diff --git a/Documentation/git-multi-pack-index.txt b/Documentation/git-multi-pack-index.txt
index eb0caa0439..ffd601bc17 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-multi-pack-index.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-multi-pack-index.txt
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ git-multi-pack-index - Write and verify multi-pack-indexes
 SYNOPSIS
 --------
 [verse]
-'git multi-pack-index' [--object-dir=<dir>] [--[no-]progress] <subcommand>
+'git multi-pack-index' [--object-dir=<dir>] [--[no-]progress]
+	[--preferred-pack=<pack>] <subcommand>
 
 DESCRIPTION
 -----------
@@ -30,7 +31,16 @@ OPTIONS
 The following subcommands are available:
 
 write::
-	Write a new MIDX file.
+	Write a new MIDX file. The following options are available for
+	the `write` sub-command:
++
+--
+	--preferred-pack=<pack>::
+		Optionally specify the tie-breaking pack used when
+		multiple packs contain the same object. If not given,
+		ties are broken in favor of the pack with the lowest
+		mtime.
+--
 
 verify::
 	Verify the contents of the MIDX file.
diff --git a/Documentation/technical/multi-pack-index.txt b/Documentation/technical/multi-pack-index.txt
index e8e377a59f..fb688976c4 100644
--- a/Documentation/technical/multi-pack-index.txt
+++ b/Documentation/technical/multi-pack-index.txt
@@ -43,8 +43,9 @@ Design Details
   a change in format.
 
 - The MIDX keeps only one record per object ID. If an object appears
-  in multiple packfiles, then the MIDX selects the copy in the most-
-  recently modified packfile.
+  in multiple packfiles, then the MIDX selects the copy in the
+  preferred packfile, otherwise selecting from the most-recently
+  modified packfile.
 
 - If there exist packfiles in the pack directory not registered in
   the MIDX, then those packfiles are loaded into the `packed_git`
diff --git a/builtin/multi-pack-index.c b/builtin/multi-pack-index.c
index 8711174fae..5d3ea445fd 100644
--- a/builtin/multi-pack-index.c
+++ b/builtin/multi-pack-index.c
@@ -4,9 +4,10 @@
 #include "parse-options.h"
 #include "midx.h"
 #include "trace2.h"
+#include "object-store.h"
 
 #define BUILTIN_MIDX_WRITE_USAGE \
-	N_("git multi-pack-index [<options>] write")
+	N_("git multi-pack-index [<options>] write [--preferred-pack=<pack>]")
 
 #define BUILTIN_MIDX_VERIFY_USAGE \
 	N_("git multi-pack-index [<options>] verify")
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ static char const * const builtin_multi_pack_index_usage[] = {
 
 static struct opts_multi_pack_index {
 	const char *object_dir;
+	const char *preferred_pack;
 	unsigned long batch_size;
 	unsigned flags;
 } opts;
@@ -61,7 +63,15 @@ static struct option *add_common_options(struct option *prev)
 
 static int cmd_multi_pack_index_write(int argc, const char **argv)
 {
-	struct option *options = common_opts;
+	struct option *options;
+	static struct option builtin_multi_pack_index_write_options[] = {
+		OPT_STRING(0, "preferred-pack", &opts.preferred_pack,
+			   N_("preferred-pack"),
+			   N_("pack for reuse when computing a multi-pack bitmap")),
+		OPT_END(),
+	};
+
+	options = add_common_options(builtin_multi_pack_index_write_options);
 
 	trace2_cmd_mode(argv[0]);
 
@@ -72,7 +82,10 @@ static int cmd_multi_pack_index_write(int argc, const char **argv)
 		usage_with_options(builtin_multi_pack_index_write_usage,
 				   options);
 
