esac
 
 result_tree= best_cnt=-1 best_strategy= wt_strategy=
+merge_was_ok=
 for strategy in $use_strategies
 do
     test "$wt_strategy" = '' || {
     exit=$?
     if test "$no_commit" = t && test "$exit" = 0
     then
+        merge_was_ok=t
        exit=1 ;# pretend it left conflicts.
     fi
 
 done >"$GIT_DIR/MERGE_HEAD"
 echo $merge_msg >"$GIT_DIR/MERGE_MSG"
 
-die "Automatic merge failed/prevented; fix up by hand"
+if test "$merge_was_ok" = t
+then
+       echo >&2 \
+       "Automatic merge went well; stopped before committing as requested"
+       exit 0
+else
+       die "Automatic merge failed; fix up by hand"
+fi