diff --git a/merge-ort.c b/merge-ort.c
index 6eb910d6f0..b8efaee8e0 100644
--- a/merge-ort.c
+++ b/merge-ort.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include "promisor-remote.h"
 #include "revision.h"
 #include "strmap.h"
+#include "submodule-config.h"
 #include "submodule.h"
 #include "tree.h"
 #include "unpack-trees.h"
@@ -1499,7 +1500,6 @@ static int find_first_merges(struct repository *repo,
 	xsnprintf(merged_revision, sizeof(merged_revision), "^%s",
 		  oid_to_hex(&a->object.oid));
 	repo_init_revisions(repo, &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);
@@ -1509,7 +1509,7 @@ static int find_first_merges(struct repository *repo,
 		die("revision walk setup failed");
 	while ((commit = get_revision(&revs)) != NULL) {
 		struct object *o = &(commit->object);
-		if (in_merge_bases(b, commit))
+		if (repo_in_merge_bases(repo, b, commit))
 			add_object_array(o, NULL, &merges);
 	}
 	reset_revision_walk();
@@ -1524,7 +1524,7 @@ static int find_first_merges(struct repository *repo,
 		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)) {
+			if (i != j && repo_in_merge_bases(repo, m2, m1)) {
 				contains_another = 1;
 				break;
 			}
@@ -1545,10 +1545,12 @@ static int merge_submodule(struct merge_options *opt,
 			   const struct object_id *b,
 			   struct object_id *result)
 {
+	struct repository subrepo;
+	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
+	int ret = 0;
 	struct commit *commit_o, *commit_a, *commit_b;
 	int parent_count;
 	struct object_array merges;
-	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
 
 	int i;
 	int search = !opt->priv->call_depth;
@@ -1564,6 +1566,10 @@ static int merge_submodule(struct merge_options *opt,
 	if (is_null_oid(b))
 		return 0;
 
+	/*
+	 * NEEDSWORK: Remove this when all submodule object accesses are
+	 * through explicitly specified repositores.
+	 */
 	if (add_submodule_odb(path)) {
 		path_msg(opt, path, 0,
 			 _("Failed to merge submodule %s (not checked out)"),
@@ -1571,39 +1577,48 @@ static int merge_submodule(struct merge_options *opt,
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	if (!(commit_o = lookup_commit_reference(opt->repo, o)) ||
-	    !(commit_a = lookup_commit_reference(opt->repo, a)) ||
-	    !(commit_b = lookup_commit_reference(opt->repo, b))) {
+	if (repo_submodule_init(&subrepo, opt->repo, path, null_oid())) {
 		path_msg(opt, path, 0,
-			 _("Failed to merge submodule %s (commits not present)"),
-			 path);
+				_("Failed to merge submodule %s (not checked out)"),
+				path);
 		return 0;
 	}
 
+	if (!(commit_o = lookup_commit_reference(&subrepo, o)) ||
+	    !(commit_a = lookup_commit_reference(&subrepo, a)) ||
+	    !(commit_b = lookup_commit_reference(&subrepo, b))) {
+		path_msg(opt, path, 0,
+			 _("Failed to merge submodule %s (commits not present)"),
+			 path);
+		goto cleanup;
+	}
+
 	/* check whether both changes are forward */
-	if (!in_merge_bases(commit_o, commit_a) ||
-	    !in_merge_bases(commit_o, commit_b)) {
+	if (!repo_in_merge_bases(&subrepo, commit_o, commit_a) ||
+	    !repo_in_merge_bases(&subrepo, commit_o, commit_b)) {
 		path_msg(opt, path, 0,
 			 _("Failed to merge submodule %s "
 			   "(commits don't follow merge-base)"),
 			 path);
-		return 0;
+		goto cleanup;
 	}
 
 	/* Case #1: a is contained in b or vice versa */
-	if (in_merge_bases(commit_a, commit_b)) {
+	if (repo_in_merge_bases(&subrepo, commit_a, commit_b)) {
 		oidcpy(result, b);
 		path_msg(opt, path, 1,
 			 _("Note: Fast-forwarding submodule %s to %s"),
 			 path, oid_to_hex(b));
-		return 1;
+		ret = 1;
+		goto cleanup;
 	}
-	if (in_merge_bases(commit_b, commit_a)) {
+	if (repo_in_merge_bases(&subrepo, commit_b, commit_a)) {
 		oidcpy(result, a);
 		path_msg(opt, path, 1,
 			 _("Note: Fast-forwarding submodule %s to %s"),
 			 path, oid_to_hex(a));
-		return 1;
+		ret = 1;
+		goto cleanup;
 	}
 
