diff --git a/merge-recursive.c b/merge-recursive.c
index e64b4b9d03..cf5341828f 100644
--- a/merge-recursive.c
+++ b/merge-recursive.c
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "merge-recursive.h"
 #include "dir.h"
 #include "submodule.h"
+#include "revision.h"
 
 struct path_hashmap_entry {
 	struct hashmap_entry e;
@@ -1082,6 +1083,185 @@ static int merge_3way(struct merge_options *o,
 	return merge_status;
 }
 
+static int find_first_merges(struct object_array *result, const char *path,
+		struct commit *a, struct commit *b)
+{
+	int i, j;
+	struct object_array merges = OBJECT_ARRAY_INIT;
+	struct commit *commit;
+	int contains_another;
+
+	char merged_revision[42];
+	const char *rev_args[] = { "rev-list", "--merges", "--ancestry-path",
+				   "--all", merged_revision, NULL };
+	struct rev_info revs;
+	struct setup_revision_opt rev_opts;
+
+	memset(result, 0, sizeof(struct object_array));
+	memset(&rev_opts, 0, sizeof(rev_opts));
+
+	/* get all revisions that merge commit a */
+	xsnprintf(merged_revision, sizeof(merged_revision), "^%s",
+			oid_to_hex(&a->object.oid));
+	init_revisions(&revs, NULL);
+	rev_opts.submodule = path;
+	/* FIXME: can't handle linked worktrees in submodules yet */
+	revs.single_worktree = path != NULL;
+	setup_revisions(ARRAY_SIZE(rev_args)-1, rev_args, &revs, &rev_opts);
+
+	/* save all revisions from the above list that contain b */
+	if (prepare_revision_walk(&revs))
+		die("revision walk setup failed");
+	while ((commit = get_revision(&revs)) != NULL) {
+		struct object *o = &(commit->object);
+		if (in_merge_bases(b, commit))
+			add_object_array(o, NULL, &merges);
+	}
+	reset_revision_walk();
+
+	/* Now we've got all merges that contain a and b. Prune all
+	 * merges that contain another found merge and save them in
+	 * result.
+	 */
+	for (i = 0; i < merges.nr; i++) {
+		struct commit *m1 = (struct commit *) merges.objects[i].item;
+
+		contains_another = 0;
+		for (j = 0; j < merges.nr; j++) {
+			struct commit *m2 = (struct commit *) merges.objects[j].item;
+			if (i != j && in_merge_bases(m2, m1)) {
+				contains_another = 1;
+				break;
+			}
+		}
+
+		if (!contains_another)
+			add_object_array(merges.objects[i].item, NULL, result);
+	}
+
+	object_array_clear(&merges);
+	return result->nr;
+}
+
+static void print_commit(struct commit *commit)
+{
+	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct pretty_print_context ctx = {0};
+	ctx.date_mode.type = DATE_NORMAL;
+	format_commit_message(commit, " %h: %m %s", &sb, &ctx);
+	fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", sb.buf);
+	strbuf_release(&sb);
+}
+
+static int merge_submodule(struct merge_options *o,
+			   struct object_id *result, const char *path,
+			   const struct object_id *base, const struct object_id *a,
+			   const struct object_id *b)
+{
+	struct commit *commit_base, *commit_a, *commit_b;
+	int parent_count;
+	struct object_array merges;
+
+	int i;
+	int search = !o->call_depth;
+
+	/* store a in result in case we fail */
+	oidcpy(result, a);
+
+	/* we can not handle deletion conflicts */
+	if (is_null_oid(base))
+		return 0;
+	if (is_null_oid(a))
+		return 0;
+	if (is_null_oid(b))
+		return 0;
+
+	if (add_submodule_odb(path)) {
+		output(o, 1, _("Failed to merge submodule %s (not checked out)"), path);
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	if (!(commit_base = lookup_commit_reference(base)) ||
+	    !(commit_a = lookup_commit_reference(a)) ||
+	    !(commit_b = lookup_commit_reference(b))) {
