diff --git a/branch.c b/branch.c
index 22f4f46b96..5bb1c28915 100644
--- a/branch.c
+++ b/branch.c
@@ -860,9 +860,11 @@ out:
 	free(branch_point);
 }
 
-void remove_merge_branch_state(struct repository *r)
+static void do_remove_merge_branch_state(struct repository *r, unsigned flags)
 {
 	unlink(git_path_merge_head(r));
+	if (!(flags & REMOVE_BRANCH_STATE_PRESERVE_CONFLICT_LABELS))
+		unlink(git_path_merge_labels(r));
 	unlink(git_path_merge_rr(r));
 	unlink(git_path_merge_msg(r));
 	unlink(git_path_merge_mode(r));
@@ -871,11 +873,16 @@ void remove_merge_branch_state(struct repository *r)
 	save_autostash_ref(r, "MERGE_AUTOSTASH");
 }
 
-void remove_branch_state(struct repository *r, int verbose)
+void remove_merge_branch_state(struct repository *r)
 {
-	sequencer_post_commit_cleanup(r, verbose);
+	do_remove_merge_branch_state(r, 0);
+}
+
+void remove_branch_state(struct repository *r, unsigned flags)
+{
+	sequencer_post_commit_cleanup(r, flags & REMOVE_BRANCH_STATE_VERBOSE);
 	unlink(git_path_squash_msg(r));
-	remove_merge_branch_state(r);
+	do_remove_merge_branch_state(r, flags);
 }
 
 void die_if_checked_out(const char *branch, int ignore_current_worktree)
diff --git a/branch.h b/branch.h
index e9b1f7b37d..95b2431f24 100644
--- a/branch.h
+++ b/branch.h
@@ -127,6 +127,8 @@ int validate_branchname(const char *name, struct strbuf *ref);
  */
 int validate_new_branchname(const char *name, struct strbuf *ref, int force);
 
+#define REMOVE_BRANCH_STATE_VERBOSE (1u << 0)
+#define REMOVE_BRANCH_STATE_PRESERVE_CONFLICT_LABELS (1u << 1)
 /*
  * Remove information about the merge state on the current
  * branch. (E.g., MERGE_HEAD)
@@ -137,7 +139,7 @@ void remove_merge_branch_state(struct repository *r);
  * Remove information about the state of working on the current
  * branch. (E.g., MERGE_HEAD)
  */
-void remove_branch_state(struct repository *r, int verbose);
+void remove_branch_state(struct repository *r, unsigned flags);
 
 /*
  * Configure local branch "local" as downstream to branch "remote"
diff --git a/builtin/checkout.c b/builtin/checkout.c
index 2d575a4f57..91e0332ec2 100644
--- a/builtin/checkout.c
+++ b/builtin/checkout.c
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include "hex.h"
 #include "hook.h"
 #include "merge-ll.h"
+#include "merge.h"
 #include "lockfile.h"
 #include "mem-pool.h"
 #include "object-file.h"
@@ -310,9 +311,36 @@ static int checkout_stage(int stage, const struct cache_entry *ce, int pos,
 		return error(_("path '%s' does not have their version"), ce->name);
 }
 
+struct checkout_merged_data {
+	int conflict_style;
+	int renormalize;
+	char *base_label, *ours_label, *theirs_label;
+};
+
+static void checkout_merged_release(struct checkout_merged_data *data)
+{
+	free(data->base_label);
+	free(data->ours_label);
+	free(data->theirs_label);
+}
+
+static void checkout_merged_prepare(struct checkout_merged_data *data)
+{
+	int renormalize = 0;
+
+	repo_config_get_bool(the_repository, "merge.renormalize", &renormalize);
+	data->renormalize = renormalize;
+	if (read_merge_labels(the_repository, &data->base_label, &data->ours_label,
+			      &data->theirs_label)) {
+		data->base_label = xstrdup("base");
+		data->ours_label = xstrdup("ours");
+		data->theirs_label = xstrdup("theirs");
+	}
+}
+
 static int checkout_merged(int pos, const struct checkout *state,
 			   int *nr_checkouts, struct mem_pool *ce_mem_pool,
-			   int conflict_style)
+			   struct checkout_merged_data *data)
 {
 	struct cache_entry *ce = the_repository->index->cache[pos];
 	const char *path = ce->name;
@@ -324,7 +352,6 @@ static int checkout_merged(int pos, const struct checkout *state,
 	struct object_id threeway[3];
 	unsigned mode = 0;
 	struct ll_merge_options ll_opts = LL_MERGE_OPTIONS_INIT;
-	int renormalize = 0;
 
