diff --git a/src/main/resources/update/gitbucket-core_4.22.xml b/src/main/resources/update/gitbucket-core_4.22.xml
index 98a3b3d..85dcc10 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/update/gitbucket-core_4.22.xml
+++ b/src/main/resources/update/gitbucket-core_4.22.xml
@@ -2,5 +2,6 @@
 <changeSet>
   <addColumn tableName="REPOSITORY">
     <column name="MERGE_OPTIONS" type="varchar(200)" nullable="false" defaultValue="merge-commit,squash,rebase"/>
+    <column name="DEFAULT_MERGE_OPTION" type="varchar(100)" nullable="false" defaultValue="merge-commit"/>
   </addColumn>
 </changeSet>
diff --git a/src/main/scala/gitbucket/core/controller/RepositorySettingsController.scala b/src/main/scala/gitbucket/core/controller/RepositorySettingsController.scala
index ffe98c1..b824898 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/gitbucket/core/controller/RepositorySettingsController.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/gitbucket/core/controller/RepositorySettingsController.scala
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@
     wikiOption: String,
     externalWikiUrl: Option[String],
     allowFork: Boolean,
-    mergeOptions: Seq[String]
+    mergeOptions: Seq[String],
+    defaultMergeOption: String
   )
 
   val optionsForm = mapping(
@@ -52,15 +53,13 @@
     "wikiOption"         -> trim(label("Wiki Option"        , text(required, featureOption))),
     "externalWikiUrl"    -> trim(label("External Wiki URL"  , optional(text(maxlength(200))))),
     "allowFork"          -> trim(label("Allow Forking"      , boolean())),
-    "mergeOptions"       -> new ValueType[Seq[String]]{
-      override def convert(name: String, params: Map[String, Seq[String]], messages: Messages): Seq[String] =
-        params.get("mergeOptions").getOrElse(Nil)
-      override def validate(name: String, params: Map[String, Seq[String]], messages: Messages): Seq[(String, String)] =
-        if(params.get("mergeOptions").getOrElse(Nil).isEmpty) Seq("mergeOptions" -> "At least one option must be enabled.") else Nil
-    },
-  )(OptionsForm.apply)
-
-
+    "mergeOptions"       -> mergeOptions,
+    "defaultMergeOption" -> trim(label("Default merge strategy", text(required)))
+  )(OptionsForm.apply).verifying { form =>
+    if(!form.mergeOptions.contains(form.defaultMergeOption)){
+      Seq("defaultMergeOption" -> s"This merge strategy isn't enabled.")
+    } else Nil
+  }
 
   // for default branch
   case class DefaultBranchForm(defaultBranch: String)
@@ -128,7 +127,8 @@
       form.wikiOption,
       form.externalWikiUrl,
       form.allowFork,
-      form.mergeOptions
+      form.mergeOptions,
+      form.defaultMergeOption
     )
     // Change repository name
     if(repository.name != form.repositoryName){
@@ -509,4 +509,21 @@
         }
       }
   }
+
+  private def mergeOptions = new ValueType[Seq[String]]{
+    override def convert(name: String, params: Map[String, Seq[String]], messages: Messages): Seq[String] = {
+      params.get("mergeOptions").getOrElse(Nil)
+    }
+    override def validate(name: String, params: Map[String, Seq[String]], messages: Messages): Seq[(String, String)] = {
+      val mergeOptions = params.get("mergeOptions").getOrElse(Nil)
+      if(mergeOptions.isEmpty){
+        Seq("mergeOptions" -> "At least one option must be enabled.")
+      } else if(!mergeOptions.forall(x => Seq("merge-commit", "squash", "rebase").contains(x))){
+        Seq("mergeOptions" -> "mergeOptions are invalid.")
+      } else {
+        Nil
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
 }
diff --git a/src/main/scala/gitbucket/core/model/Repository.scala b/src/main/scala/gitbucket/core/model/Repository.scala
index 1e06a39..5a24c35 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/gitbucket/core/model/Repository.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/gitbucket/core/model/Repository.scala
@@ -23,11 +23,12 @@
     val externalWikiUrl      = column[String]("EXTERNAL_WIKI_URL")
     val allowFork            = column[Boolean]("ALLOW_FORK")
     val mergeOptions         = column[String]("MERGE_OPTIONS")
+    val defaultMergeOption   = column[String]("DEFAULT_MERGE_OPTION")
 