+		output(o, 1, _("Failed to merge submodule %s (commits not present)"), path);
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	/* check whether both changes are forward */
+	if (!in_merge_bases(commit_base, commit_a) ||
+	    !in_merge_bases(commit_base, commit_b)) {
+		output(o, 1, _("Failed to merge submodule %s (commits don't follow merge-base)"), path);
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	/* Case #1: a is contained in b or vice versa */
+	if (in_merge_bases(commit_a, commit_b)) {
+		oidcpy(result, b);
+		if (show(o, 3)) {
+			output(o, 3, _("Fast-forwarding submodule %s to the following commit:"), path);
+			output_commit_title(o, commit_b);
+		} else if (show(o, 2))
+			output(o, 2, _("Fast-forwarding submodule %s to %s"), path, oid_to_hex(b));
+		else
+			; /* no output */
+
+		return 1;
+	}
+	if (in_merge_bases(commit_b, commit_a)) {
+		oidcpy(result, a);
+		if (show(o, 3)) {
+			output(o, 3, _("Fast-forwarding submodule %s to the following commit:"), path);
+			output_commit_title(o, commit_a);
+		} else if (show(o, 2))
+			output(o, 2, _("Fast-forwarding submodule %s to %s"), path, oid_to_hex(a));
+		else
+			; /* no output */
+
+		return 1;
+	}
+
+	/*
+	 * Case #2: There are one or more merges that contain a and b in
+	 * the submodule. If there is only one, then present it as a
+	 * suggestion to the user, but leave it marked unmerged so the
+	 * user needs to confirm the resolution.
+	 */
+
+	/* Skip the search if makes no sense to the calling context.  */
+	if (!search)
+		return 0;
+
+	/* find commit which merges them */
+	parent_count = find_first_merges(&merges, path, commit_a, commit_b);
+	switch (parent_count) {
+	case 0:
+		output(o, 1, _("Failed to merge submodule %s (merge following commits not found)"), path);
+		break;
+
+	case 1:
+		output(o, 1, _("Failed to merge submodule %s (not fast-forward)"), path);
+		output(o, 2, _("Found a possible merge resolution for the submodule:\n"));
+		print_commit((struct commit *) merges.objects[0].item);
+		output(o, 2, _(
+			"If this is correct simply add it to the index "
+			"for example\n"
+			"by using:\n\n"
+			"  git update-index --cacheinfo 160000 %s \"%s\"\n\n"
+			"which will accept this suggestion.\n"),
+			oid_to_hex(&merges.objects[0].item->oid), path);
+		break;
+
+	default:
+		output(o, 1, _("Failed to merge submodule %s (multiple merges found)"), path);
+		for (i = 0; i < merges.nr; i++)
+			print_commit((struct commit *) merges.objects[i].item);
+	}
+
+	object_array_clear(&merges);
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static int merge_file_1(struct merge_options *o,
 			const struct diff_filespec *one,
 			const struct diff_filespec *a,
@@ -1145,12 +1325,11 @@ static int merge_file_1(struct merge_options *o,
 				return ret;
 			result->clean = (merge_status == 0);
 		} else if (S_ISGITLINK(a->mode)) {
-			result->clean = merge_submodule(&result->oid,
+			result->clean = merge_submodule(o, &result->oid,
 						       one->path,
 						       &one->oid,
 						       &a->oid,
-						       &b->oid,
-						       !o->call_depth);
+						       &b->oid);
 		} else if (S_ISLNK(a->mode)) {
 			switch (o->recursive_variant) {
 			case MERGE_RECURSIVE_NORMAL:
diff --git a/submodule.c b/submodule.c
index 47d005797e..edc3a206d7 100644
--- a/submodule.c
+++ b/submodule.c
@@ -153,7 +153,8 @@ void stage_updated_gitmodules(struct index_state *istate)
 		die(_("staging updated .gitmodules failed"));
 }
 