 	memset(threeway, 0, sizeof(threeway));
 	while (pos < the_repository->index->cache_nr) {
@@ -345,11 +372,10 @@ static int checkout_merged(int pos, const struct checkout *state,
 	read_mmblob(&ours, the_repository->objects, &threeway[1]);
 	read_mmblob(&theirs, the_repository->objects, &threeway[2]);
 
-	repo_config_get_bool(the_repository, "merge.renormalize", &renormalize);
-	ll_opts.renormalize = renormalize;
-	ll_opts.conflict_style = conflict_style;
-	merge_status = ll_merge(&result_buf, path, &ancestor, "base",
-				&ours, "ours", &theirs, "theirs",
+	ll_opts.renormalize = data->renormalize;
+	ll_opts.conflict_style = data->conflict_style;
+	merge_status = ll_merge(&result_buf, path, &ancestor, data->base_label,
+				&ours, data->ours_label, &theirs, data->theirs_label,
 				state->istate, &ll_opts);
 	free(ancestor.ptr);
 	free(ours.ptr);
@@ -446,6 +472,7 @@ static int checkout_worktree(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 	int pos;
 	int pc_workers, pc_threshold;
 	struct mem_pool ce_mem_pool;
+	struct checkout_merged_data checkout_merged_data = {0};
 
 	state.force = 1;
 	state.refresh_cache = 1;
@@ -462,6 +489,10 @@ static int checkout_worktree(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 	if (pc_workers > 1)
 		init_parallel_checkout();
 
+	if (opts->merge) {
+		checkout_merged_prepare(&checkout_merged_data);
+		checkout_merged_data.conflict_style = opts->conflict_style;
+	}
 	for (pos = 0; pos < the_repository->index->cache_nr; pos++) {
 		struct cache_entry *ce = the_repository->index->cache[pos];
 		if (ce->ce_flags & CE_MATCHED) {
@@ -479,10 +510,14 @@ static int checkout_worktree(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 				errs |= checkout_merged(pos, &state,
 							&nr_unmerged,
 							&ce_mem_pool,
-							opts->conflict_style);
+							&checkout_merged_data);
 			pos = skip_same_name(ce, pos) - 1;
 		}
 	}
+
+	if (opts->merge)
+		checkout_merged_release(&checkout_merged_data);
+
 	if (pc_workers > 1)
 		errs |= run_parallel_checkout(&state, pc_workers, pc_threshold,
 					      NULL, NULL);
@@ -946,10 +981,13 @@ static void report_tracking(struct branch_info *new_branch_info)
 
 static void update_refs_for_switch(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 				   struct branch_info *old_branch_info,
-				   struct branch_info *new_branch_info)
+				   struct branch_info *new_branch_info,
+				   bool merge_conflicts)
 {
 	struct strbuf msg = STRBUF_INIT;
 	const char *old_desc, *reflog_msg;
+	unsigned flags = 0;
+
 	if (opts->new_branch) {
 		if (opts->new_orphan_branch) {
 			enum log_refs_config log_all_ref_updates = LOG_REFS_UNSET;
@@ -1044,7 +1082,11 @@ static void update_refs_for_switch(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 						   old_branch_info->path);
 		}
 	}
-	remove_branch_state(the_repository, !opts->quiet);
+	if (!opts->quiet)
+		flags |= REMOVE_BRANCH_STATE_VERBOSE;
+	if (merge_conflicts)
+		flags |= REMOVE_BRANCH_STATE_PRESERVE_CONFLICT_LABELS;
+	remove_branch_state(the_repository, flags);
 	strbuf_release(&msg);
 	if (!opts->quiet &&
 	    !opts->force_detach &&
@@ -1258,7 +1300,9 @@ static int switch_branches(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 
 	if (autostash_res == STASH_APPLY_CONFLICT && !opts->quiet)
 		fputc('\n', stderr);
-	update_refs_for_switch(opts, &old_branch_info, new_branch_info);
+
+	update_refs_for_switch(opts, &old_branch_info, new_branch_info,
+			       autostash_res == STASH_APPLY_CONFLICT);
 
