diff --git a/Command/Merge.hs b/Command/Merge.hs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..04328e8c5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Command/Merge.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+{- git-annex command
+ -
+ - Copyright 2011 Joey Hess <joey@kitenet.net>
+ -
+ - Licensed under the GNU GPL version 3 or higher.
+ -}
+
+module Command.Merge where
+
+import Command
+import qualified Branch
+import Messages
+
+command :: [Command]
+command = [repoCommand "merge" paramNothing seek
+		"auto-merges remote changes into the git-annex branch"]
+
+seek :: [CommandSeek]
+seek = [withNothing start]
+
+start :: CommandStartNothing
+start = do
+	showStart "merge" "."
+	next perform
+
+perform :: CommandPerform
+perform = do
+	Branch.update
+	next $ return True
diff --git a/Command/Status.hs b/Command/Status.hs
index 1a7f694ba8..3b096d9793 100644
--- a/Command/Status.hs
+++ b/Command/Status.hs
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ sizeList :: [a] -> SizeList a
 sizeList l = (l, genericLength l)
 
 command :: [Command]
-command = [repoCommand "status" (paramNothing) seek
+command = [repoCommand "status" paramNothing seek
 	"shows status information about the annex"]
 
 seek :: [CommandSeek]
diff --git a/GitAnnex.hs b/GitAnnex.hs
index 103ee262f2..727e0c3961 100644
--- a/GitAnnex.hs
+++ b/GitAnnex.hs
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ import qualified Command.Lock
 import qualified Command.PreCommit
 import qualified Command.Find
 import qualified Command.Whereis
+import qualified Command.Merge
 import qualified Command.Status
 import qualified Command.Migrate
 import qualified Command.Uninit
@@ -76,6 +77,7 @@ cmds = concat
 	, Command.DropUnused.command
 	, Command.Find.command
 	, Command.Whereis.command
+	, Command.Merge.command
 	, Command.Status.command
 	, Command.Migrate.command
 	, Command.Map.command
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index a76a0534e2..03ccbe03f0 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 git-annex (0.20110611) UNRELEASED; urgency=low
 
   * New repository format, annex.version=3. Use `git annex upgrade` to migrate.
-
+  * git-annex now stores its logs in a git-annex branch.
+  * merge: New subcommand. Auto-merges the new git-annex branch.
   * Improved handling of bare git repos with annexes. Many more commands will
     work in them.
   * rsync is now used when copying files from repos on other filesystems.
diff --git a/doc/git-annex.mdwn b/doc/git-annex.mdwn
index ced6fc1b3a..1cb079ae9a 100644
--- a/doc/git-annex.mdwn
+++ b/doc/git-annex.mdwn
@@ -182,6 +182,13 @@ Many git-annex commands will stage changes for later `git commit` by you.
   Displays a list of repositories known to contain the content of the
   specified file or files.
 
+* merge
+
+  Automatically merges any changes from remotes into the git-annex branch.
+  While git-annex mostly handles keeping the git-annex branch merged
+  automatically, if you find you are unable to push the git-annex branch
+  due non-fast-forward, this will fix it.
+
 * status
 
   Displays some statistics and other information, including how much data
@@ -301,9 +308,7 @@ Many git-annex commands will stage changes for later `git commit` by you.
 
 * upgrade
 
-  Upgrades the repository to current layout. Upgrades are done automatically
-  whenever a newer git annex encounters an old repository; this command
-  allows explcitly starting an upgrade.
+  Upgrades the repository to current layout.
 
 * version