-	return write_midx_file(opts.object_dir, opts.flags);
+	FREE_AND_NULL(options);
+
+	return write_midx_file(opts.object_dir, opts.preferred_pack,
+			       opts.flags);
 }
 
 static int cmd_multi_pack_index_verify(int argc, const char **argv)
diff --git a/builtin/repack.c b/builtin/repack.c
index 6ce2556c9e..2847fdfbab 100644
--- a/builtin/repack.c
+++ b/builtin/repack.c
@@ -721,7 +721,7 @@ int cmd_repack(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	remove_temporary_files();
 
 	if (git_env_bool(GIT_TEST_MULTI_PACK_INDEX, 0))
-		write_midx_file(get_object_directory(), 0);
+		write_midx_file(get_object_directory(), NULL, 0);
 
 	string_list_clear(&names, 0);
 	string_list_clear(&rollback, 0);
diff --git a/midx.c b/midx.c
index becfafe65e..4a9d84352c 100644
--- a/midx.c
+++ b/midx.c
@@ -431,6 +431,14 @@ static int pack_info_compare(const void *_a, const void *_b)
 	return strcmp(a->pack_name, b->pack_name);
 }
 
+static int idx_or_pack_name_cmp(const void *_va, const void *_vb)
+{
+	const char *pack_name = _va;
+	const struct pack_info *compar = _vb;
+
+	return cmp_idx_or_pack_name(pack_name, compar->pack_name);
+}
+
 struct write_midx_context {
 	struct pack_info *info;
 	uint32_t nr;
@@ -445,6 +453,8 @@ struct write_midx_context {
 	uint32_t *pack_perm;
 	unsigned large_offsets_needed:1;
 	uint32_t num_large_offsets;
+
+	int preferred_pack_idx;
 };
 
 static void add_pack_to_midx(const char *full_path, size_t full_path_len,
@@ -489,6 +499,7 @@ struct pack_midx_entry {
 	uint32_t pack_int_id;
 	time_t pack_mtime;
 	uint64_t offset;
+	unsigned preferred : 1;
 };
 
 static int midx_oid_compare(const void *_a, const void *_b)
@@ -500,6 +511,12 @@ static int midx_oid_compare(const void *_a, const void *_b)
 	if (cmp)
 		return cmp;
 
+	/* Sort objects in a preferred pack first when multiple copies exist. */
+	if (a->preferred > b->preferred)
+		return -1;
+	if (a->preferred < b->preferred)
+		return 1;
+
 	if (a->pack_mtime > b->pack_mtime)
 		return -1;
 	else if (a->pack_mtime < b->pack_mtime)
@@ -527,7 +544,8 @@ static int nth_midxed_pack_midx_entry(struct multi_pack_index *m,
 static void fill_pack_entry(uint32_t pack_int_id,
 			    struct packed_git *p,
 			    uint32_t cur_object,
-			    struct pack_midx_entry *entry)
+			    struct pack_midx_entry *entry,
+			    int preferred)
 {
 	if (nth_packed_object_id(&entry->oid, p, cur_object) < 0)
 		die(_("failed to locate object %d in packfile"), cur_object);
@@ -536,6 +554,7 @@ static void fill_pack_entry(uint32_t pack_int_id,
 	entry->pack_mtime = p->mtime;
 
 	entry->offset = nth_packed_object_offset(p, cur_object);
+	entry->preferred = !!preferred;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -552,7 +571,8 @@ static void fill_pack_entry(uint32_t pack_int_id,
 static struct pack_midx_entry *get_sorted_entries(struct multi_pack_index *m,
 						  struct pack_info *info,
 						  uint32_t nr_packs,
-						  uint32_t *nr_objects)
+						  uint32_t *nr_objects,
+						  int preferred_pack)
 {
 	uint32_t cur_fanout, cur_pack, cur_object;
 	uint32_t alloc_fanout, alloc_objects, total_objects = 0;
@@ -589,12 +609,17 @@ static struct pack_midx_entry *get_sorted_entries(struct multi_pack_index *m,
 				nth_midxed_pack_midx_entry(m,
 							   &entries_by_fanout[nr_fanout],
 							   cur_object);
+				if (nth_midxed_pack_int_id(m, cur_object) == preferred_pack)
+					entries_by_fanout[nr_fanout].preferred = 1;
+				else
+					entries_by_fanout[nr_fanout].preferred = 0;
 				nr_fanout++;
 			}
 		}
 
