merges_default_to_dense_combined(struct rev_info *revs);
+
+void diff_merges_set_dense_combined_if_unset(struct rev_info *revs);
+
+void diff_merges_setup_revs(struct rev_info *revs);
+
+#endif
diff --git a/fmt-merge-msg.c b/fmt-merge-msg.c
index 9a664a4a58..46f6015c44 100644
--- a/fmt-merge-msg.c
+++ b/fmt-merge-msg.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include "refs.h"
 #include "object-store.h"
 #include "diff.h"
+#include "diff-merges.h"
 #include "revision.h"
 #include "tag.h"
 #include "string-list.h"
@@ -670,7 +671,7 @@ int fmt_merge_msg(struct strbuf *in, struct strbuf *out,
 		head = lookup_commit_or_die(&head_oid, "HEAD");
 		repo_init_revisions(the_repository, &rev, NULL);
 		rev.commit_format = CMIT_FMT_ONELINE;
-		rev.ignore_merges = 1;
+		diff_merges_suppress(&rev);
 		rev.limited = 1;
 
 		strbuf_complete_line(out);
diff --git a/log-tree.c b/log-tree.c
index fd0dde97ec..e048467650 100644
--- a/log-tree.c
+++ b/log-tree.c
@@ -899,15 +899,21 @@ static int log_tree_diff(struct rev_info *opt, struct commit *commit, struct log
 	int showed_log;
 	struct commit_list *parents;
 	struct object_id *oid;
+	int is_merge;
+	int all_need_diff = opt->diff || opt->diffopt.flags.exit_with_status;
 
-	if (!opt->diff && !opt->diffopt.flags.exit_with_status)
+	if (!all_need_diff && !opt->merges_need_diff)
 		return 0;
 
 	parse_commit_or_die(commit);
 	oid = get_commit_tree_oid(commit);
 
-	/* Root commit? */
 	parents = get_saved_parents(opt, commit);
+	is_merge = parents && parents->next;
+	if (!is_merge && !all_need_diff)
+		return 0;
+
+	/* Root commit? */
 	if (!parents) {
 		if (opt->show_root_diff) {
 			diff_root_tree_oid(oid, "", &opt->diffopt);
@@ -916,16 +922,16 @@ static int log_tree_diff(struct rev_info *opt, struct commit *commit, struct log
 		return !opt->loginfo;
 	}
 
-	/* More than one parent? */
-	if (parents->next) {
-		if (opt->ignore_merges)
-			return 0;
-		else if (opt->combine_merges)
+	if (is_merge) {
+		if (opt->combine_merges)
 			return do_diff_combined(opt, commit);
-		else if (!opt->first_parent_only) {
-			/* If we show multiple diffs, show the parent info */
-			log->parent = parents->item;
-		}
+		if (opt->separate_merges) {
+			if (!opt->first_parent_merges) {
+				/* Show parent info for multiple diffs */
+				log->parent = parents->item;
+			}
+		} else
+			return 0;
 	}
 
 	showed_log = 0;
@@ -941,7 +947,7 @@ static int log_tree_diff(struct rev_info *opt, struct commit *commit, struct log
 
 		/* Set up the log info for the next parent, if any.. */
 		parents = parents->next;
-		if (!parents || opt->first_parent_only)
+		if (!parents || opt->first_parent_merges)
 			break;
 		log->parent = parents->item;
 		opt->loginfo = log;
diff --git a/revision.c b/revision.c
index 0b5c723140..c7a0e8d3d7 100644
--- a/revision.c
+++ b/revision.c
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include "tree.h"
 #include "commit.h"
 #include "diff.h"
+#include "diff-merges.h"
 #include "refs.h"
 #include "revision.h"
 #include "repository.h"
@@ -1808,7 +1809,6 @@ void repo_init_revisions(struct repository *r,
 