-static int add_submodule_odb(const char *path)
+/* TODO: remove this function, use repo_submodule_init instead. */
+int add_submodule_odb(const char *path)
 {
 	struct strbuf objects_directory = STRBUF_INIT;
 	int ret = 0;
@@ -1700,171 +1701,6 @@ int submodule_move_head(const char *path,
 	return ret;
 }
 
-static int find_first_merges(struct object_array *result, const char *path,
-		struct commit *a, struct commit *b)
-{
-	int i, j;
-	struct object_array merges = OBJECT_ARRAY_INIT;
-	struct commit *commit;
-	int contains_another;
-
-	char merged_revision[42];
-	const char *rev_args[] = { "rev-list", "--merges", "--ancestry-path",
-				   "--all", merged_revision, NULL };
-	struct rev_info revs;
-	struct setup_revision_opt rev_opts;
-
-	memset(result, 0, sizeof(struct object_array));
-	memset(&rev_opts, 0, sizeof(rev_opts));
-
-	/* get all revisions that merge commit a */
-	xsnprintf(merged_revision, sizeof(merged_revision), "^%s",
-			oid_to_hex(&a->object.oid));
-	init_revisions(&revs, NULL);
-	rev_opts.submodule = path;
-	/* FIXME: can't handle linked worktrees in submodules yet */
-	revs.single_worktree = path != NULL;
-	setup_revisions(ARRAY_SIZE(rev_args)-1, rev_args, &revs, &rev_opts);
-
-	/* save all revisions from the above list that contain b */
-	if (prepare_revision_walk(&revs))
-		die("revision walk setup failed");
-	while ((commit = get_revision(&revs)) != NULL) {
-		struct object *o = &(commit->object);
-		if (in_merge_bases(b, commit))
-			add_object_array(o, NULL, &merges);
-	}
-	reset_revision_walk();
-
-	/* Now we've got all merges that contain a and b. Prune all
-	 * merges that contain another found merge and save them in
-	 * result.
-	 */
-	for (i = 0; i < merges.nr; i++) {
-		struct commit *m1 = (struct commit *) merges.objects[i].item;
-
-		contains_another = 0;
-		for (j = 0; j < merges.nr; j++) {
-			struct commit *m2 = (struct commit *) merges.objects[j].item;
-			if (i != j && in_merge_bases(m2, m1)) {
-				contains_another = 1;
-				break;
-			}
-		}
-
-		if (!contains_another)
-			add_object_array(merges.objects[i].item, NULL, result);
-	}
-
-	object_array_clear(&merges);
-	return result->nr;
-}
-
-static void print_commit(struct commit *commit)
-{
-	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
-	struct pretty_print_context ctx = {0};
-	ctx.date_mode.type = DATE_NORMAL;
-	format_commit_message(commit, " %h: %m %s", &sb, &ctx);
-	fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", sb.buf);
-	strbuf_release(&sb);
-}
-
-#define MERGE_WARNING(path, msg) \
-	warning("Failed to merge submodule %s (%s)", path, msg);
-
-int merge_submodule(struct object_id *result, const char *path,
-		    const struct object_id *base, const struct object_id *a,
-		    const struct object_id *b, int search)
-{
-	struct commit *commit_base, *commit_a, *commit_b;
-	int parent_count;
-	struct object_array merges;
-
-	int i;
-
-	/* store a in result in case we fail */
-	oidcpy(result, a);
-
-	/* we can not handle deletion conflicts */
-	if (is_null_oid(base))
-		return 0;
-	if (is_null_oid(a))
-		return 0;
-	if (is_null_oid(b))
-		return 0;
-
-	if (add_submodule_odb(path)) {
-		MERGE_WARNING(path, "not checked out");
-		return 0;
-	}
-
-	if (!(commit_base = lookup_commit_reference(base)) ||
-	    !(commit_a = lookup_commit_reference(a)) ||
-	    !(commit_b = lookup_commit_reference(b))) {
-		MERGE_WARNING(path, "commits not present");
-		return 0;
-	}
-
-	/* check whether both changes are forward */
-	if (!in_merge_bases(commit_base, commit_a) ||
-	    !in_merge_bases(commit_base, commit_b)) {
-		MERGE_WARNING(path, "commits don't follow merge-base");
-		return 0;
-	}
-
-	/* Case #1: a is contained in b or vice versa */
-	if (in_merge_bases(commit_a, commit_b)) {
-		oidcpy(result, b);
-		return 1;
-	}
-	if (in_merge_bases(commit_b, commit_a)) {
-		oidcpy(result, a);
-		return 1;
-	}
-
-	/*
-	 * Case #2: There are one or more merges that contain a and b in
-	 * the submodule. If there is only one, then present it as a
-	 * suggestion to the user, but leave it marked unmerged so the
-	 * user needs to confirm the resolution.
-	 */
-
-	/* Skip the search if makes no sense to the calling context.  */
-	if (!search)
-		return 0;
-
-	/* find commit which merges them */
-	parent_count = find_first_merges(&merges, path, commit_a, commit_b);
-	switch (parent_count) {
-	case 0:
-		MERGE_WARNING(path, "merge following commits not found");
-		break;
-
-	case 1:
-		MERGE_WARNING(path, "not fast-forward");
-		fprintf(stderr, "Found a possible merge resolution "
-				"for the submodule:\n");
-		print_commit((struct commit *) merges.objects[0].item);
-		fprintf(stderr,
-			"If this is correct simply add it to the index "
-			"for example\n"
-			"by using:\n\n"
-			"  git update-index --cacheinfo 160000 %s \"%s\"\n\n"
-			"which will accept this suggestion.\n",
-			oid_to_hex(&merges.objects[0].item->oid), path);
-		break;
-
-	default:
-		MERGE_WARNING(path, "multiple merges found");
-		for (i = 0; i < merges.nr; i++)
-			print_commit((struct commit *) merges.objects[i].item);
-	}
-
-	object_array_clear(&merges);
-	return 0;
-}
-
 /*
  * Embeds a single submodules git directory into the superprojects git dir,
  * non recursively.
diff --git a/submodule.h b/submodule.h
index aae0c9c8ff..a2871d0312 100644
--- a/submodule.h
+++ b/submodule.h
@@ -89,10 +89,8 @@ extern int submodule_uses_gitfile(const char *path);
 #define SUBMODULE_REMOVAL_IGNORE_UNTRACKED (1<<1)
 #define SUBMODULE_REMOVAL_IGNORE_IGNORED_UNTRACKED (1<<2)
 extern int bad_to_remove_submodule(const char *path, unsigned flags);
-extern int merge_submodule(struct object_id *result, const char *path,
-			   const struct object_id *base,
-			   const struct object_id *a,
-			   const struct object_id *b, int search);
+
+int add_submodule_odb(const char *path);
 
 /* Checks if there are submodule changes in a..b. */
 extern int submodule_touches_in_range(struct object_id *a,