 	if (created_autostash) {
 		discard_index(the_repository->index);
diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index 0e750f6157..8ffd42681b 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -1950,6 +1950,7 @@ int cmd_commit(int argc,
 
 	sequencer_post_commit_cleanup(the_repository, 0);
 	unlink(git_path_merge_head(the_repository));
+	unlink(git_path_merge_labels(the_repository));
 	unlink(git_path_merge_msg(the_repository));
 	unlink(git_path_merge_mode(the_repository));
 	unlink(git_path_squash_msg(the_repository));
diff --git a/merge-ort.c b/merge-ort.c
index 1d3d193d35..4d8cf79cb0 100644
--- a/merge-ort.c
+++ b/merge-ort.c
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 #include "hex.h"
 #include "entry.h"
 #include "merge-ll.h"
+#include "merge.h"
 #include "match-trees.h"
 #include "mem-pool.h"
 #include "object-file.h"
@@ -418,6 +419,9 @@ struct merge_options_internal {
 
 	/* field that holds submodule conflict information */
 	struct string_list conflicted_submodules;
+
+	/* Copies of the labels used for conflict markers */
+	const char *labels[3];
 };
 
 struct conflicted_submodule_item {
@@ -4969,6 +4973,14 @@ void merge_switch_to_result(struct merge_options *opt,
 			return;
 		}
 		trace2_region_leave("merge", "write_auto_merge", opt->repo);
+
+		if (!result->clean) {
+			struct merge_options_internal *priv = result->priv;
+
+			trace2_region_enter("merge", "write_merge_labels", opt->repo);
+			write_merge_labels(opt->repo, priv->labels);
+			trace2_region_leave("merge", "write_merge_labels", opt->repo);
+		}
 	}
 	if (display_update_msgs)
 		merge_display_update_messages(opt, /* detailed */ 0, result);
@@ -5234,6 +5246,14 @@ static void move_opt_priv_to_result_priv(struct merge_options *opt,
 	 * to move it.
 	 */
 	assert(opt->priv && !result->priv);
+	if (!result->clean) {
+		opt->priv->labels[0] =
+			mem_pool_strdup(&opt->priv->pool, opt->ancestor);
+		opt->priv->labels[1] =
+			mem_pool_strdup(&opt->priv->pool, opt->branch1);
+		opt->priv->labels[2] =
+			mem_pool_strdup(&opt->priv->pool, opt->branch2);
+	}
 	result->priv = opt->priv;
 	result->_properly_initialized = RESULT_INITIALIZED;
 	opt->priv = NULL;
diff --git a/merge.c b/merge.c
index 0f5e823e63..6a557d11ac 100644
--- a/merge.c
+++ b/merge.c
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include "merge.h"
 #include "commit.h"
 #include "repository.h"
+#include "path.h"
 #include "run-command.h"
 #include "resolve-undo.h"
 #include "tree.h"
@@ -111,3 +112,68 @@ int checkout_fast_forward(struct repository *r,
 		return error(_("unable to write new index file"));
 	return 0;
 }
+
+int write_merge_labels(struct repository *r, const char *labels[3])
+{
+	FILE *f = fopen_or_warn(git_path_merge_labels(r), "w");
+
+	if (!f)
+		return -1;
+
+	fprintf(f, "%s\n%s\n%s\n", labels[0], labels[1], labels[2]);
+	if (fclose(f))
+		return error_errno("could not write '%s'",
+				   git_path_merge_labels(r));
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static char *parse_merge_label_line(FILE *fp)
+{
+	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
+
+	if (strbuf_getline(&buf, fp) == EOF) {
+		strbuf_release(&buf);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	return strbuf_detach(&buf, NULL);
+}
+
+int read_merge_labels(struct repository *r,
+		      char **pbase, char **pours, char **ptheirs)
+{
+	char *base = NULL, *ours = NULL, *theirs = NULL;
+	int ret = -1;
+	FILE *fp = fopen(git_path_merge_labels(r), "r");
+
+	if (!fp)
+		return -1;
+
+	base = parse_merge_label_line(fp);
+	if (!base)
+		goto out;
+
+	ours = parse_merge_label_line(fp);
+	if (!ours)
+		goto out;
+
+	theirs = parse_merge_label_line(fp);
+	if (!theirs)
+		goto out;
+	/* We ignore any trailing lines */
+
+	ret = 0;
+	*pbase = base;
+	*pours = ours;
+	*ptheirs = theirs;
+out:
+	if (ret) {
+		free(base);
+		free(ours);
+		free(theirs);
+	}
+	fclose(fp);
+
+	return ret;
+}
diff --git a/merge.h b/merge.h
index 21ac7ef2f1..3d936d6988 100644
--- a/merge.h
+++ b/merge.h
@@ -13,5 +13,8 @@ int checkout_fast_forward(struct repository *r,
 			  const struct object_id *from,
 			  const struct object_id *to,
 			  int overwrite_ignore);
+int write_merge_labels(struct repository *r, const char *labels[3]);
+int read_merge_labels(struct repository *r,
+		      char **base, char **ours, char **theirs);
 
