diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index ad2193507b..bec191aa69 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -3184,10 +3184,6 @@ static int do_merge(struct commit *commit, const char *arg, int arg_len,
 	}
 
 	merge_commit = to_merge->item;
-	write_message(oid_to_hex(&merge_commit->object.oid), GIT_SHA1_HEXSZ,
-		      git_path_merge_head(the_repository), 0);
-	write_message("no-ff", 5, git_path_merge_mode(the_repository), 0);
-
 	bases = get_merge_bases(head_commit, merge_commit);
 	if (bases && !oidcmp(&merge_commit->object.oid,
 			     &bases->item->object.oid)) {
@@ -3196,6 +3192,10 @@ static int do_merge(struct commit *commit, const char *arg, int arg_len,
 		goto leave_merge;
 	}
 
+	write_message(oid_to_hex(&merge_commit->object.oid), GIT_SHA1_HEXSZ,
+		      git_path_merge_head(the_repository), 0);
+	write_message("no-ff", 5, git_path_merge_mode(the_repository), 0);
+
 	for (j = bases; j; j = j->next)
 		commit_list_insert(j->item, &reversed);
 	free_commit_list(bases);
diff --git a/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh b/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh
index 1f08a33687..cc5646836f 100755
--- a/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh
+++ b/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ test_expect_success 'with --autosquash and --exec' '
 	grep "G: +G" actual
 '
 
-test_expect_failure '--continue after resolving conflicts after a merge' '
+test_expect_success '--continue after resolving conflicts after a merge' '
 	git checkout -b already-has-g E &&
 	git cherry-pick E..G &&
 	test_commit H2 &&