diff --git a/t/t4214-log-graph-octopus.sh b/t/t4214-log-graph-octopus.sh
index dab96c89aa..3ae8e51e50 100755
--- a/t/t4214-log-graph-octopus.sh
+++ b/t/t4214-log-graph-octopus.sh
@@ -5,6 +5,25 @@ test_description='git log --graph of skewed left octopus merge.'
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
 test_expect_success 'set up merge history' '
+	test_commit initial &&
+	for i in 1 2 3 4 ; do
+		git checkout master -b $i || return $?
+		# Make tag name different from branch name, to avoid
+		# ambiguity error when calling checkout.
+		test_commit $i $i $i tag$i || return $?
+	done &&
+	git checkout 1 -b merge &&
+	test_merge octopus-merge 1 2 3 4 &&
+	test_commit after-merge &&
+	git checkout 1 -b L &&
+	test_commit left &&
+	git checkout 4 -b crossover &&
+	test_commit after-4 &&
+	git checkout initial -b more-L &&
+	test_commit after-initial
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'log --graph with tricky octopus merge, no color' '
 	cat >expect.uncolored <<-\EOF &&
 	* left
 	| *---.   octopus-merge
@@ -19,6 +38,13 @@ test_expect_success 'set up merge history' '
 	|/
 	* initial
 	EOF
+	git log --color=never --graph --date-order --pretty=tformat:%s left octopus-merge >actual.raw &&
+	sed "s/ *\$//" actual.raw >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect.uncolored actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'log --graph with tricky octopus merge with colors' '
+	test_config log.graphColors red,green,yellow,blue,magenta,cyan &&
 	cat >expect.colors <<-\EOF &&
 	* left
 	<RED>|<RESET> *<BLUE>-<RESET><BLUE>-<RESET><MAGENTA>-<RESET><MAGENTA>.<RESET>   octopus-merge
@@ -33,33 +59,11 @@ test_expect_success 'set up merge history' '
 	<MAGENTA>|<RESET><MAGENTA>/<RESET>
 	* initial
 	EOF
-	test_commit initial &&
-	for i in 1 2 3 4 ; do
-		git checkout master -b $i || return $?
-		# Make tag name different from branch name, to avoid
-		# ambiguity error when calling checkout.
-		test_commit $i $i $i tag$i || return $?
-	done &&
-	git checkout 1 -b merge &&
-	test_tick &&
-	git merge -m octopus-merge 1 2 3 4 &&
-	git checkout 1 -b L &&
-	test_commit left
-'
-
-test_expect_success 'log --graph with tricky octopus merge with colors' '
-	test_config log.graphColors red,green,yellow,blue,magenta,cyan &&
-	git log --color=always --graph --date-order --pretty=tformat:%s --all >actual.colors.raw &&
+	git log --color=always --graph --date-order --pretty=tformat:%s left octopus-merge >actual.colors.raw &&
 	test_decode_color <actual.colors.raw | sed "s/ *\$//" >actual.colors &&
 	test_cmp expect.colors actual.colors
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'log --graph with tricky octopus merge, no color' '
-	git log --color=never --graph --date-order --pretty=tformat:%s --all >actual.raw &&
-	sed "s/ *\$//" actual.raw >actual &&
-	test_cmp expect.uncolored actual
-'