 	revs->repo = r;
 	revs->abbrev = DEFAULT_ABBREV;
-	revs->ignore_merges = -1;
 	revs->simplify_history = 1;
 	revs->pruning.repo = r;
 	revs->pruning.flags.recursive = 1;
@@ -2343,34 +2343,8 @@ static int handle_revision_opt(struct rev_info *revs, int argc, const char **arg
 		revs->diff = 1;
 		revs->diffopt.flags.recursive = 1;
 		revs->diffopt.flags.tree_in_recursive = 1;
-	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "-m")) {
-		/*
-		 * To "diff-index", "-m" means "match missing", and to the "log"
-		 * family of commands, it means "show full diff for merges". Set
-		 * both fields appropriately.
-		 */
-		revs->ignore_merges = 0;
-		revs->match_missing = 1;
-	} else if ((argcount = parse_long_opt("diff-merges", argv, &optarg))) {
-		if (!strcmp(optarg, "off")) {
-			revs->ignore_merges = 1;
-		} else {
-			die(_("unknown value for --diff-merges: %s"), optarg);
-		}
+	} else if ((argcount = diff_merges_parse_opts(revs, argv))) {
 		return argcount;
-	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "--no-diff-merges")) {
-		revs->ignore_merges = 1;
-	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "-c")) {
-		revs->diff = 1;
-		revs->dense_combined_merges = 0;
-		revs->combine_merges = 1;
-	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "--combined-all-paths")) {
-		revs->diff = 1;
-		revs->combined_all_paths = 1;
-	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "--cc")) {
-		revs->diff = 1;
-		revs->dense_combined_merges = 1;
-		revs->combine_merges = 1;
 	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "-v")) {
 		revs->verbose_header = 1;
 	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "--pretty")) {
@@ -2867,12 +2841,8 @@ int setup_revisions(int argc, const char **argv, struct rev_info *revs, struct s
 			copy_pathspec(&revs->diffopt.pathspec,
 				      &revs->prune_data);
 	}
-	if (revs->combine_merges && revs->ignore_merges < 0)
-		revs->ignore_merges = 0;
-	if (revs->ignore_merges < 0)
-		revs->ignore_merges = 1;
-	if (revs->combined_all_paths && !revs->combine_merges)
-		die("--combined-all-paths makes no sense without -c or --cc");
+
+	diff_merges_setup_revs(revs);
 
 	revs->diffopt.abbrev = revs->abbrev;
 
diff --git a/revision.h b/revision.h
index 086ff10280..e6be3c845e 100644
--- a/revision.h
+++ b/revision.h
@@ -191,11 +191,16 @@ struct rev_info {
 			match_missing:1,
 			no_commit_id:1,
 			verbose_header:1,
+			always_show_header:1,
+			/* Diff-merge flags */
+			explicit_diff_merges: 1,
+			merges_need_diff: 1,
+			separate_merges: 1,
 			combine_merges:1,
 			combined_all_paths:1,
+			combined_imply_patch:1,
 			dense_combined_merges:1,
-			always_show_header:1;
-	int             ignore_merges:2;
+			first_parent_merges:1;
 
 	/* Format info */
 	int		show_notes;
diff --git a/t/t4013-diff-various.sh b/t/t4013-diff-various.sh
index 45f68ebcdb..ce6aa3914f 100755
--- a/t/t4013-diff-various.sh
+++ b/t/t4013-diff-various.sh
@@ -178,6 +178,7 @@ process_diffs () {
 V=$(git version | sed -e 's/^git version //' -e 's/\./\\./g')
 while read magic cmd
 do
+	status=success
 	case "$magic" in
 	'' | '#'*)
 		continue ;;
@@ -186,6 +187,10 @@ do
 		label="$magic-$cmd"
 		case "$magic" in
 		noellipses) ;;
+		failure)
+			status=failure
+			magic=
+			label="$cmd" ;;
 		*)
 			BUG "unknown magic $magic" ;;
 		esac ;;
@@ -198,7 +203,7 @@ do
 	expect="$TEST_DIRECTORY/t4013/diff.$test"
 	actual="$pfx-diff.$test"
 
