diff --git a/Documentation/config/branch.txt b/Documentation/config/branch.txt
index cc5f3249fc..55f7522e12 100644
--- a/Documentation/config/branch.txt
+++ b/Documentation/config/branch.txt
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@ branch.autoSetupMerge::
 	automatic setup is done; `true` -- automatic setup is done when the
 	starting point is a remote-tracking branch; `always` --
 	automatic setup is done when the starting point is either a
-	local branch or remote-tracking
+	local branch or remote-tracking branch; `inherit` -- if the starting point
+	has a tracking configuration, it is copied to the new
 	branch. This option defaults to true.
 
 branch.autoSetupRebase::
diff --git a/Documentation/git-branch.txt b/Documentation/git-branch.txt
index 94dc9a54f2..e484a3803a 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-branch.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-branch.txt
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ SYNOPSIS
 	[--points-at <object>] [--format=<format>]
 	[(-r | --remotes) | (-a | --all)]
 	[--list] [<pattern>...]
-'git branch' [--track | --no-track] [-f] <branchname> [<start-point>]
+'git branch' [--track [direct|inherit] | --no-track] [-f] <branchname> [<start-point>]
 'git branch' (--set-upstream-to=<upstream> | -u <upstream>) [<branchname>]
 'git branch' --unset-upstream [<branchname>]
 'git branch' (-m | -M) [<oldbranch>] <newbranch>
@@ -205,24 +205,31 @@ This option is only applicable in non-verbose mode.
 	Display the full sha1s in the output listing rather than abbreviating them.
 
 -t::
---track::
+--track [inherit|direct]::
 	When creating a new branch, set up `branch.<name>.remote` and
-	`branch.<name>.merge` configuration entries to mark the
-	start-point branch as "upstream" from the new branch. This
+	`branch.<name>.merge` configuration entries to set "upstream" tracking
+	configuration for the new branch. This
 	configuration will tell git to show the relationship between the
 	two branches in `git status` and `git branch -v`. Furthermore,
 	it directs `git pull` without arguments to pull from the
 	upstream when the new branch is checked out.
 +
-This behavior is the default when the start point is a remote-tracking branch.
+The exact upstream branch is chosen depending on the optional argument:
+`--track` or `--track direct` means to use the start-point branch itself as the
+upstream; `--track inherit` means to copy the upstream configuration of the
+start-point branch.
++
+`--track direct` is the default when the start point is a remote-tracking branch.
 Set the branch.autoSetupMerge configuration variable to `false` if you
 want `git switch`, `git checkout` and `git branch` to always behave as if `--no-track`
 were given. Set it to `always` if you want this behavior when the
-start-point is either a local or remote-tracking branch.
+start-point is either a local or remote-tracking branch. Set it to
+`inherit` if you want to copy the tracking configuration from the
+branch point.
 
 --no-track::
 	Do not set up "upstream" configuration, even if the
-	branch.autoSetupMerge configuration variable is true.
+	branch.autoSetupMerge configuration variable is set.
 
 --set-upstream::
 	As this option had confusing syntax, it is no longer supported.
diff --git a/Documentation/git-checkout.txt b/Documentation/git-checkout.txt
index b1a6fe4499..a48e1ab62f 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-checkout.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-checkout.txt
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ of it").
 	linkgit:git-branch[1] for details.
 
 -t::
---track::
+--track [direct|inherit]::
 	When creating a new branch, set up "upstream" configuration. See
 	"--track" in linkgit:git-branch[1] for details.
 +
diff --git a/Documentation/git-switch.txt b/Documentation/git-switch.txt
index 5c438cd505..96dc036ea5 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-switch.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-switch.txt
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ should result in deletion of the path).
 	attached to a terminal, regardless of `--quiet`.
 
 -t::
---track::
+--track [direct|inherit]::
 	When creating a new branch, set up "upstream" configuration.
 	`-c` is implied. See `--track` in linkgit:git-branch[1] for
 	details.
diff --git a/branch.c b/branch.c
index 7a88a4861e..f018e440a6 100644
--- a/branch.c
+++ b/branch.c
@@ -126,6 +126,33 @@ int install_branch_config(int flag, const char *local, const char *origin, const
 	return -1;
 }
 
