diff --git a/mergetools/vimdiff b/mergetools/vimdiff
index f770b8fe24..06937acbf5 100644
--- a/mergetools/vimdiff
+++ b/mergetools/vimdiff
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@
 ################################################################################
 
 debug_print () {
-	# Send message to stderr if global variable GIT_MERGETOOL_VIMDIFF is set
-	# to "true"
+	# Send message to stderr if global variable GIT_MERGETOOL_VIMDIFF_DEBUG
+	# is set.
 
 	if test -n "$GIT_MERGETOOL_VIMDIFF_DEBUG"
 	then
@@ -66,11 +66,6 @@ gen_cmd_aux () {
 	debug_print "LAYOUT    : $LAYOUT"
 	debug_print "CMD       : $CMD"
 
-	if test -z "$CMD"
-	then
-		CMD="echo" # vim "nop" operator
-	fi
-
 	start=0
 	end=${#LAYOUT}
 
@@ -144,11 +139,10 @@ gen_cmd_aux () {
 
 	# Step 2:
 	#
-	# Search for all valid separators ("+", "/" or ",") which are *not*
+	# Search for all valid separators ("/" or ",") which are *not*
 	# inside parenthesis. Save the index at which each of them makes the
 	# first appearance.
 
-	index_new_tab=""
 	index_horizontal_split=""
 	index_vertical_split=""
 
@@ -182,14 +176,7 @@ gen_cmd_aux () {
 		then
 			current=$c
 
-			if test "$current" = "+"
-			then
-				if test -z "$index_new_tab"
-				then
-					index_new_tab=$i
-				fi
-
-			elif test "$current" = "/"
+			if test "$current" = "/"
 			then
 				if test -z "$index_horizontal_split"
 				then
@@ -219,14 +206,7 @@ gen_cmd_aux () {
 
 	terminate="false"
 
-	if ! test -z "$index_new_tab"
-	then
-		before="-tabnew"
-		after="tabnext"
-		index=$index_new_tab
-		terminate="true"
-
-	elif ! test -z "$index_horizontal_split"
+	if ! test -z "$index_horizontal_split"
 	then
 		before="leftabove split"
 		after="wincmd j"
@@ -333,25 +313,31 @@ gen_cmd () {
 
 	# Obtain the first part of vim "-c" option to obtain the desired layout
 
-	CMD=$(gen_cmd_aux "$LAYOUT")
+	CMD=
+	oldIFS=$IFS
+	IFS=+
+	for tab in $LAYOUT
+	do
+		if test -z "$CMD"
+		then
+			CMD="echo" # vim "nop" operator
+		else
+			CMD="$CMD | tabnew"
+		fi
 
+		# If this is a single window diff with all the buffers
+		if ! echo "$tab" | grep ",\|/" >/dev/null
+		then
+			CMD="$CMD | silent execute 'bufdo diffthis'"
+		fi
 
-	# Adjust the just obtained script depending on whether more than one
-	# windows are visible or not
+		CMD=$(gen_cmd_aux "$tab" "$CMD")
+	done
+	IFS=$oldIFS
 
-	if echo "$LAYOUT" | grep ",\|/" >/dev/null
-	then
-		CMD="$CMD | tabdo windo diffthis"
-	else
-		CMD="$CMD | bufdo diffthis"
-	fi
+	CMD="$CMD | execute 'tabdo windo diffthis'"
 
-
-	# Add an extra "-c" option to move to the first tab (notice that we
-	# can't simply append the command to the previous "-c" string as
-	# explained here: https://github.com/vim/vim/issues/9076
-
-	FINAL_CMD="-c \"$CMD\" -c \"tabfirst\""
+	FINAL_CMD="-c \"set hidden diffopt-=hiddenoff | $CMD | tabfirst\""
 }
 
 
@@ -555,22 +541,22 @@ run_unit_tests () {
 	TEST_CASE_15="  ((  (LOCAL , BASE , REMOTE) / MERGED))   +(BASE)   , LOCAL+ BASE , REMOTE+ (((LOCAL / BASE / REMOTE)) ,    MERGED   )  "
 	TEST_CASE_16="LOCAL,BASE,REMOTE / MERGED + BASE,LOCAL + BASE,REMOTE + (LOCAL / BASE / REMOTE),MERGED"
 