-	test_expect_success "git $cmd # magic is ${magic:-(not used)}" '
+	test_expect_$status "git $cmd # magic is ${magic:-(not used)}" '
 		{
 			echo "$ git $cmd"
 			case "$magic" in
@@ -326,8 +331,12 @@ log --no-diff-merges -p --first-parent master
 log --diff-merges=off -p --first-parent master
 log --first-parent --diff-merges=off -p master
 log -p --first-parent master
+log -p --diff-merges=first-parent master
+log --diff-merges=first-parent master
 log -m -p --first-parent master
 log -m -p master
+log --cc -m -p master
+log -c -m -p master
 log -SF master
 log -S F master
 log -SF -p master
diff --git a/t/t4013/diff.log_--cc_-m_-p_master b/t/t4013/diff.log_--cc_-m_-p_master
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7c217cf348
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/t4013/diff.log_--cc_-m_-p_master
@@ -0,0 +1,200 @@
+$ git log --cc -m -p master
+commit 59d314ad6f356dd08601a4cd5e530381da3e3c64 (from 9a6d4949b6b76956d9d5e26f2791ec2ceff5fdc0)
+Merge: 9a6d494 c7a2ab9
+Author: A U Thor <author@example.com>
+Date:   Mon Jun 26 00:04:00 2006 +0000
+
+    Merge branch 'side'
+
+diff --git a/dir/sub b/dir/sub
+index cead32e..992913c 100644
+--- a/dir/sub
++++ b/dir/sub
+@@ -4,3 +4,5 @@ C
+ D
+ E
+ F
++1
++2
+diff --git a/file0 b/file0
+index b414108..10a8a9f 100644
+--- a/file0
++++ b/file0
+@@ -4,3 +4,6 @@
+ 4
+ 5
+ 6
++A
++B
++C
+
+commit 59d314ad6f356dd08601a4cd5e530381da3e3c64 (from c7a2ab9e8eac7b117442a607d5a9b3950ae34d5a)
+Merge: 9a6d494 c7a2ab9
+Author: A U Thor <author@example.com>
+Date:   Mon Jun 26 00:04:00 2006 +0000
+
+    Merge branch 'side'
+
+diff --git a/dir/sub b/dir/sub
+index 7289e35..992913c 100644
+--- a/dir/sub
++++ b/dir/sub
+@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
+ A
+ B
++C
++D
++E
++F
+ 1
+ 2
+diff --git a/file0 b/file0
+index f4615da..10a8a9f 100644
+--- a/file0
++++ b/file0
+@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
+ 1
+ 2
+ 3
++4
++5
++6
+ A
+ B
+ C
+diff --git a/file1 b/file1
+new file mode 100644
+index 0000000..b1e6722
+--- /dev/null
++++ b/file1
+@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
++A
++B
++C
+diff --git a/file2 b/file2
+deleted file mode 100644
+index 01e79c3..0000000
+--- a/file2
++++ /dev/null
+@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
+-1
+-2
+-3
+diff --git a/file3 b/file3
+deleted file mode 100644
+index 7289e35..0000000
+--- a/file3
++++ /dev/null
+@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
+-A
+-B
+-1
+-2
+
+commit c7a2ab9e8eac7b117442a607d5a9b3950ae34d5a
+Author: A U Thor <author@example.com>
+Date:   Mon Jun 26 00:03:00 2006 +0000
+
+    Side
+
+diff --git a/dir/sub b/dir/sub
+index 35d242b..7289e35 100644
+--- a/dir/sub
++++ b/dir/sub
+@@ -1,2 +1,4 @@
+ A
+ B
++1
++2
+diff --git a/file0 b/file0
+index 01e79c3..f4615da 100644
+--- a/file0
++++ b/file0
+@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+ 1
+ 2
+ 3
++A
++B
++C
+diff --git a/file3 b/file3
+new file mode 100644
+index 0000000..7289e35
+--- /dev/null
++++ b/file3