+static int inherit_tracking(struct tracking *tracking, const char *orig_ref)
+{
+	const char *bare_ref;
+	struct branch *branch;
+
+	bare_ref = orig_ref;
+	skip_prefix(orig_ref, "refs/heads/", &bare_ref);
+
+	branch = branch_get(bare_ref);
+	if (!branch->remote_name) {
+		warning(_("asked to inherit tracking from %s, but no remote is set"),
+			bare_ref);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (branch->merge_nr < 1 || !branch->merge_name || !branch->merge_name[0]) {
+		warning(_("asked to inherit tracking from %s, but no merge configuration is set"),
+			bare_ref);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	tracking->remote = xstrdup(branch->remote_name);
+	tracking->src = xstrdup(branch->merge_name[0]);
+	tracking->matches = 1;
+	return 0;
+}
+
 /*
  * This is called when new_ref is branched off of orig_ref, and tries
  * to infer the settings for branch.<new_ref>.{remote,merge} from the
@@ -139,7 +166,9 @@ static void setup_tracking(const char *new_ref, const char *orig_ref,
 
 	memset(&tracking, 0, sizeof(tracking));
 	tracking.spec.dst = (char *)orig_ref;
-	if (for_each_remote(find_tracked_branch, &tracking))
+	if (track != BRANCH_TRACK_INHERIT) {
+		for_each_remote(find_tracked_branch, &tracking);
+	} else if (inherit_tracking(&tracking, orig_ref))
 		return;
 
 	if (!tracking.matches)
diff --git a/branch.h b/branch.h
index df0be61506..6484bda8a2 100644
--- a/branch.h
+++ b/branch.h
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ enum branch_track {
 	BRANCH_TRACK_REMOTE,
 	BRANCH_TRACK_ALWAYS,
 	BRANCH_TRACK_EXPLICIT,
-	BRANCH_TRACK_OVERRIDE
+	BRANCH_TRACK_OVERRIDE,
+	BRANCH_TRACK_INHERIT
 };
 
 extern enum branch_track git_branch_track;
diff --git a/builtin/branch.c b/builtin/branch.c
index b23b1d1752..15f70fe3fa 100644
--- a/builtin/branch.c
+++ b/builtin/branch.c
@@ -632,8 +632,10 @@ int cmd_branch(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		OPT__VERBOSE(&filter.verbose,
 			N_("show hash and subject, give twice for upstream branch")),
 		OPT__QUIET(&quiet, N_("suppress informational messages")),
-		OPT_SET_INT('t', "track",  &track, N_("set up tracking mode (see git-pull(1))"),
-			BRANCH_TRACK_EXPLICIT),
+		OPT_CALLBACK_F('t', "track",  &track, "direct|inherit",
+			N_("set up tracking mode (see git-pull(1))"),
+			PARSE_OPT_OPTARG | PARSE_OPT_LITERAL_ARGHELP,
+			parse_opt_tracking_mode),
 		OPT_SET_INT_F(0, "set-upstream", &track, N_("do not use"),
 			BRANCH_TRACK_OVERRIDE, PARSE_OPT_HIDDEN),
 		OPT_STRING('u', "set-upstream-to", &new_upstream, N_("upstream"), N_("change the upstream info")),
diff --git a/builtin/checkout.c b/builtin/checkout.c
index b5d477919a..45dab414ea 100644
--- a/builtin/checkout.c
+++ b/builtin/checkout.c
@@ -1532,8 +1532,10 @@ static struct option *add_common_switch_branch_options(
 {
 	struct option options[] = {
 		OPT_BOOL('d', "detach", &opts->force_detach, N_("detach HEAD at named commit")),
-		OPT_SET_INT('t', "track",  &opts->track, N_("set upstream info for new branch"),
-			BRANCH_TRACK_EXPLICIT),
+		OPT_CALLBACK_F('t', "track",  &opts->track, "direct|inherit",
+			N_("set up tracking mode (see git-pull(1))"),
+			PARSE_OPT_OPTARG | PARSE_OPT_LITERAL_ARGHELP,
+			parse_opt_tracking_mode),
 		OPT__FORCE(&opts->force, N_("force checkout (throw away local modifications)"),
 			   PARSE_OPT_NOCOMPLETE),
 		OPT_STRING(0, "orphan", &opts->new_orphan_branch, N_("new-branch"), N_("new unparented branch")),
diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index cb4a8058bf..4bd5a18faf 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -1580,6 +1580,9 @@ static int git_default_branch_config(const char *var, const char *value)
 		if (value && !strcasecmp(value, "always")) {
 			git_branch_track = BRANCH_TRACK_ALWAYS;
 			return 0;
+		} else if (value && !strcasecmp(value, "inherit")) {
+			git_branch_track = BRANCH_TRACK_INHERIT;
+			return 0;
 		}
 		git_branch_track = git_config_bool(var, value);
 		return 0;
diff --git a/parse-options-cb.c b/parse-options-cb.c
index 3c811e1e4a..91261d8c41 100644
--- a/parse-options-cb.c
+++ b/parse-options-cb.c
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "git-compat-util.h"
 #include "parse-options.h"
+#include "branch.h"
 #include "cache.h"
 #include "commit.h"
 #include "color.h"
@@ -293,3 +294,16 @@ int parse_opt_passthru_argv(const struct option *opt, const char *arg, int unset
 
