diff --git a/git-gui/lib/merge.tcl b/git-gui/lib/merge.tcl
index 460d32fa22..5ab6f8f102 100644
--- a/git-gui/lib/merge.tcl
+++ b/git-gui/lib/merge.tcl
@@ -112,12 +112,7 @@ method _start {} {
 	close $fh
 	set _last_merged_branch $branch
 
-	set cmd [list git]
-	lappend cmd merge
-	lappend cmd --strategy=recursive
-	lappend cmd [git fmt-merge-msg <[gitdir FETCH_HEAD]]
-	lappend cmd HEAD
-	lappend cmd $name
+	set cmd [list git merge --strategy=recursive FETCH_HEAD]
 
 	ui_status [mc "Merging %s and %s..." $current_branch $stitle]
 	set cons [console::new [mc "Merge"] "merge $stitle"]