+@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
++A
++B
++1
++2
+
+commit 9a6d4949b6b76956d9d5e26f2791ec2ceff5fdc0
+Author: A U Thor <author@example.com>
+Date:   Mon Jun 26 00:02:00 2006 +0000
+
+    Third
+
+diff --git a/dir/sub b/dir/sub
+index 8422d40..cead32e 100644
+--- a/dir/sub
++++ b/dir/sub
+@@ -2,3 +2,5 @@ A
+ B
+ C
+ D
++E
++F
+diff --git a/file1 b/file1
+new file mode 100644
+index 0000000..b1e6722
+--- /dev/null
++++ b/file1
+@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
++A
++B
++C
+
+commit 1bde4ae5f36c8d9abe3a0fce0c6aab3c4a12fe44
+Author: A U Thor <author@example.com>
+Date:   Mon Jun 26 00:01:00 2006 +0000
+
+    Second
+    
+    This is the second commit.
+
+diff --git a/dir/sub b/dir/sub
+index 35d242b..8422d40 100644
+--- a/dir/sub
++++ b/dir/sub
+@@ -1,2 +1,4 @@
+ A
+ B
++C
++D
+diff --git a/file0 b/file0
+index 01e79c3..b414108 100644
+--- a/file0
++++ b/file0
+@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+ 1
+ 2
+ 3
++4
++5
++6
+diff --git a/file2 b/file2
+deleted file mode 100644
+index 01e79c3..0000000
+--- a/file2
++++ /dev/null
+@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
+-1
+-2
+-3
+
+commit 444ac553ac7612cc88969031b02b3767fb8a353a
+Author: A U Thor <author@example.com>
+Date:   Mon Jun 26 00:00:00 2006 +0000
+
+    Initial
+$
diff --git a/t/t4013/diff.log_--diff-merges=first-parent_master b/t/t4013/diff.log_--diff-merges=first-parent_master
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fa63a557dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/t4013/diff.log_--diff-merges=first-parent_master
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+$ git log --diff-merges=first-parent master
+commit 59d314ad6f356dd08601a4cd5e530381da3e3c64
+Merge: 9a6d494 c7a2ab9
+Author: A U Thor <author@example.com>
+Date:   Mon Jun 26 00:04:00 2006 +0000
+
+    Merge branch 'side'
+
+diff --git a/dir/sub b/dir/sub
+index cead32e..992913c 100644
+--- a/dir/sub
++++ b/dir/sub
+@@ -4,3 +4,5 @@ C
+ D
+ E
+ F
++1
++2
+diff --git a/file0 b/file0
+index b414108..10a8a9f 100644
+--- a/file0
++++ b/file0
+@@ -4,3 +4,6 @@
+ 4
+ 5
+ 6
++A
++B
++C
+
+commit c7a2ab9e8eac7b117442a607d5a9b3950ae34d5a
+Author: A U Thor <author@example.com>
+Date:   Mon Jun 26 00:03:00 2006 +0000
+
+    Side
+
+commit 9a6d4949b6b76956d9d5e26f2791ec2ceff5fdc0
+Author: A U Thor <author@example.com>
+Date:   Mon Jun 26 00:02:00 2006 +0000
+
+    Third
+
+commit 1bde4ae5f36c8d9abe3a0fce0c6aab3c4a12fe44
+Author: A U Thor <author@example.com>
+Date:   Mon Jun 26 00:01:00 2006 +0000
+
+    Second
+    
+    This is the second commit.
+
+commit 444ac553ac7612cc88969031b02b3767fb8a353a
+Author: A U Thor <author@example.com>
+Date:   Mon Jun 26 00:00:00 2006 +0000
+
+    Initial
+$
diff --git a/t/t4013/diff.log_-c_-m_-p_master b/t/t4013/diff.log_-c_-m_-p_master
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b660f3d5f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/t4013/diff.log_-c_-m_-p_master
@@ -0,0 +1,200 @@
+$ git log -c -m -p master