 	return 0;
 }
+
+int parse_opt_tracking_mode(const struct option *opt, const char *arg, int unset) {
+	if (unset)
+		*(enum branch_track *)opt->value = BRANCH_TRACK_NEVER;
+	else if (!arg || !strcmp(arg, "direct"))
+		*(enum branch_track *)opt->value = BRANCH_TRACK_EXPLICIT;
+	else if (!strcmp(arg, "inherit"))
+		*(enum branch_track *)opt->value = BRANCH_TRACK_INHERIT;
+	else
+		return error(_("option `--track' expects \"direct\" or \"inherit\""));
+
+	return 0;
+}
diff --git a/parse-options.h b/parse-options.h
index a845a9d952..f35dbfdd5a 100644
--- a/parse-options.h
+++ b/parse-options.h
@@ -303,6 +303,8 @@ enum parse_opt_result parse_opt_unknown_cb(struct parse_opt_ctx_t *ctx,
 					   const char *, int);
 int parse_opt_passthru(const struct option *, const char *, int);
 int parse_opt_passthru_argv(const struct option *, const char *, int);
+/* value is enum branch_track* */
+int parse_opt_tracking_mode(const struct option *, const char *, int);
 
 #define OPT__VERBOSE(var, h)  OPT_COUNTUP('v', "verbose", (var), (h))
 #define OPT__QUIET(var, h)    OPT_COUNTUP('q', "quiet",   (var), (h))
diff --git a/t/t2017-checkout-orphan.sh b/t/t2017-checkout-orphan.sh
index 88d6992a5e..31fb64c5be 100755
--- a/t/t2017-checkout-orphan.sh
+++ b/t/t2017-checkout-orphan.sh
@@ -64,6 +64,13 @@ test_expect_success '--orphan ignores branch.autosetupmerge' '
 	git checkout --orphan gamma &&
 	test -z "$(git config branch.gamma.merge)" &&
 	test refs/heads/gamma = "$(git symbolic-ref HEAD)" &&
+	test_must_fail git rev-parse --verify HEAD^ &&
+	git checkout main &&
+	git config branch.autosetupmerge inherit &&
+	git checkout --orphan eta &&
+	test -z "$(git config branch.eta.merge)" &&
+	test -z "$(git config branch.eta.remote)" &&
+	test refs/heads/eta = "$(git symbolic-ref HEAD)" &&
 	test_must_fail git rev-parse --verify HEAD^
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t2027-checkout-track.sh b/t/t2027-checkout-track.sh
index 4453741b96..e87d77f629 100755
--- a/t/t2027-checkout-track.sh
+++ b/t/t2027-checkout-track.sh
@@ -24,4 +24,27 @@ test_expect_success 'checkout --track -b rejects an extra path argument' '
 	test_i18ngrep "cannot be used with updating paths" err
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'checkout --track -b overrides autoSetupMerge=inherit' '
+	# Set up tracking config on main
+	git config branch.main.remote origin &&
+	git config branch.main.merge refs/heads/main &&
+	test_config branch.autoSetupMerge inherit &&
+	# With --track=inherit, we copy the tracking config from main
+	git checkout --track=inherit -b b1 main &&
+	test_cmp_config origin branch.b1.remote &&
+	test_cmp_config refs/heads/main branch.b1.merge &&
+	# With branch.autoSetupMerge=inherit, we do the same
+	git checkout -b b2 main &&
+	test_cmp_config origin branch.b2.remote &&
+	test_cmp_config refs/heads/main branch.b2.merge &&
+	# But --track overrides this
+	git checkout --track -b b3 main &&
+	test_cmp_config . branch.b3.remote &&
+	test_cmp_config refs/heads/main branch.b3.merge &&
+	# And --track=direct does as well
+	git checkout --track=direct -b b4 main &&
+	test_cmp_config . branch.b4.remote &&
+	test_cmp_config refs/heads/main branch.b4.merge
+'
+
 test_done
diff --git a/t/t2060-switch.sh b/t/t2060-switch.sh
index 9bc6a3aa5c..76e9d12e36 100755
--- a/t/t2060-switch.sh
+++ b/t/t2060-switch.sh
@@ -107,4 +107,32 @@ test_expect_success 'not switching when something is in progress' '
 	test_must_fail git switch -d @^
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'tracking info copied with autoSetupMerge=inherit' '
+	# default config does not copy tracking info
+	git switch -c foo-no-inherit foo &&