     def * = (
       (userName, repositoryName, isPrivate, description.?, defaultBranch,
       registeredDate, updatedDate, lastActivityDate, originUserName.?, originRepositoryName.?, parentUserName.?, parentRepositoryName.?),
-      (issuesOption, externalIssuesUrl.?, wikiOption, externalWikiUrl.?, allowFork, mergeOptions)
+      (issuesOption, externalIssuesUrl.?, wikiOption, externalWikiUrl.?, allowFork, mergeOptions, defaultMergeOption)
     ).shaped <> (
       { case (repository, options) =>
         Repository(
@@ -90,5 +91,6 @@
   wikiOption: String,
   externalWikiUrl: Option[String],
   allowFork: Boolean,
-  mergeOptions: String
+  mergeOptions: String,
+  defaultMergeOption: String
 )
diff --git a/src/main/scala/gitbucket/core/service/RepositoryService.scala b/src/main/scala/gitbucket/core/service/RepositoryService.scala
index 34bb954..fd7da44 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/gitbucket/core/service/RepositoryService.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/gitbucket/core/service/RepositoryService.scala
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@
           wikiOption           = "PUBLIC", // TODO DISABLE for the forked repository?
           externalWikiUrl      = None,
           allowFork            = true,
-          mergeOptions         = "merge-commit,squash,rebase"
+          mergeOptions         = "merge-commit,squash,rebase",
+          defaultMergeOption   = "merge-commit"
         )
       )
 
@@ -365,7 +366,7 @@
    */
   def saveRepositoryOptions(userName: String, repositoryName: String, description: Option[String], isPrivate: Boolean,
       issuesOption: String, externalIssuesUrl: Option[String], wikiOption: String, externalWikiUrl: Option[String],
-      allowFork: Boolean, mergeOptions: Seq[String])(implicit s: Session): Unit = {
+      allowFork: Boolean, mergeOptions: Seq[String], defaultMergeOption: String)(implicit s: Session): Unit = {
 