-
 # Repeat the previous two tests with "normal" octopus merge (i.e.,
 # without the first parent skewing to the "left" branch column).
 
@@ -76,7 +80,7 @@ test_expect_success 'log --graph with normal octopus merge, no color' '
 	|/
 	* initial
 	EOF
-	git log --color=never --graph --date-order --pretty=tformat:%s merge >actual.raw &&
+	git log --color=never --graph --date-order --pretty=tformat:%s octopus-merge >actual.raw &&
 	sed "s/ *\$//" actual.raw >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect.uncolored actual
 '
@@ -95,8 +99,283 @@ test_expect_success 'log --graph with normal octopus merge with colors' '
 	* initial
 	EOF
 	test_config log.graphColors red,green,yellow,blue,magenta,cyan &&
-	git log --color=always --graph --date-order --pretty=tformat:%s merge >actual.colors.raw &&
+	git log --color=always --graph --date-order --pretty=tformat:%s octopus-merge >actual.colors.raw &&
 	test_decode_color <actual.colors.raw | sed "s/ *\$//" >actual.colors &&
 	test_cmp expect.colors actual.colors
 '
+
+test_expect_success 'log --graph with normal octopus merge and child, no color' '
+	cat >expect.uncolored <<-\EOF &&
+	* after-merge
+	*---.   octopus-merge
+	|\ \ \
+	| | | * 4
+	| | * | 3
+	| | |/
+	| * | 2
+	| |/
+	* | 1
+	|/
+	* initial
+	EOF
+	git log --color=never --graph --date-order --pretty=tformat:%s after-merge >actual.raw &&
+	sed "s/ *\$//" actual.raw >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect.uncolored actual
+'
+
+test_expect_failure 'log --graph with normal octopus and child merge with colors' '
+	cat >expect.colors <<-\EOF &&
+	* after-merge
+	*<BLUE>-<RESET><BLUE>-<RESET><MAGENTA>-<RESET><MAGENTA>.<RESET>   octopus-merge
+	<GREEN>|<RESET><YELLOW>\<RESET> <BLUE>\<RESET> <MAGENTA>\<RESET>
+	<GREEN>|<RESET> <YELLOW>|<RESET> <BLUE>|<RESET> * 4
+	<GREEN>|<RESET> <YELLOW>|<RESET> * <MAGENTA>|<RESET> 3
+	<GREEN>|<RESET> <YELLOW>|<RESET> <MAGENTA>|<RESET><MAGENTA>/<RESET>
+	<GREEN>|<RESET> * <MAGENTA>|<RESET> 2
+	<GREEN>|<RESET> <MAGENTA>|<RESET><MAGENTA>/<RESET>
+	* <MAGENTA>|<RESET> 1
+	<MAGENTA>|<RESET><MAGENTA>/<RESET>
+	* initial
+	EOF
+	test_config log.graphColors red,green,yellow,blue,magenta,cyan &&
+	git log --color=always --graph --date-order --pretty=tformat:%s after-merge >actual.colors.raw &&
+	test_decode_color <actual.colors.raw | sed "s/ *\$//" >actual.colors &&
+	test_cmp expect.colors actual.colors
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'log --graph with tricky octopus merge and its child, no color' '
+	cat >expect.uncolored <<-\EOF &&
+	* left
+	| * after-merge
+	| *---.   octopus-merge
+	| |\ \ \
+	|/ / / /
+	| | | * 4
+	| | * | 3
+	| | |/
+	| * | 2
+	| |/
+	* | 1
+	|/
+	* initial
+	EOF
+	git log --color=never --graph --date-order --pretty=tformat:%s left after-merge >actual.raw &&
+	sed "s/ *\$//" actual.raw >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect.uncolored actual
+'