+	test -z "$(git config branch.foo-no-inherit.remote)" &&
+	test -z "$(git config branch.foo-no-inherit.merge)" &&
+	# with --track=inherit, we copy tracking info from foo
+	git switch --track=inherit -c foo2 foo &&
+	test_cmp_config origin branch.foo2.remote &&
+	test_cmp_config refs/heads/foo branch.foo2.merge &&
+	# with autoSetupMerge=inherit, we do the same
+	test_config branch.autoSetupMerge inherit &&
+	git switch -c foo3 foo &&
+	test_cmp_config origin branch.foo3.remote &&
+	test_cmp_config refs/heads/foo branch.foo3.merge &&
+	# with --track, we override autoSetupMerge
+	git switch --track -c foo4 foo &&
+	test_cmp_config . branch.foo4.remote &&
+	test_cmp_config refs/heads/foo branch.foo4.merge &&
+	# and --track=direct does as well
+	git switch --track=direct -c foo5 foo &&
+	test_cmp_config . branch.foo5.remote &&
+	test_cmp_config refs/heads/foo branch.foo5.merge &&
+	# no tracking info to inherit from main
+	git switch -c main2 main &&
+	test -z "$(git config branch.main2.remote)" &&
+	test -z "$(git config branch.main2.merge)"
+'
+
 test_done
diff --git a/t/t3200-branch.sh b/t/t3200-branch.sh
index cc4b10236e..bc547b08e1 100755
--- a/t/t3200-branch.sh
+++ b/t/t3200-branch.sh
@@ -1409,4 +1409,37 @@ test_expect_success 'invalid sort parameter in configuration' '
 	)
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'tracking info copied with --track=inherit' '
+	git branch --track=inherit foo2 my1 &&
+	test_cmp_config local branch.foo2.remote &&
+	test_cmp_config refs/heads/main branch.foo2.merge
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'tracking info copied with autoSetupMerge=inherit' '
+	test_unconfig branch.autoSetupMerge &&
+	# default config does not copy tracking info
+	git branch foo-no-inherit my1 &&
+	test -z "$(git config branch.foo-no-inherit.remote)" &&
+	test -z "$(git config branch.foo-no-inherit.merge)" &&
+	# with autoSetupMerge=inherit, we copy tracking info from my1
+	test_config branch.autoSetupMerge inherit &&
+	git branch foo3 my1 &&
+	test_cmp_config local branch.foo3.remote &&
+	test_cmp_config refs/heads/main branch.foo3.merge &&
+	# no tracking info to inherit from main
+	git branch main2 main &&
+	test -z "$(git config branch.main2.remote)" &&
+	test -z "$(git config branch.main2.merge)"
+'
+
+test_expect_success '--track overrides branch.autoSetupMerge' '
+	test_config branch.autoSetupMerge inherit &&
+	git branch --track=direct foo4 my1 &&
+	test_cmp_config . branch.foo4.remote &&
+	test_cmp_config refs/heads/my1 branch.foo4.merge &&
+	git branch --no-track foo5 my1 &&
+	test -z "$(git config branch.foo5.remote)" &&
+	test -z "$(git config branch.foo5.merge)"
+'
+
 test_done
diff --git a/t/t7201-co.sh b/t/t7201-co.sh
index 7f6e23a4bb..ae9f8d02c2 100755
--- a/t/t7201-co.sh
+++ b/t/t7201-co.sh
@@ -657,4 +657,21 @@ test_expect_success 'custom merge driver with checkout -m' '
 	test_cmp expect arm
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'tracking info copied with autoSetupMerge=inherit' '
+	git reset --hard main &&
+	# default config does not copy tracking info
+	git checkout -b foo-no-inherit koala/bear &&
+	test -z "$(git config branch.foo-no-inherit.remote)" &&
+	test -z "$(git config branch.foo-no-inherit.merge)" &&
+	# with autoSetupMerge=inherit, we copy tracking info from koala/bear
+	test_config branch.autoSetupMerge inherit &&
+	git checkout -b foo koala/bear &&
+	test_cmp_config origin branch.foo.remote &&
+	test_cmp_config refs/heads/koala/bear branch.foo.merge &&
+	# no tracking info to inherit from main
+	git checkout -b main2 main &&
+	test -z "$(git config branch.main2.remote)" &&
+	test -z "$(git config branch.main2.merge)"
+'
+
 test_done
