diff --git a/Documentation/config/gc.txt b/Documentation/config/gc.txt
index ca47eb2008..83ebc2de55 100644
--- a/Documentation/config/gc.txt
+++ b/Documentation/config/gc.txt
@@ -86,6 +86,12 @@ gc.cruftPacks::
 	linkgit:git-repack[1]) instead of as loose objects. The default
 	is `true`.
 
+gc.maxCruftSize::
+	Limit the size of new cruft packs when repacking. When
+	specified in addition to `--max-cruft-size`, the command line
+	option takes priority. See the `--max-cruft-size` option of
+	linkgit:git-repack[1].
+
 gc.pruneExpire::
 	When 'git gc' is run, it will call 'prune --expire 2.weeks.ago'
 	(and 'repack --cruft --cruft-expiration 2.weeks.ago' if using
diff --git a/Documentation/git-gc.txt b/Documentation/git-gc.txt
index 90806fd26a..fa0541b416 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-gc.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-gc.txt
@@ -59,6 +59,13 @@ be performed as well.
 	cruft pack instead of storing them as loose objects. `--cruft`
 	is on by default.
 
+--max-cruft-size=<n>::
+	When packing unreachable objects into a cruft pack, limit the
+	size of new cruft packs to be at most `<n>`. Overrides any
+	value specified via the `gc.maxCruftSize` configuration. See
+	the `--max-cruft-size` option of linkgit:git-repack[1] for
+	more.
+
 --prune=<date>::
 	Prune loose objects older than date (default is 2 weeks ago,
 	overridable by the config variable `gc.pruneExpire`).
diff --git a/Documentation/git-repack.txt b/Documentation/git-repack.txt
index 4017157949..fbfc72e1b2 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-repack.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-repack.txt
@@ -74,6 +74,17 @@ to the new separate pack will be written.
 	immediately instead of waiting for the next `git gc` invocation.
 	Only useful with `--cruft -d`.
 
+--max-cruft-size=<n>::
+	Repack cruft objects into packs as large as `<n>` bytes before
+	creating new packs. As long as there are enough cruft packs
+	smaller than `<n>`, repacking will cause a new cruft pack to
+	be created containing objects from any combined cruft packs,
+	along with any new unreachable objects. Cruft packs larger than
+	`<n>` will not be modified. When the new cruft pack is larger
+	than `<n>` bytes, it will be split into multiple packs, all of
+	which are guaranteed to be at most `<n>` bytes in size. Only
+	useful with `--cruft -d`.
+
 --expire-to=<dir>::
 	Write a cruft pack containing pruned objects (if any) to the
 	directory `<dir>`. This option is useful for keeping a copy of
diff --git a/builtin/gc.c b/builtin/gc.c
index 00192ae5d3..c97c9fb046 100644
--- a/builtin/gc.c
+++ b/builtin/gc.c
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ static const char * const builtin_gc_usage[] = {
 static int pack_refs = 1;
 static int prune_reflogs = 1;
 static int cruft_packs = 1;
+static unsigned long max_cruft_size;
 static int aggressive_depth = 50;
 static int aggressive_window = 250;
 static int gc_auto_threshold = 6700;
@@ -163,6 +164,7 @@ static void gc_config(void)
 	git_config_get_int("gc.autopacklimit", &gc_auto_pack_limit);
 	git_config_get_bool("gc.autodetach", &detach_auto);
 	git_config_get_bool("gc.cruftpacks", &cruft_packs);
+	git_config_get_ulong("gc.maxcruftsize", &max_cruft_size);
 	git_config_get_expiry("gc.pruneexpire", &prune_expire);
 	git_config_get_expiry("gc.worktreepruneexpire", &prune_worktrees_expire);
 	git_config_get_expiry("gc.logexpiry", &gc_log_expire);
@@ -347,6 +349,9 @@ static void add_repack_all_option(struct string_list *keep_pack)
 		strvec_push(&repack, "--cruft");
 		if (prune_expire)
 			strvec_pushf(&repack, "--cruft-expiration=%s", prune_expire);
+		if (max_cruft_size)
+			strvec_pushf(&repack, "--max-cruft-size=%lu",
+				     max_cruft_size);
 	} else {
 		strvec_push(&repack, "-A");
 		if (prune_expire)
@@ -575,6 +580,8 @@ int cmd_gc(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			N_("prune unreferenced objects"),
 			PARSE_OPT_OPTARG, NULL, (intptr_t)prune_expire },
 		OPT_BOOL(0, "cruft", &cruft_packs, N_("pack unreferenced objects separately")),
+		OPT_MAGNITUDE(0, "max-cruft-size", &max_cruft_size,
+			      N_("with --cruft, limit the size of new cruft packs")),
 		OPT_BOOL(0, "aggressive", &aggressive, N_("be more thorough (increased runtime)")),
 		OPT_BOOL_F(0, "auto", &auto_gc, N_("enable auto-gc mode"),
 			   PARSE_OPT_NOCOMPLETE),
diff --git a/builtin/repack.c b/builtin/repack.c
index 8a5bbb9cba..04770b15fe 100644
--- a/builtin/repack.c
+++ b/builtin/repack.c
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #define PACK_CRUFT 4
 