+
+test_expect_failure 'log --graph with tricky octopus merge and its child with colors' '
+	test_config log.graphColors red,green,yellow,blue,magenta,cyan &&
+	cat >expect.colors <<-\EOF &&
+	* left
+	<RED>|<RESET> * after-merge
+	<RED>|<RESET> *<MAGENTA>-<RESET><MAGENTA>-<RESET><CYAN>-<RESET><CYAN>.<RESET>   octopus-merge
+	<RED>|<RESET> <RED>|<RESET><BLUE>\<RESET> <MAGENTA>\<RESET> <CYAN>\<RESET>
+	<RED>|<RESET><RED>/<RESET> <BLUE>/<RESET> <MAGENTA>/<RESET> <CYAN>/<RESET>
+	<RED>|<RESET> <BLUE>|<RESET> <MAGENTA>|<RESET> * 4
+	<RED>|<RESET> <BLUE>|<RESET> * <CYAN>|<RESET> 3
+	<RED>|<RESET> <BLUE>|<RESET> <CYAN>|<RESET><CYAN>/<RESET>
+	<RED>|<RESET> * <CYAN>|<RESET> 2
+	<RED>|<RESET> <CYAN>|<RESET><CYAN>/<RESET>
+	* <CYAN>|<RESET> 1
+	<CYAN>|<RESET><CYAN>/<RESET>
+	* initial
+	EOF
+	git log --color=always --graph --date-order --pretty=tformat:%s left after-merge >actual.colors.raw &&
+	test_decode_color <actual.colors.raw | sed "s/ *\$//" >actual.colors &&
+	test_cmp expect.colors actual.colors
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'log --graph with crossover in octopus merge, no color' '
+	cat >expect.uncolored <<-\EOF &&
+	* after-4
+	| *---.   octopus-merge
+	| |\ \ \
+	| |_|_|/
+	|/| | |
+	* | | | 4
+	| | | * 3
+	| |_|/
+	|/| |
+	| | * 2
+	| |/
+	|/|
+	| * 1
+	|/
+	* initial
+	EOF
+	git log --color=never --graph --date-order --pretty=tformat:%s after-4 octopus-merge >actual.raw &&
+	sed "s/ *\$//" actual.raw >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect.uncolored actual
+'
+
+test_expect_failure 'log --graph with crossover in octopus merge with colors' '
+	test_config log.graphColors red,green,yellow,blue,magenta,cyan &&
+	cat >expect.colors <<-\EOF &&
+	* after-4
+	<RED>|<RESET> *<BLUE>-<RESET><BLUE>-<RESET><RED>-<RESET><RED>.<RESET>   octopus-merge
+	<RED>|<RESET> <GREEN>|<RESET><YELLOW>\<RESET> <BLUE>\<RESET> <RED>\<RESET>
+	<RED>|<RESET> <GREEN>|<RESET><RED>_<RESET><YELLOW>|<RESET><RED>_<RESET><BLUE>|<RESET><RED>/<RESET>
+	<RED>|<RESET><RED>/<RESET><GREEN>|<RESET> <YELLOW>|<RESET> <BLUE>|<RESET>
+	* <GREEN>|<RESET> <YELLOW>|<RESET> <BLUE>|<RESET> 4
+	<MAGENTA>|<RESET> <GREEN>|<RESET> <YELLOW>|<RESET> * 3
+	<MAGENTA>|<RESET> <GREEN>|<RESET><MAGENTA>_<RESET><YELLOW>|<RESET><MAGENTA>/<RESET>
+	<MAGENTA>|<RESET><MAGENTA>/<RESET><GREEN>|<RESET> <YELLOW>|<RESET>
+	<MAGENTA>|<RESET> <GREEN>|<RESET> * 2
+	<MAGENTA>|<RESET> <GREEN>|<RESET><MAGENTA>/<RESET>
+	<MAGENTA>|<RESET><MAGENTA>/<RESET><GREEN>|<RESET>
+	<MAGENTA>|<RESET> * 1
+	<MAGENTA>|<RESET><MAGENTA>/<RESET>
+	* initial
+	EOF
+	git log --color=always --graph --date-order --pretty=tformat:%s after-4 octopus-merge >actual.colors.raw &&
+	test_decode_color <actual.colors.raw | sed "s/ *\$//" >actual.colors &&
+	test_cmp expect.colors actual.colors
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'log --graph with crossover in octopus merge and its child, no color' '