 	/*
@@ -1615,10 +1630,10 @@ static int merge_submodule(struct merge_options *opt,
 
 	/* Skip the search if makes no sense to the calling context.  */
 	if (!search)
-		return 0;
+		goto cleanup;
 
 	/* find commit which merges them */
-	parent_count = find_first_merges(opt->repo, path, commit_a, commit_b,
+	parent_count = find_first_merges(&subrepo, path, commit_a, commit_b,
 					 &merges);
 	switch (parent_count) {
 	case 0:
@@ -1652,7 +1667,9 @@ static int merge_submodule(struct merge_options *opt,
 	}
 
 	object_array_clear(&merges);
-	return 0;
+cleanup:
+	repo_clear(&subrepo);
+	return ret;
 }
 
 static void initialize_attr_index(struct merge_options *opt)
diff --git a/merge-recursive.c b/merge-recursive.c
index 3355d50e8a..fc8ac39d8c 100644
--- a/merge-recursive.c
+++ b/merge-recursive.c
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include "repository.h"
 #include "revision.h"
 #include "string-list.h"
+#include "submodule-config.h"
 #include "submodule.h"
 #include "tag.h"
 #include "tree-walk.h"
@@ -1113,7 +1114,6 @@ static int find_first_merges(struct repository *repo,
 	xsnprintf(merged_revision, sizeof(merged_revision), "^%s",
 		  oid_to_hex(&a->object.oid));
 	repo_init_revisions(repo, &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);
@@ -1123,7 +1123,7 @@ static int find_first_merges(struct repository *repo,
 		die("revision walk setup failed");
 	while ((commit = get_revision(&revs)) != NULL) {
 		struct object *o = &(commit->object);
-		if (in_merge_bases(b, commit))
+		if (repo_in_merge_bases(repo, b, commit))
 			add_object_array(o, NULL, &merges);
 	}
 	reset_revision_walk();
@@ -1138,7 +1138,7 @@ static int find_first_merges(struct repository *repo,
 		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)) {
+			if (i != j && repo_in_merge_bases(repo, m2, m1)) {
 				contains_another = 1;
 				break;
 			}
@@ -1174,6 +1174,8 @@ static int merge_submodule(struct merge_options *opt,
 			   const struct object_id *base, const struct object_id *a,
 			   const struct object_id *b)
 {
+	struct repository subrepo;
+	int ret = 0;
 	struct commit *commit_base, *commit_a, *commit_b;
 	int parent_count;
 	struct object_array merges;
@@ -1197,27 +1199,36 @@ static int merge_submodule(struct merge_options *opt,
 	if (is_null_oid(b))
 		return 0;
 
+	/*
+	 * NEEDSWORK: Remove this when all submodule object accesses are
+	 * through explicitly specified repositores.
+	 */
 	if (add_submodule_odb(path)) {
 		output(opt, 1, _("Failed to merge submodule %s (not checked out)"), path);
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	if (!(commit_base = lookup_commit_reference(opt->repo, base)) ||
-	    !(commit_a = lookup_commit_reference(opt->repo, a)) ||
-	    !(commit_b = lookup_commit_reference(opt->repo, b))) {
-		output(opt, 1, _("Failed to merge submodule %s (commits not present)"), path);
+	if (repo_submodule_init(&subrepo, opt->repo, path, null_oid())) {
+		output(opt, 1, _("Failed to merge submodule %s (not checked out)"), path);
 		return 0;
 	}
 
+	if (!(commit_base = lookup_commit_reference(&subrepo, base)) ||
+	    !(commit_a = lookup_commit_reference(&subrepo, a)) ||
+	    !(commit_b = lookup_commit_reference(&subrepo, b))) {
+		output(opt, 1, _("Failed to merge submodule %s (commits not present)"), path);
+		goto cleanup;
+	}
+
 	/* check whether both changes are forward */
-	if (!in_merge_bases(commit_base, commit_a) ||
-	    !in_merge_bases(commit_base, commit_b)) {
+	if (!repo_in_merge_bases(&subrepo, commit_base, commit_a) ||
+	    !repo_in_merge_bases(&subrepo, commit_base, commit_b)) {
 		output(opt, 1, _("Failed to merge submodule %s (commits don't follow merge-base)"), path);
-		return 0;
+		goto cleanup;
 	}
 