     Repositories.filter(_.byRepository(userName, repositoryName))
       .map { r => (
@@ -377,6 +378,7 @@
         r.externalWikiUrl.?,
         r.allowFork,
         r.mergeOptions,
+        r.defaultMergeOption,
         r.updatedDate
       ) }
       .update (
@@ -388,6 +390,7 @@
         externalWikiUrl,
         allowFork,
         mergeOptions.mkString(","),
+        defaultMergeOption,
         currentDate
       )
   }
diff --git a/src/main/twirl/gitbucket/core/pulls/mergeguide.scala.html b/src/main/twirl/gitbucket/core/pulls/mergeguide.scala.html
index e80e60c..78e21fa 100644
--- a/src/main/twirl/gitbucket/core/pulls/mergeguide.scala.html
+++ b/src/main/twirl/gitbucket/core/pulls/mergeguide.scala.html
@@ -143,48 +143,48 @@
         <span id="error-message" class="error"></span>
         <textarea name="message" style="height: 80px; margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px;" class="form-control">@issue.title</textarea>
         <div>
-        @defining(originRepository.repository.options.mergeOptions.split(",")){ mergeOptions =>
           <div class="btn-group">
             <button id="merge-strategy-btn" class="dropdown-toggle btn btn-default" data-toggle="dropdown">
               <span class="strong">
-                @(if(mergeOptions.contains("merge-commit")) "Merge commit"
-                  else if(mergeOptions.contains("squash")) "Squash"
-                  else if(mergeOptions.contains("rebase")) "Rebase")
+                @(Map(
+                  "merge-commit" -> "Merge commit",
+                  "squash"       -> "Squash",
+                  "rebase"       -> "Rebase"
+                )(originRepository.repository.options.defaultMergeOption))
               </span>
               <span class="caret"></span>
             </button>
             <ul class="dropdown-menu">
-              @if(mergeOptions.contains("merge-commit")){
-                <li>
-                  <a href="javascript:void(0);" class="merge-strategy" data-value="merge-commit">
-                    <strong>Merge commit</strong><br>These commits will be added to the base branch via a merge commit.
-                  </a>
-                </li>
-              }
-              @if(mergeOptions.contains("squash")){
-                <li>
-                  <a href="javascript:void(0);" class="merge-strategy" data-value="squash">
-                    <strong>Squash</strong><br>These commits will be combined into one commit in the base branch.
-                  </a>
-                </li>
-              }
-              @if(mergeOptions.contains("rebase")){
-                <li>
-                  <a href="javascript:void(0);" class="merge-strategy" data-value="rebase">
-                    <strong>Rebase</strong><br>These commits will be rebased and added to the base branch.
-                  </a>
-                </li>
+              @defining(originRepository.repository.options.mergeOptions.split(",")){ mergeOptions =>
+                @if(mergeOptions.contains("merge-commit")){
+                  <li>
+                    <a href="javascript:void(0);" class="merge-strategy" data-value="merge-commit">
+                      <strong>Merge commit</strong><br>These commits will be added to the base branch via a merge commit.
+                    </a>
+                  </li>
+                }
+                @if(mergeOptions.contains("squash")){
+                  <li>
+                    <a href="javascript:void(0);" class="merge-strategy" data-value="squash">
+                      <strong>Squash</strong><br>These commits will be combined into one commit in the base branch.
+                    </a>
+                  </li>
+                }
+                @if(mergeOptions.contains("rebase")){
+                  <li>
+                    <a href="javascript:void(0);" class="merge-strategy" data-value="rebase">
+                      <strong>Rebase</strong><br>These commits will be rebased and added to the base branch.
+                    </a>
+                  </li>
+                }
               }
             </ul>
           </div>
           <div class="pull-right">
             <input type="button" class="btn btn-default" value="Cancel" id="cancel-merge-pull-request"/>
             <input type="submit" class="btn btn-success" value="Confirm merge"/>
-            <input type="hidden" name="strategy" value="@(if(mergeOptions.contains("merge-commit")) "merge-commit"
-                                                          else if(mergeOptions.contains("squash")) "squash"
-                                                          else if(mergeOptions.contains("rebase")) "rebase")"/>
+            <input type="hidden" name="strategy" value="@originRepository.repository.options.defaultMergeOption"/>
           </div>
-        }
         </div>
       </form>
     </div>
diff --git a/src/main/twirl/gitbucket/core/settings/options.scala.html b/src/main/twirl/gitbucket/core/settings/options.scala.html
index 4e39f8e..b024c55 100644
--- a/src/main/twirl/gitbucket/core/settings/options.scala.html
+++ b/src/main/twirl/gitbucket/core/settings/options.scala.html
@@ -117,30 +117,39 @@
           <div class="panel-body">
             Select pull request merge strategies which are available in this repository. At least one option must be enabled.
             <fieldset class="form-group">
-            @defining(repository.repository.options.mergeOptions.split(",")){ mergeOptions =>
-              <div class="checkbox">
-                <label for="mergeOptions_MergeCommit">
-                  <input type="checkbox" name="mergeOptions" id="mergeOptions_MergeCommit" value="merge-commit" @if(mergeOptions.contains("merge-commit")){checked}>
-                <span class="strong">Merge commit</span>
-                <div class="normal muted">Commits will be added to the base branch via a merge commit.</div>
-                </label>
-              </div>
-              <div class="checkbox">
-                <label for="mergeOptions_Squash">
-                  <input type="checkbox" name="mergeOptions" id="mergeOptions_Squash" value="squash" @if(mergeOptions.contains("squash")){checked}>
-                  <span class="strong">Squash</span>
-                  <div class="normal muted">Commits will be combined into one commit in the base branch.</div>
-                </label>
-              </div>
-              <div class="checkbox">
-                <label for="mergeOptions_Rebase">
-                  <input type="checkbox" name="mergeOptions" id="mergeOptions_Rebase" value="rebase" @if(mergeOptions.contains("rebase")){checked}>
-                  <span class="strong">Rebase</span>
-                  <div class="normal muted">Commits will be rebased and added to the base branch.</div>
-                </label>
-              </div>
-              <span id="error-mergeOptions" class="error"></span>
-            }
+              @defining(repository.repository.options.mergeOptions.split(",")){ mergeOptions =>
+                <div class="checkbox">
+                  <label for="mergeOptions_MergeCommit">
+                    <input type="checkbox" name="mergeOptions" id="mergeOptions_MergeCommit" value="merge-commit" @if(mergeOptions.contains("merge-commit")){checked}>
+                  <span class="strong">Merge commit</span>
+                  <div class="normal muted">Commits will be added to the base branch via a merge commit.</div>
+                  </label>
+                </div>
+                <div class="checkbox">
+                  <label for="mergeOptions_Squash">
+                    <input type="checkbox" name="mergeOptions" id="mergeOptions_Squash" value="squash" @if(mergeOptions.contains("squash")){checked}>
+                    <span class="strong">Squash</span>
+                    <div class="normal muted">Commits will be combined into one commit in the base branch.</div>
+                  </label>
+                </div>
+                <div class="checkbox">
+                  <label for="mergeOptions_Rebase">
+                    <input type="checkbox" name="mergeOptions" id="mergeOptions_Rebase" value="rebase" @if(mergeOptions.contains("rebase")){checked}>
+                    <span class="strong">Rebase</span>
+                    <div class="normal muted">Commits will be rebased and added to the base branch.</div>
+                  </label>
+                </div>
+                <span id="error-mergeOptions" class="error"></span>
+              }
+              <fieldset class="form-group">
+                <label for="defaultMergeOption">Default merge strategy</label>
+                <select name="defaultMergeOption" id="defaultMergeOption">
+                  <option value="merge-commit">Merge commit</option>
+                  <option value="squash">Squash</option>
+                  <option value="rebase">Rebase</option>
+                </select>
+                <span id="error-defaultMergeOption" class="error"></span>
+              </fieldset>
             </fieldset>
           </div>
         </div>