 		for (cur_pack = start_pack; cur_pack < nr_packs; cur_pack++) {
 			uint32_t start = 0, end;
+			int preferred = cur_pack == preferred_pack;
 
 			if (cur_fanout)
 				start = get_pack_fanout(info[cur_pack].p, cur_fanout - 1);
@@ -602,7 +627,11 @@ static struct pack_midx_entry *get_sorted_entries(struct multi_pack_index *m,
 
 			for (cur_object = start; cur_object < end; cur_object++) {
 				ALLOC_GROW(entries_by_fanout, nr_fanout + 1, alloc_fanout);
-				fill_pack_entry(cur_pack, info[cur_pack].p, cur_object, &entries_by_fanout[nr_fanout]);
+				fill_pack_entry(cur_pack,
+						info[cur_pack].p,
+						cur_object,
+						&entries_by_fanout[nr_fanout],
+						preferred);
 				nr_fanout++;
 			}
 		}
@@ -777,7 +806,9 @@ static int write_midx_large_offsets(struct hashfile *f,
 }
 
 static int write_midx_internal(const char *object_dir, struct multi_pack_index *m,
-			       struct string_list *packs_to_drop, unsigned flags)
+			       struct string_list *packs_to_drop,
+			       const char *preferred_pack_name,
+			       unsigned flags)
 {
 	char *midx_name;
 	uint32_t i;
@@ -828,7 +859,19 @@ static int write_midx_internal(const char *object_dir, struct multi_pack_index *
 	if (ctx.m && ctx.nr == ctx.m->num_packs && !packs_to_drop)
 		goto cleanup;
 
-	ctx.entries = get_sorted_entries(ctx.m, ctx.info, ctx.nr, &ctx.entries_nr);
+	ctx.preferred_pack_idx = -1;
+	if (preferred_pack_name) {
+		for (i = 0; i < ctx.nr; i++) {
+			if (!cmp_idx_or_pack_name(preferred_pack_name,
+						  ctx.info[i].pack_name)) {
+				ctx.preferred_pack_idx = i;
+				break;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	ctx.entries = get_sorted_entries(ctx.m, ctx.info, ctx.nr, &ctx.entries_nr,
+					 ctx.preferred_pack_idx);
 
 	ctx.large_offsets_needed = 0;
 	for (i = 0; i < ctx.entries_nr; i++) {
@@ -889,6 +932,24 @@ static int write_midx_internal(const char *object_dir, struct multi_pack_index *
 			pack_name_concat_len += strlen(ctx.info[i].pack_name) + 1;
 	}
 
+	/* Check that the preferred pack wasn't expired (if given). */
+	if (preferred_pack_name) {
+		struct pack_info *preferred = bsearch(preferred_pack_name,
+						      ctx.info, ctx.nr,
+						      sizeof(*ctx.info),
+						      idx_or_pack_name_cmp);
+
+		if (!preferred)
+			warning(_("unknown preferred pack: '%s'"),
+				preferred_pack_name);
+		else {
+			uint32_t perm = ctx.pack_perm[preferred->orig_pack_int_id];
+			if (perm == PACK_EXPIRED)
+				warning(_("preferred pack '%s' is expired"),
+					preferred_pack_name);
+		}
+	}
+
 	if (pack_name_concat_len % MIDX_CHUNK_ALIGNMENT)
 		pack_name_concat_len += MIDX_CHUNK_ALIGNMENT -
 					(pack_name_concat_len % MIDX_CHUNK_ALIGNMENT);
@@ -947,9 +1008,12 @@ static int write_midx_internal(const char *object_dir, struct multi_pack_index *
 	return result;
 }
 