 #define DELETE_PACK 1
+#define RETAIN_PACK 2
 
 static int pack_everything;
 static int delta_base_offset = 1;
@@ -116,11 +117,26 @@ static void pack_mark_for_deletion(struct string_list_item *item)
 	item->util = (void*)((uintptr_t)item->util | DELETE_PACK);
 }
 
+static void pack_unmark_for_deletion(struct string_list_item *item)
+{
+	item->util = (void*)((uintptr_t)item->util & ~DELETE_PACK);
+}
+
 static int pack_is_marked_for_deletion(struct string_list_item *item)
 {
 	return (uintptr_t)item->util & DELETE_PACK;
 }
 
+static void pack_mark_retained(struct string_list_item *item)
+{
+	item->util = (void*)((uintptr_t)item->util | RETAIN_PACK);
+}
+
+static int pack_is_retained(struct string_list_item *item)
+{
+	return (uintptr_t)item->util & RETAIN_PACK;
+}
+
 static void mark_packs_for_deletion_1(struct string_list *names,
 				      struct string_list *list)
 {
@@ -133,17 +149,39 @@ static void mark_packs_for_deletion_1(struct string_list *names,
 		if (len < hexsz)
 			continue;
 		sha1 = item->string + len - hexsz;
-		/*
-		 * Mark this pack for deletion, which ensures that this
-		 * pack won't be included in a MIDX (if `--write-midx`
-		 * was given) and that we will actually delete this pack
-		 * (if `-d` was given).
-		 */
-		if (!string_list_has_string(names, sha1))
+
+		if (pack_is_retained(item)) {
+			pack_unmark_for_deletion(item);
+		} else if (!string_list_has_string(names, sha1)) {
+			/*
+			 * Mark this pack for deletion, which ensures
+			 * that this pack won't be included in a MIDX
+			 * (if `--write-midx` was given) and that we
+			 * will actually delete this pack (if `-d` was
+			 * given).
+			 */
 			pack_mark_for_deletion(item);
+		}
 	}
 }
 
+static void retain_cruft_pack(struct existing_packs *existing,
+			      struct packed_git *cruft)
+{
+	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct string_list_item *item;
+
+	strbuf_addstr(&buf, pack_basename(cruft));
+	strbuf_strip_suffix(&buf, ".pack");
+
+	item = string_list_lookup(&existing->cruft_packs, buf.buf);
+	if (!item)
+		BUG("could not find cruft pack '%s'", pack_basename(cruft));
+
+	pack_mark_retained(item);
+	strbuf_release(&buf);
+}
+
 static void mark_packs_for_deletion(struct existing_packs *existing,
 				    struct string_list *names)
 
@@ -225,6 +263,8 @@ static void collect_pack_filenames(struct existing_packs *existing,
 	}
 
 	string_list_sort(&existing->kept_packs);
+	string_list_sort(&existing->non_kept_packs);
+	string_list_sort(&existing->cruft_packs);
 	strbuf_release(&buf);
 }
 
@@ -806,6 +846,72 @@ static void remove_redundant_bitmaps(struct string_list *include,
 	strbuf_release(&path);
 }
 