+commit 59d314ad6f356dd08601a4cd5e530381da3e3c64 (from 9a6d4949b6b76956d9d5e26f2791ec2ceff5fdc0)
+Merge: 9a6d494 c7a2ab9
+Author: A U Thor <author@example.com>
+Date:   Mon Jun 26 00:04:00 2006 +0000
+
+    Merge branch 'side'
+
+diff --git a/dir/sub b/dir/sub
+index cead32e..992913c 100644
+--- a/dir/sub
++++ b/dir/sub
+@@ -4,3 +4,5 @@ C
+ D
+ E
+ F
++1
++2
+diff --git a/file0 b/file0
+index b414108..10a8a9f 100644
+--- a/file0
++++ b/file0
+@@ -4,3 +4,6 @@
+ 4
+ 5
+ 6
++A
++B
++C
+
+commit 59d314ad6f356dd08601a4cd5e530381da3e3c64 (from c7a2ab9e8eac7b117442a607d5a9b3950ae34d5a)
+Merge: 9a6d494 c7a2ab9
+Author: A U Thor <author@example.com>
+Date:   Mon Jun 26 00:04:00 2006 +0000
+
+    Merge branch 'side'
+
+diff --git a/dir/sub b/dir/sub
+index 7289e35..992913c 100644
+--- a/dir/sub
++++ b/dir/sub
+@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
+ A
+ B
++C
++D
++E
++F
+ 1
+ 2
+diff --git a/file0 b/file0
+index f4615da..10a8a9f 100644
+--- a/file0
++++ b/file0
+@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
+ 1
+ 2
+ 3
++4
++5
++6
+ A
+ B
+ C
+diff --git a/file1 b/file1
+new file mode 100644
+index 0000000..b1e6722
+--- /dev/null
++++ b/file1
+@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
++A
++B
++C
+diff --git a/file2 b/file2
+deleted file mode 100644
+index 01e79c3..0000000
+--- a/file2
++++ /dev/null
+@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
+-1
+-2
+-3
+diff --git a/file3 b/file3
+deleted file mode 100644
+index 7289e35..0000000
+--- a/file3
++++ /dev/null
+@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
+-A
+-B
+-1
+-2
+
+commit c7a2ab9e8eac7b117442a607d5a9b3950ae34d5a
+Author: A U Thor <author@example.com>
+Date:   Mon Jun 26 00:03:00 2006 +0000
+
+    Side
+
+diff --git a/dir/sub b/dir/sub
+index 35d242b..7289e35 100644
+--- a/dir/sub
++++ b/dir/sub
+@@ -1,2 +1,4 @@
+ A
+ B
++1
++2
+diff --git a/file0 b/file0
+index 01e79c3..f4615da 100644
+--- a/file0
++++ b/file0
+@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+ 1
+ 2
+ 3
++A
++B
++C
+diff --git a/file3 b/file3
+new file mode 100644
+index 0000000..7289e35
+--- /dev/null
++++ b/file3
+@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
++A
++B
++1
++2
+
+commit 9a6d4949b6b76956d9d5e26f2791ec2ceff5fdc0
+Author: A U Thor <author@example.com>
+Date:   Mon Jun 26 00:02:00 2006 +0000
+
+    Third
+
+diff --git a/dir/sub b/dir/sub
+index 8422d40..cead32e 100644
+--- a/dir/sub
++++ b/dir/sub
+@@ -2,3 +2,5 @@ A
+ B
+ C
+ D
++E
++F
+diff --git a/file1 b/file1
+new file mode 100644
+index 0000000..b1e6722
+--- /dev/null
++++ b/file1
+@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
++A
++B
++C
+
+commit 1bde4ae5f36c8d9abe3a0fce0c6aab3c4a12fe44
+Author: A U Thor <author@example.com>
+Date:   Mon Jun 26 00:01:00 2006 +0000
+
+    Second
+    
+    This is the second commit.
+
+diff --git a/dir/sub b/dir/sub
+index 35d242b..8422d40 100644
+--- a/dir/sub
++++ b/dir/sub
+@@ -1,2 +1,4 @@
+ A
+ B
++C
++D
+diff --git a/file0 b/file0
+index 01e79c3..b414108 100644
+--- a/file0
++++ b/file0
+@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+ 1