+	cat >expect.uncolored <<-\EOF &&
+	* after-4
+	| * after-merge
+	| *---.   octopus-merge
+	| |\ \ \
+	| |_|_|/
+	|/| | |
+	* | | | 4
+	| | | * 3
+	| |_|/
+	|/| |
+	| | * 2
+	| |/
+	|/|
+	| * 1
+	|/
+	* initial
+	EOF
+	git log --color=never --graph --date-order --pretty=tformat:%s after-4 after-merge >actual.raw &&
+	sed "s/ *\$//" actual.raw >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect.uncolored actual
+'
+
+test_expect_failure 'log --graph with crossover in octopus merge and its child with colors' '
+	test_config log.graphColors red,green,yellow,blue,magenta,cyan &&
+	cat >expect.colors <<-\EOF &&
+	* after-4
+	<RED>|<RESET> * after-merge
+	<RED>|<RESET> *<MAGENTA>-<RESET><MAGENTA>-<RESET><RED>-<RESET><RED>.<RESET>   octopus-merge
+	<RED>|<RESET> <YELLOW>|<RESET><BLUE>\<RESET> <MAGENTA>\<RESET> <RED>\<RESET>
+	<RED>|<RESET> <YELLOW>|<RESET><RED>_<RESET><BLUE>|<RESET><RED>_<RESET><MAGENTA>|<RESET><RED>/<RESET>
+	<RED>|<RESET><RED>/<RESET><YELLOW>|<RESET> <BLUE>|<RESET> <MAGENTA>|<RESET>
+	* <YELLOW>|<RESET> <BLUE>|<RESET> <MAGENTA>|<RESET> 4
+	<CYAN>|<RESET> <YELLOW>|<RESET> <BLUE>|<RESET> * 3
+	<CYAN>|<RESET> <YELLOW>|<RESET><CYAN>_<RESET><BLUE>|<RESET><CYAN>/<RESET>
+	<CYAN>|<RESET><CYAN>/<RESET><YELLOW>|<RESET> <BLUE>|<RESET>
+	<CYAN>|<RESET> <YELLOW>|<RESET> * 2
+	<CYAN>|<RESET> <YELLOW>|<RESET><CYAN>/<RESET>
+	<CYAN>|<RESET><CYAN>/<RESET><YELLOW>|<RESET>
+	<CYAN>|<RESET> * 1
+	<CYAN>|<RESET><CYAN>/<RESET>
+	* initial
+	EOF
+	git log --color=always --graph --date-order --pretty=tformat:%s after-4 after-merge >actual.colors.raw &&
+	test_decode_color <actual.colors.raw | sed "s/ *\$//" >actual.colors &&
+	test_cmp expect.colors actual.colors
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'log --graph with unrelated commit and octopus tip, no color' '
+	cat >expect.uncolored <<-\EOF &&
+	* after-initial
+	| *---.   octopus-merge
+	| |\ \ \
+	| | | | * 4
+	| |_|_|/
+	|/| | |
+	| | | * 3
+	| |_|/
+	|/| |
+	| | * 2
+	| |/
+	|/|
+	| * 1
+	|/
+	* initial
+	EOF
+	git log --color=never --graph --date-order --pretty=tformat:%s after-initial octopus-merge >actual.raw &&
+	sed "s/ *\$//" actual.raw >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect.uncolored actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'log --graph with unrelated commit and octopus tip with colors' '
+	test_config log.graphColors red,green,yellow,blue,magenta,cyan &&
+	cat >expect.colors <<-\EOF &&
+	* after-initial
+	<RED>|<RESET> *<BLUE>-<RESET><BLUE>-<RESET><MAGENTA>-<RESET><MAGENTA>.<RESET>   octopus-merge
+	<RED>|<RESET> <GREEN>|<RESET><YELLOW>\<RESET> <BLUE>\<RESET> <MAGENTA>\<RESET>
+	<RED>|<RESET> <GREEN>|<RESET> <YELLOW>|<RESET> <BLUE>|<RESET> * 4
+	<RED>|<RESET> <GREEN>|<RESET><RED>_<RESET><YELLOW>|<RESET><RED>_<RESET><BLUE>|<RESET><RED>/<RESET>
+	<RED>|<RESET><RED>/<RESET><GREEN>|<RESET> <YELLOW>|<RESET> <BLUE>|<RESET>
+	<RED>|<RESET> <GREEN>|<RESET> <YELLOW>|<RESET> * 3