+static int existing_cruft_pack_cmp(const void *va, const void *vb)
+{
+	struct packed_git *a = *(struct packed_git **)va;
+	struct packed_git *b = *(struct packed_git **)vb;
+
+	if (a->pack_size < b->pack_size)
+		return -1;
+	if (a->pack_size > b->pack_size)
+		return 1;
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static void collapse_small_cruft_packs(FILE *in, size_t max_size,
+				       struct existing_packs *existing)
+{
+	struct packed_git **existing_cruft, *p;
+	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
+	size_t total_size = 0;
+	size_t existing_cruft_nr = 0;
+	size_t i;
+
+	ALLOC_ARRAY(existing_cruft, existing->cruft_packs.nr);
+
+	for (p = get_all_packs(the_repository); p; p = p->next) {
+		if (!(p->is_cruft && p->pack_local))
+			continue;
+
+		strbuf_reset(&buf);
+		strbuf_addstr(&buf, pack_basename(p));
+		strbuf_strip_suffix(&buf, ".pack");
+
+		if (!string_list_has_string(&existing->cruft_packs, buf.buf))
+			continue;
+
+		if (existing_cruft_nr >= existing->cruft_packs.nr)
+			BUG("too many cruft packs (found %"PRIuMAX", but knew "
+			    "of %"PRIuMAX")",
+			    (uintmax_t)existing_cruft_nr + 1,
+			    (uintmax_t)existing->cruft_packs.nr);
+		existing_cruft[existing_cruft_nr++] = p;
+	}
+
+	QSORT(existing_cruft, existing_cruft_nr, existing_cruft_pack_cmp);
+
+	for (i = 0; i < existing_cruft_nr; i++) {
+		size_t proposed;
+
+		p = existing_cruft[i];
+		proposed = st_add(total_size, p->pack_size);
+
+		if (proposed <= max_size) {
+			total_size = proposed;
+			fprintf(in, "-%s\n", pack_basename(p));
+		} else {
+			retain_cruft_pack(existing, p);
+			fprintf(in, "%s\n", pack_basename(p));
+		}
+	}
+
+	for (i = 0; i < existing->non_kept_packs.nr; i++)
+		fprintf(in, "-%s.pack\n",
+			existing->non_kept_packs.items[i].string);
+
+	strbuf_release(&buf);
+}
+
 static int write_cruft_pack(const struct pack_objects_args *args,
 			    const char *destination,
 			    const char *pack_prefix,
@@ -853,10 +959,14 @@ static int write_cruft_pack(const struct pack_objects_args *args,
 	in = xfdopen(cmd.in, "w");
 	for_each_string_list_item(item, names)
 		fprintf(in, "%s-%s.pack\n", pack_prefix, item->string);
-	for_each_string_list_item(item, &existing->non_kept_packs)
-		fprintf(in, "-%s.pack\n", item->string);
-	for_each_string_list_item(item, &existing->cruft_packs)
-		fprintf(in, "-%s.pack\n", item->string);
+	if (args->max_pack_size && !cruft_expiration) {
+		collapse_small_cruft_packs(in, args->max_pack_size, existing);
+	} else {
+		for_each_string_list_item(item, &existing->non_kept_packs)
+			fprintf(in, "-%s.pack\n", item->string);
+		for_each_string_list_item(item, &existing->cruft_packs)
+			fprintf(in, "-%s.pack\n", item->string);
+	}
 	for_each_string_list_item(item, &existing->kept_packs)
 		fprintf(in, "%s.pack\n", item->string);
 	fclose(in);
@@ -919,6 +1029,8 @@ int cmd_repack(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 				   PACK_CRUFT),
 		OPT_STRING(0, "cruft-expiration", &cruft_expiration, N_("approxidate"),
 				N_("with --cruft, expire objects older than this")),
+		OPT_MAGNITUDE(0, "max-cruft-size", &cruft_po_args.max_pack_size,
+				N_("with --cruft, limit the size of new cruft packs")),
 		OPT_BOOL('d', NULL, &delete_redundant,
 				N_("remove redundant packs, and run git-prune-packed")),
 		OPT_BOOL('f', NULL, &po_args.no_reuse_delta,
diff --git a/t/t6500-gc.sh b/t/t6500-gc.sh
index 69509d0c11..0d6b5c3b27 100755
--- a/t/t6500-gc.sh
+++ b/t/t6500-gc.sh
@@ -303,6 +303,33 @@ test_expect_success 'gc.bigPackThreshold ignores cruft packs' '
 	)
 '
 
+cruft_max_size_opts="git repack -d -l --cruft --cruft-expiration=2.weeks.ago"
+
+test_expect_success 'setup for --max-cruft-size tests' '
+	git init cruft--max-size &&
+	(
+		cd cruft--max-size &&
+		prepare_cruft_history
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success '--max-cruft-size sets appropriate repack options' '
+	GIT_TRACE2_EVENT=$(pwd)/trace2.txt git -C cruft--max-size \
+		gc --cruft --max-cruft-size=1M &&
+	test_subcommand $cruft_max_size_opts --max-cruft-size=1048576 <trace2.txt
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'gc.maxCruftSize sets appropriate repack options' '
+	GIT_TRACE2_EVENT=$(pwd)/trace2.txt \
+		git -C cruft--max-size -c gc.maxCruftSize=2M gc --cruft &&
+	test_subcommand $cruft_max_size_opts --max-cruft-size=2097152 <trace2.txt &&
+
+	GIT_TRACE2_EVENT=$(pwd)/trace2.txt \
+		git -C cruft--max-size -c gc.maxCruftSize=2M gc --cruft \
+		--max-cruft-size=3M &&
+	test_subcommand $cruft_max_size_opts --max-cruft-size=3145728 <trace2.txt
+'
+
 run_and_wait_for_auto_gc () {
 	# We read stdout from gc for the side effect of waiting until the
 	# background gc process exits, closing its fd 9.  Furthermore, the
diff --git a/t/t7704-repack-cruft.sh b/t/t7704-repack-cruft.sh
index d91fcf1af1..dc86ca8269 100755
--- a/t/t7704-repack-cruft.sh
+++ b/t/t7704-repack-cruft.sh
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ test_description='git repack works correctly'
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
 objdir=.git/objects
+packdir=$objdir/pack
 
 test_expect_success '--expire-to stores pruned objects (now)' '
 	git init expire-to-now &&
@@ -127,4 +128,248 @@ test_expect_success '--expire-to stores pruned objects (5.minutes.ago)' '
 	)
 '
 
