diff --git a/merge-recursive.c b/merge-recursive.c
index d4292deb5e..06d31ed873 100644
--- a/merge-recursive.c
+++ b/merge-recursive.c
@@ -622,7 +622,7 @@ static char *unique_path(struct merge_options *o, const char *path, const char *
 	base_len = newpath.len;
 	while (string_list_has_string(&o->current_file_set, newpath.buf) ||
 	       string_list_has_string(&o->current_directory_set, newpath.buf) ||
-	       file_exists(newpath.buf)) {
+	       (!o->call_depth && file_exists(newpath.buf))) {
 		strbuf_setlen(&newpath, base_len);
 		strbuf_addf(&newpath, "_%d", suffix++);
 	}
@@ -1234,8 +1234,8 @@ static void conflict_rename_rename_2to1(struct merge_options *o,
 	       a->path, c1->path, ci->branch1,
 	       b->path, c2->path, ci->branch2);
 
-	remove_file(o, 1, a->path, would_lose_untracked(a->path));
-	remove_file(o, 1, b->path, would_lose_untracked(b->path));
+	remove_file(o, 1, a->path, o->call_depth || would_lose_untracked(a->path));
+	remove_file(o, 1, b->path, o->call_depth || would_lose_untracked(b->path));
 
 	mfi_c1 = merge_file_special_markers(o, a, c1, &ci->ren1_other,
 					    o->branch1, c1->path,