+	<RED>|<RESET> <GREEN>|<RESET><RED>_<RESET><YELLOW>|<RESET><RED>/<RESET>
+	<RED>|<RESET><RED>/<RESET><GREEN>|<RESET> <YELLOW>|<RESET>
+	<RED>|<RESET> <GREEN>|<RESET> * 2
+	<RED>|<RESET> <GREEN>|<RESET><RED>/<RESET>
+	<RED>|<RESET><RED>/<RESET><GREEN>|<RESET>
+	<RED>|<RESET> * 1
+	<RED>|<RESET><RED>/<RESET>
+	* initial
+	EOF
+	git log --color=always --graph --date-order --pretty=tformat:%s after-initial octopus-merge >actual.colors.raw &&
+	test_decode_color <actual.colors.raw | sed "s/ *\$//" >actual.colors &&
+	test_cmp expect.colors actual.colors
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'log --graph with unrelated commit and octopus child, no color' '
+	cat >expect.uncolored <<-\EOF &&
+	* after-initial
+	| * after-merge
+	| *---.   octopus-merge
+	| |\ \ \
+	| | | | * 4
+	| |_|_|/
+	|/| | |
+	| | | * 3
+	| |_|/
+	|/| |
+	| | * 2
+	| |/
+	|/|
+	| * 1
+	|/
+	* initial
+	EOF
+	git log --color=never --graph --date-order --pretty=tformat:%s after-initial after-merge >actual.raw &&
+	sed "s/ *\$//" actual.raw >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect.uncolored actual
+'
+
+test_expect_failure 'log --graph with unrelated commit and octopus child with colors' '
+	test_config log.graphColors red,green,yellow,blue,magenta,cyan &&
+	cat >expect.colors <<-\EOF &&
+	* after-initial
+	<RED>|<RESET> * after-merge
+	<RED>|<RESET> *<MAGENTA>-<RESET><MAGENTA>-<RESET><CYAN>-<RESET><CYAN>.<RESET>   octopus-merge
+	<RED>|<RESET> <YELLOW>|<RESET><BLUE>\<RESET> <MAGENTA>\<RESET> <CYAN>\<RESET>
+	<RED>|<RESET> <YELLOW>|<RESET> <BLUE>|<RESET> <MAGENTA>|<RESET> * 4
+	<RED>|<RESET> <YELLOW>|<RESET><RED>_<RESET><BLUE>|<RESET><RED>_<RESET><MAGENTA>|<RESET><RED>/<RESET>
+	<RED>|<RESET><RED>/<RESET><YELLOW>|<RESET> <BLUE>|<RESET> <MAGENTA>|<RESET>
+	<RED>|<RESET> <YELLOW>|<RESET> <BLUE>|<RESET> * 3
+	<RED>|<RESET> <YELLOW>|<RESET><RED>_<RESET><BLUE>|<RESET><RED>/<RESET>
+	<RED>|<RESET><RED>/<RESET><YELLOW>|<RESET> <BLUE>|<RESET>
+	<RED>|<RESET> <YELLOW>|<RESET> * 2
+	<RED>|<RESET> <YELLOW>|<RESET><RED>/<RESET>
+	<RED>|<RESET><RED>/<RESET><YELLOW>|<RESET>
+	<RED>|<RESET> * 1
+	<RED>|<RESET><RED>/<RESET>
+	* initial
+	EOF
+	git log --color=always --graph --date-order --pretty=tformat:%s after-initial after-merge >actual.colors.raw &&
+	test_decode_color <actual.colors.raw | sed "s/ *\$//" >actual.colors &&
+	test_cmp expect.colors actual.colors
+'
+
 test_done
diff --git a/t/test-lib-functions.sh b/t/test-lib-functions.sh
index 87bf3a2287..b299ecc326 100644
--- a/t/test-lib-functions.sh
+++ b/t/test-lib-functions.sh
@@ -228,9 +228,11 @@ test_commit () {
 # can be a tag pointing to the commit-to-merge.
 
 test_merge () {
+	label="$1" &&
+	shift &&
 	test_tick &&
-	git merge -m "$1" "$2" &&
-	git tag "$1"
+	git merge -m "$label" "$@" &&
+	git tag "$label"
 }
 
 # Efficiently create <nr> commits, each with a unique number (from 1 to <nr>