 	/* Case #1: a is contained in b or vice versa */
-	if (in_merge_bases(commit_a, commit_b)) {
+	if (repo_in_merge_bases(&subrepo, commit_a, commit_b)) {
 		oidcpy(result, b);
 		if (show(opt, 3)) {
 			output(opt, 3, _("Fast-forwarding submodule %s to the following commit:"), path);
@@ -1227,9 +1238,10 @@ static int merge_submodule(struct merge_options *opt,
 		else
 			; /* no output */
 
-		return 1;
+		ret = 1;
+		goto cleanup;
 	}
-	if (in_merge_bases(commit_b, commit_a)) {
+	if (repo_in_merge_bases(&subrepo, commit_b, commit_a)) {
 		oidcpy(result, a);
 		if (show(opt, 3)) {
 			output(opt, 3, _("Fast-forwarding submodule %s to the following commit:"), path);
@@ -1239,7 +1251,8 @@ static int merge_submodule(struct merge_options *opt,
 		else
 			; /* no output */
 
-		return 1;
+		ret = 1;
+		goto cleanup;
 	}
 
 	/*
@@ -1251,10 +1264,10 @@ static int merge_submodule(struct merge_options *opt,
 
 	/* Skip the search if makes no sense to the calling context.  */
 	if (!search)
-		return 0;
+		goto cleanup;
 
 	/* find commit which merges them */
-	parent_count = find_first_merges(opt->repo, &merges, path,
+	parent_count = find_first_merges(&subrepo, &merges, path,
 					 commit_a, commit_b);
 	switch (parent_count) {
 	case 0:
@@ -1281,7 +1294,9 @@ static int merge_submodule(struct merge_options *opt,
 	}
 
 	object_array_clear(&merges);
-	return 0;
+cleanup:
+	repo_clear(&subrepo);
+	return ret;
 }
 
 static int merge_mode_and_contents(struct merge_options *opt,
diff --git a/revision.c b/revision.c
index cddd0542a6..31fc1884d2 100644
--- a/revision.c
+++ b/revision.c
@@ -2561,8 +2561,7 @@ static int for_each_good_bisect_ref(struct ref_store *refs, each_ref_fn fn, void
 	return for_each_bisect_ref(refs, fn, cb_data, term_good);
 }
 
-static int handle_revision_pseudo_opt(const char *submodule,
-				      struct rev_info *revs,
+static int handle_revision_pseudo_opt(struct rev_info *revs,
 				      const char **argv, int *flags)
 {
 	const char *arg = argv[0];
@@ -2570,7 +2569,7 @@ static int handle_revision_pseudo_opt(const char *submodule,
 	struct ref_store *refs;
 	int argcount;
 
-	if (submodule) {
+	if (revs->repo != the_repository) {
 		/*
 		 * We need some something like get_submodule_worktrees()
 		 * before we can go through all worktrees of a submodule,
@@ -2579,9 +2578,8 @@ static int handle_revision_pseudo_opt(const char *submodule,
 		 */
 		if (!revs->single_worktree)
 			BUG("--single-worktree cannot be used together with submodule");
-		refs = get_submodule_ref_store(submodule);
-	} else
-		refs = get_main_ref_store(revs->repo);
+	}
+	refs = get_main_ref_store(revs->repo);
 
 	/*
 	 * NOTE!
@@ -2699,12 +2697,8 @@ int setup_revisions(int argc, const char **argv, struct rev_info *revs, struct s
 {
 	int i, flags, left, seen_dashdash, revarg_opt;
 	struct strvec prune_data = STRVEC_INIT;
-	const char *submodule = NULL;
 	int seen_end_of_options = 0;
 
-	if (opt)
-		submodule = opt->submodule;
-
 	/* First, search for "--" */
 	if (opt && opt->assume_dashdash) {
 		seen_dashdash = 1;
@@ -2733,7 +2727,7 @@ int setup_revisions(int argc, const char **argv, struct rev_info *revs, struct s
 		if (!seen_end_of_options && *arg == '-') {
 			int opts;
 
-			opts = handle_revision_pseudo_opt(submodule,
+			opts = handle_revision_pseudo_opt(
 						revs, argv + i,
 						&flags);
 			if (opts > 0) {
diff --git a/revision.h b/revision.h
index fbb068da9f..d8e0e93026 100644
--- a/revision.h
+++ b/revision.h
@@ -339,7 +339,6 @@ extern volatile show_early_output_fn_t show_early_output;
 struct setup_revision_opt {
 	const char *def;
 	void (*tweak)(struct rev_info *, struct setup_revision_opt *);
-	const char *submodule;	/* TODO: drop this and use rev_info->repo */
 	unsigned int	assume_dashdash:1,
 			allow_exclude_promisor_objects:1;
 	unsigned revarg_opt;