-	EXPECTED_CMD_01="-c \"echo | leftabove split | leftabove vertical split | 1b | wincmd l | leftabove vertical split | 2b | wincmd l | 3b | wincmd j | 4b | tabdo windo diffthis\" -c \"tabfirst\""
-	EXPECTED_CMD_02="-c \"echo | leftabove vertical split | 1b | wincmd l | 3b | tabdo windo diffthis\" -c \"tabfirst\""
-	EXPECTED_CMD_03="-c \"echo | leftabove vertical split | 1b | wincmd l | leftabove vertical split | 4b | wincmd l | 3b | tabdo windo diffthis\" -c \"tabfirst\""
-	EXPECTED_CMD_04="-c \"echo | 4b | bufdo diffthis\" -c \"tabfirst\""
-	EXPECTED_CMD_05="-c \"echo | leftabove split | 1b | wincmd j | leftabove split | 4b | wincmd j | 3b | tabdo windo diffthis\" -c \"tabfirst\""
-	EXPECTED_CMD_06="-c \"echo | leftabove vertical split | leftabove split | 1b | wincmd j | 3b | wincmd l | 4b | tabdo windo diffthis\" -c \"tabfirst\""
-	EXPECTED_CMD_07="-c \"echo | leftabove vertical split | 4b | wincmd l | leftabove split | 1b | wincmd j | 3b | tabdo windo diffthis\" -c \"tabfirst\""
-	EXPECTED_CMD_08="-c \"echo | leftabove split | leftabove vertical split | 1b | wincmd l | 3b | wincmd j | 4b | tabdo windo diffthis\" -c \"tabfirst\""
-	EXPECTED_CMD_09="-c \"echo | leftabove split | 4b | wincmd j | leftabove vertical split | 1b | wincmd l | 3b | tabdo windo diffthis\" -c \"tabfirst\""
-	EXPECTED_CMD_10="-c \"echo | leftabove vertical split | leftabove split | 1b | wincmd j | leftabove split | 2b | wincmd j | 3b | wincmd l | 4b | tabdo windo diffthis\" -c \"tabfirst\""
-	EXPECTED_CMD_11="-c \"echo | -tabnew | leftabove split | leftabove vertical split | 1b | wincmd l | leftabove vertical split | 2b | wincmd l | 3b | wincmd j | 4b | tabnext | -tabnew | leftabove vertical split | 2b | wincmd l | 1b | tabnext | -tabnew | leftabove vertical split | 2b | wincmd l | 3b | tabnext | leftabove vertical split | leftabove split | 1b | wincmd j | leftabove split | 2b | wincmd j | 3b | wincmd l | 4b | tabdo windo diffthis\" -c \"tabfirst\""
-	EXPECTED_CMD_12="-c \"echo | leftabove vertical split | leftabove split | leftabove vertical split | 1b | wincmd l | 3b | wincmd j | 2b | wincmd l | 4b | tabdo windo diffthis\" -c \"tabfirst\""
-	EXPECTED_CMD_13="-c \"echo | leftabove vertical split | leftabove split | leftabove vertical split | 1b | wincmd l | 3b | wincmd j | 2b | wincmd l | leftabove vertical split | leftabove split | 1b | wincmd j | 3b | wincmd l | 4b | tabdo windo diffthis\" -c \"tabfirst\""
-	EXPECTED_CMD_14="-c \"echo | -tabnew | leftabove vertical split | 2b | wincmd l | 3b | tabnext | leftabove vertical split | 2b | wincmd l | 1b | tabdo windo diffthis\" -c \"tabfirst\""
-	EXPECTED_CMD_15="-c \"echo | -tabnew | leftabove split | leftabove vertical split | 1b | wincmd l | leftabove vertical split | 2b | wincmd l | 3b | wincmd j | 4b | tabnext | -tabnew | leftabove vertical split | 2b | wincmd l | 1b | tabnext | -tabnew | leftabove vertical split | 2b | wincmd l | 3b | tabnext | leftabove vertical split | leftabove split | 1b | wincmd j | leftabove split | 2b | wincmd j | 3b | wincmd l | 4b | tabdo windo diffthis\" -c \"tabfirst\""
-	EXPECTED_CMD_16="-c \"echo | -tabnew | leftabove split | leftabove vertical split | 1b | wincmd l | leftabove vertical split | 2b | wincmd l | 3b | wincmd j | 4b | tabnext | -tabnew | leftabove vertical split | 2b | wincmd l | 1b | tabnext | -tabnew | leftabove vertical split | 2b | wincmd l | 3b | tabnext | leftabove vertical split | leftabove split | 1b | wincmd j | leftabove split | 2b | wincmd j | 3b | wincmd l | 4b | tabdo windo diffthis\" -c \"tabfirst\""
+	EXPECTED_CMD_01="-c \"set hidden diffopt-=hiddenoff | echo | leftabove split | leftabove vertical split | 1b | wincmd l | leftabove vertical split | 2b | wincmd l | 3b | wincmd j | 4b | execute 'tabdo windo diffthis' | tabfirst\""
+	EXPECTED_CMD_02="-c \"set hidden diffopt-=hiddenoff | echo | leftabove vertical split | 1b | wincmd l | 3b | execute 'tabdo windo diffthis' | tabfirst\""
+	EXPECTED_CMD_03="-c \"set hidden diffopt-=hiddenoff | echo | leftabove vertical split | 1b | wincmd l | leftabove vertical split | 4b | wincmd l | 3b | execute 'tabdo windo diffthis' | tabfirst\""