-int write_midx_file(const char *object_dir, unsigned flags)
+int write_midx_file(const char *object_dir,
+		    const char *preferred_pack_name,
+		    unsigned flags)
 {
-	return write_midx_internal(object_dir, NULL, NULL, flags);
+	return write_midx_internal(object_dir, NULL, NULL, preferred_pack_name,
+				   flags);
 }
 
 void clear_midx_file(struct repository *r)
@@ -1184,7 +1248,7 @@ int expire_midx_packs(struct repository *r, const char *object_dir, unsigned fla
 	free(count);
 
 	if (packs_to_drop.nr)
-		result = write_midx_internal(object_dir, m, &packs_to_drop, flags);
+		result = write_midx_internal(object_dir, m, &packs_to_drop, NULL, flags);
 
 	string_list_clear(&packs_to_drop, 0);
 	return result;
@@ -1373,7 +1437,7 @@ int midx_repack(struct repository *r, const char *object_dir, size_t batch_size,
 		goto cleanup;
 	}
 
-	result = write_midx_internal(object_dir, m, NULL, flags);
+	result = write_midx_internal(object_dir, m, NULL, NULL, flags);
 	m = NULL;
 
 cleanup:
diff --git a/midx.h b/midx.h
index b18cf53bc4..e7fea61109 100644
--- a/midx.h
+++ b/midx.h
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ int fill_midx_entry(struct repository *r, const struct object_id *oid, struct pa
 int midx_contains_pack(struct multi_pack_index *m, const char *idx_or_pack_name);
 int prepare_multi_pack_index_one(struct repository *r, const char *object_dir, int local);
 
-int write_midx_file(const char *object_dir, unsigned flags);
+int write_midx_file(const char *object_dir, const char *preferred_pack_name, unsigned flags);
 void clear_midx_file(struct repository *r);
 int verify_midx_file(struct repository *r, const char *object_dir, unsigned flags);
 int expire_midx_packs(struct repository *r, const char *object_dir, unsigned flags);
diff --git a/t/t5319-multi-pack-index.sh b/t/t5319-multi-pack-index.sh
index b4afab1dfc..031a5570c0 100755
--- a/t/t5319-multi-pack-index.sh
+++ b/t/t5319-multi-pack-index.sh
@@ -234,6 +234,49 @@ test_expect_success 'warn on improper hash version' '
 	)
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'midx picks objects from preferred pack' '
+	test_when_finished rm -rf preferred.git &&
+	git init --bare preferred.git &&
+	(
+		cd preferred.git &&
+
+		a=$(echo "a" | git hash-object -w --stdin) &&
+		b=$(echo "b" | git hash-object -w --stdin) &&
+		c=$(echo "c" | git hash-object -w --stdin) &&
+
+		# Set up two packs, duplicating the object "B" at different
+		# offsets.
+		#
+		# Note that the "BC" pack (the one we choose as preferred) sorts
+		# lexically after the "AB" pack, meaning that omitting the
+		# --preferred-pack argument would cause this test to fail (since
+		# the MIDX code would select the copy of "b" in the "AB" pack).
+		git pack-objects objects/pack/test-AB <<-EOF &&
+		$a
+		$b
+		EOF
+		bc=$(git pack-objects objects/pack/test-BC <<-EOF
+		$b
+		$c
+		EOF
+		) &&
+
+		git multi-pack-index --object-dir=objects \
+			write --preferred-pack=test-BC-$bc.idx 2>err &&
+		test_must_be_empty err &&
+
+		echo hi &&
+		test-tool read-midx --show-objects objects >out &&
+
+		ofs=$(git show-index <objects/pack/test-BC-$bc.idx | grep $b |
+			cut -d" " -f1) &&
+		printf "%s %s\tobjects/pack/test-BC-%s.pack\n" \
+			"$b" "$ofs" "$bc" >expect &&
+		grep ^$b out >actual &&
+
+		test_cmp expect actual
+	)
+'
 
 test_expect_success 'verify multi-pack-index success' '
 	git multi-pack-index verify --object-dir=$objdir