 #endif /* MERGE_H */
diff --git a/path.c b/path.c
index 4608a56927..f039044233 100644
--- a/path.c
+++ b/path.c
@@ -1655,3 +1655,4 @@ REPO_GIT_PATH_FUNC(merge_mode, "MERGE_MODE")
 REPO_GIT_PATH_FUNC(merge_head, "MERGE_HEAD")
 REPO_GIT_PATH_FUNC(fetch_head, "FETCH_HEAD")
 REPO_GIT_PATH_FUNC(shallow, "shallow")
+REPO_GIT_PATH_FUNC(merge_labels, "MERGE_LABELS")
diff --git a/path.h b/path.h
index 7e7408dd05..8cd12ccfde 100644
--- a/path.h
+++ b/path.h
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ const char *git_path_merge_mode(struct repository *r);
 const char *git_path_merge_head(struct repository *r);
 const char *git_path_fetch_head(struct repository *r);
 const char *git_path_shallow(struct repository *r);
+const char *git_path_merge_labels(struct repository *r);
 
 int ends_with_path_components(const char *path, const char *components);
 
diff --git a/repository.c b/repository.c
index fa4214ff41..e584d6c405 100644
--- a/repository.c
+++ b/repository.c
@@ -367,6 +367,7 @@ static void repo_clear_path_cache(struct repo_path_cache *cache)
 	FREE_AND_NULL(cache->merge_head);
 	FREE_AND_NULL(cache->fetch_head);
 	FREE_AND_NULL(cache->shallow);
+	FREE_AND_NULL(cache->merge_labels);
 }
 
 void repo_clear(struct repository *repo)
diff --git a/repository.h b/repository.h
index 11f5c2ed10..91b1f57db7 100644
--- a/repository.h
+++ b/repository.h
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ struct repo_path_cache {
 	char *merge_head;
 	char *fetch_head;
 	char *shallow;
+	char *merge_labels;
 };
 
 struct repository {
diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index efbfd1315b..2ac78e15b8 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -5177,6 +5177,7 @@ static int pick_commits(struct repository *r,
 	unlink(rebase_path_stopped_sha());
 	unlink(rebase_path_amend());
 	unlink(rebase_path_patch());
+	unlink(git_path_merge_labels(r));
 
 	while (todo_list->current < todo_list->nr) {
 		struct todo_item *item = todo_list->items + todo_list->current;
diff --git a/t/t7201-co.sh b/t/t7201-co.sh
index 9ea9462914..3e9e04738a 100755
--- a/t/t7201-co.sh
+++ b/t/t7201-co.sh
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ test_expect_success 'checkout -m with dirty tree' '
 
 	fill 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >one &&
 	git checkout -m side >messages &&
+	test_path_is_missing .git/MERGE_LABELS &&
 
 	test "$(git symbolic-ref HEAD)" = "refs/heads/side" &&
 
@@ -183,6 +184,27 @@ test_expect_success 'format of merge conflict from checkout -m' '
 	d
 	>>>>>>> local
 	EOF
+	test_cmp expect two &&
+
+	test_path_is_file .git/MERGE_LABELS &&
+
+	git checkout --conflict=diff3 two &&
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+	<<<<<<< simple
+	a
+	c
+	e
+	||||||| main
+	a
+	b
+	c
+	d
+	e
+	=======
+	b
+	d
+	>>>>>>> local
+	EOF
 	test_cmp expect two
 '