+	EXPECTED_CMD_04="-c \"set hidden diffopt-=hiddenoff | echo | silent execute 'bufdo diffthis' | 4b | execute 'tabdo windo diffthis' | tabfirst\""
+	EXPECTED_CMD_05="-c \"set hidden diffopt-=hiddenoff | echo | leftabove split | 1b | wincmd j | leftabove split | 4b | wincmd j | 3b | execute 'tabdo windo diffthis' | tabfirst\""
+	EXPECTED_CMD_06="-c \"set hidden diffopt-=hiddenoff | echo | leftabove vertical split | leftabove split | 1b | wincmd j | 3b | wincmd l | 4b | execute 'tabdo windo diffthis' | tabfirst\""
+	EXPECTED_CMD_07="-c \"set hidden diffopt-=hiddenoff | echo | leftabove vertical split | 4b | wincmd l | leftabove split | 1b | wincmd j | 3b | execute 'tabdo windo diffthis' | tabfirst\""
+	EXPECTED_CMD_08="-c \"set hidden diffopt-=hiddenoff | echo | leftabove split | leftabove vertical split | 1b | wincmd l | 3b | wincmd j | 4b | execute 'tabdo windo diffthis' | tabfirst\""
+	EXPECTED_CMD_09="-c \"set hidden diffopt-=hiddenoff | echo | leftabove split | 4b | wincmd j | leftabove vertical split | 1b | wincmd l | 3b | execute 'tabdo windo diffthis' | tabfirst\""
+	EXPECTED_CMD_10="-c \"set hidden diffopt-=hiddenoff | echo | leftabove vertical split | leftabove split | 1b | wincmd j | leftabove split | 2b | wincmd j | 3b | wincmd l | 4b | execute 'tabdo windo diffthis' | tabfirst\""
+	EXPECTED_CMD_11="-c \"set hidden diffopt-=hiddenoff | echo | leftabove split | leftabove vertical split | 1b | wincmd l | leftabove vertical split | 2b | wincmd l | 3b | wincmd j | 4b | tabnew | leftabove vertical split | 2b | wincmd l | 1b | tabnew | leftabove vertical split | 2b | wincmd l | 3b | tabnew | leftabove vertical split | leftabove split | 1b | wincmd j | leftabove split | 2b | wincmd j | 3b | wincmd l | 4b | execute 'tabdo windo diffthis' | tabfirst\""
+	EXPECTED_CMD_12="-c \"set hidden diffopt-=hiddenoff | echo | leftabove vertical split | leftabove split | leftabove vertical split | 1b | wincmd l | 3b | wincmd j | 2b | wincmd l | 4b | execute 'tabdo windo diffthis' | tabfirst\""
+	EXPECTED_CMD_13="-c \"set hidden diffopt-=hiddenoff | echo | leftabove vertical split | leftabove split | leftabove vertical split | 1b | wincmd l | 3b | wincmd j | 2b | wincmd l | leftabove vertical split | leftabove split | 1b | wincmd j | 3b | wincmd l | 4b | execute 'tabdo windo diffthis' | tabfirst\""
+	EXPECTED_CMD_14="-c \"set hidden diffopt-=hiddenoff | echo | leftabove vertical split | 2b | wincmd l | 3b | tabnew | leftabove vertical split | 2b | wincmd l | 1b | execute 'tabdo windo diffthis' | tabfirst\""
+	EXPECTED_CMD_15="-c \"set hidden diffopt-=hiddenoff | echo | leftabove split | leftabove vertical split | 1b | wincmd l | leftabove vertical split | 2b | wincmd l | 3b | wincmd j | 4b | tabnew | leftabove vertical split | 2b | wincmd l | 1b | tabnew | leftabove vertical split | 2b | wincmd l | 3b | tabnew | leftabove vertical split | leftabove split | 1b | wincmd j | leftabove split | 2b | wincmd j | 3b | wincmd l | 4b | execute 'tabdo windo diffthis' | tabfirst\""
+	EXPECTED_CMD_16="-c \"set hidden diffopt-=hiddenoff | echo | leftabove split | leftabove vertical split | 1b | wincmd l | leftabove vertical split | 2b | wincmd l | 3b | wincmd j | 4b | tabnew | leftabove vertical split | 2b | wincmd l | 1b | tabnew | leftabove vertical split | 2b | wincmd l | 3b | tabnew | leftabove vertical split | leftabove split | 1b | wincmd j | leftabove split | 2b | wincmd j | 3b | wincmd l | 4b | execute 'tabdo windo diffthis' | tabfirst\""
 
 	EXPECTED_TARGET_01="MERGED"
 	EXPECTED_TARGET_02="LOCAL"
@@ -635,9 +621,7 @@ run_unit_tests () {
 	cat >expect <<-\EOF
 	-f
 	-c
-	echo | leftabove split | leftabove vertical split | 1b | wincmd l | leftabove vertical split | quit | wincmd l | 2b | wincmd j | 3b | tabdo windo diffthis
-	-c
-	tabfirst
+	set hidden diffopt-=hiddenoff | echo | leftabove split | leftabove vertical split | 1b | wincmd l | leftabove vertical split | quit | wincmd l | 2b | wincmd j | 3b | execute 'tabdo windo diffthis' | tabfirst
 	lo cal
 	' '
 	mer ged