+ 2
+ 3
++4
++5
++6
+diff --git a/file2 b/file2
+deleted file mode 100644
+index 01e79c3..0000000
+--- a/file2
++++ /dev/null
+@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
+-1
+-2
+-3
+
+commit 444ac553ac7612cc88969031b02b3767fb8a353a
+Author: A U Thor <author@example.com>
+Date:   Mon Jun 26 00:00:00 2006 +0000
+
+    Initial
+$
diff --git a/t/t4013/diff.log_-p_--diff-merges=first-parent_master b/t/t4013/diff.log_-p_--diff-merges=first-parent_master
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9538a27511
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/t4013/diff.log_-p_--diff-merges=first-parent_master
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+$ git log -p --diff-merges=first-parent master
+commit 59d314ad6f356dd08601a4cd5e530381da3e3c64
+Merge: 9a6d494 c7a2ab9
+Author: A U Thor <author@example.com>
+Date:   Mon Jun 26 00:04:00 2006 +0000
+
+    Merge branch 'side'
+
+diff --git a/dir/sub b/dir/sub
+index cead32e..992913c 100644
+--- a/dir/sub
++++ b/dir/sub
+@@ -4,3 +4,5 @@ C
+ D
+ E
+ F
++1
++2
+diff --git a/file0 b/file0
+index b414108..10a8a9f 100644
+--- a/file0
++++ b/file0
+@@ -4,3 +4,6 @@
+ 4
+ 5
+ 6
++A
++B
++C
+
+commit c7a2ab9e8eac7b117442a607d5a9b3950ae34d5a
+Author: A U Thor <author@example.com>
+Date:   Mon Jun 26 00:03:00 2006 +0000
+
+    Side
+
+diff --git a/dir/sub b/dir/sub
+index 35d242b..7289e35 100644
+--- a/dir/sub
++++ b/dir/sub
+@@ -1,2 +1,4 @@
+ A
+ B
++1
++2
+diff --git a/file0 b/file0
+index 01e79c3..f4615da 100644
+--- a/file0
++++ b/file0
+@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+ 1
+ 2
+ 3
++A
++B
++C
+diff --git a/file3 b/file3
+new file mode 100644
+index 0000000..7289e35
+--- /dev/null
++++ b/file3
+@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
++A
++B
++1
++2
+
+commit 9a6d4949b6b76956d9d5e26f2791ec2ceff5fdc0
+Author: A U Thor <author@example.com>
+Date:   Mon Jun 26 00:02:00 2006 +0000
+
+    Third
+
+diff --git a/dir/sub b/dir/sub
+index 8422d40..cead32e 100644
+--- a/dir/sub
++++ b/dir/sub
+@@ -2,3 +2,5 @@ A
+ B
+ C
+ D
++E
++F
+diff --git a/file1 b/file1
+new file mode 100644
+index 0000000..b1e6722
+--- /dev/null
++++ b/file1
+@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
++A
++B
++C
+
+commit 1bde4ae5f36c8d9abe3a0fce0c6aab3c4a12fe44
+Author: A U Thor <author@example.com>
+Date:   Mon Jun 26 00:01:00 2006 +0000
+
+    Second
+    
+    This is the second commit.
+
+diff --git a/dir/sub b/dir/sub
+index 35d242b..8422d40 100644
+--- a/dir/sub
++++ b/dir/sub
+@@ -1,2 +1,4 @@
+ A
+ B
++C
++D
+diff --git a/file0 b/file0
+index 01e79c3..b414108 100644
+--- a/file0
++++ b/file0
+@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+ 1
+ 2
+ 3
++4
++5
++6
+diff --git a/file2 b/file2
+deleted file mode 100644
+index 01e79c3..0000000
+--- a/file2
++++ /dev/null
+@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
+-1
+-2
+-3
+
+commit 444ac553ac7612cc88969031b02b3767fb8a353a
+Author: A U Thor <author@example.com>
+Date:   Mon Jun 26 00:00:00 2006 +0000
+
+    Initial
+$