+generate_random_blob() {
+	test-tool genrandom "$@" >blob &&
+	git hash-object -w -t blob blob &&
+	rm blob
+}
+
+pack_random_blob () {
+	generate_random_blob "$@" &&
+	git repack -d -q >/dev/null
+}
+
+generate_cruft_pack () {
+	pack_random_blob "$@" >/dev/null &&
+
+	ls $packdir/pack-*.pack | xargs -n 1 basename >in &&
+	pack="$(git pack-objects --cruft $packdir/pack <in)" &&
+	git prune-packed &&
+
+	echo "$packdir/pack-$pack.mtimes"
+}
+
+test_expect_success '--max-cruft-size creates new packs when above threshold' '
+	git init max-cruft-size-large &&
+	(
+		cd max-cruft-size-large &&
+		test_commit base &&
+
+		foo="$(pack_random_blob foo $((1*1024*1024)))" &&
+		git repack --cruft -d &&
+		cruft_foo="$(ls $packdir/pack-*.mtimes)" &&
+
+		bar="$(pack_random_blob bar $((1*1024*1024)))" &&
+		git repack --cruft -d --max-cruft-size=1M &&
+		cruft_bar="$(ls $packdir/pack-*.mtimes | grep -v $cruft_foo)" &&
+
+		test-tool pack-mtimes $(basename "$cruft_foo") >foo.objects &&
+		test-tool pack-mtimes $(basename "$cruft_bar") >bar.objects &&
+
+		grep "^$foo" foo.objects &&
+		test_line_count = 1 foo.objects &&
+		grep "^$bar" bar.objects &&
+		test_line_count = 1 bar.objects
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success '--max-cruft-size combines existing packs when below threshold' '
+	git init max-cruft-size-small &&
+	(
+		cd max-cruft-size-small &&
+		test_commit base &&
+
+		foo="$(pack_random_blob foo $((1*1024*1024)))" &&
+		git repack --cruft -d &&
+
+		bar="$(pack_random_blob bar $((1*1024*1024)))" &&
+		git repack --cruft -d --max-cruft-size=10M &&
+
+		cruft=$(ls $packdir/pack-*.mtimes) &&
+		test-tool pack-mtimes $(basename "$cruft") >cruft.objects &&
+
+		grep "^$foo" cruft.objects &&
+		grep "^$bar" cruft.objects &&
+		test_line_count = 2 cruft.objects
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success '--max-cruft-size combines smaller packs first' '
+	git init max-cruft-size-consume-small &&
+	(
+		cd max-cruft-size-consume-small &&
+
+		test_commit base &&
+		git repack -ad &&
+
+		cruft_foo="$(generate_cruft_pack foo 524288)" &&    # 0.5 MiB
+		cruft_bar="$(generate_cruft_pack bar 524288)" &&    # 0.5 MiB
+		cruft_baz="$(generate_cruft_pack baz 1048576)" &&   # 1.0 MiB
+		cruft_quux="$(generate_cruft_pack quux 1572864)" && # 1.5 MiB
+
+		test-tool pack-mtimes "$(basename $cruft_foo)" >expect.raw &&
+		test-tool pack-mtimes "$(basename $cruft_bar)" >>expect.raw &&
+		sort expect.raw >expect.objects &&
+
+		# repacking with `--max-cruft-size=2M` should combine
+		# both 0.5 MiB packs together, instead of, say, one of
+		# the 0.5 MiB packs with the 1.0 MiB pack
+		ls $packdir/pack-*.mtimes | sort >cruft.before &&
+		git repack -d --cruft --max-cruft-size=2M &&
+		ls $packdir/pack-*.mtimes | sort >cruft.after &&
+
+		comm -13 cruft.before cruft.after >cruft.new &&
+		comm -23 cruft.before cruft.after >cruft.removed &&
+
+		test_line_count = 1 cruft.new &&
+		test_line_count = 2 cruft.removed &&
+
+		# the two smaller packs should be rolled up first
+		printf "%s\n" $cruft_foo $cruft_bar | sort >expect.removed &&
+		test_cmp expect.removed cruft.removed &&
+
+		# ...and contain the set of objects rolled up
+		test-tool pack-mtimes "$(basename $(cat cruft.new))" >actual.raw &&
+		sort actual.raw >actual.objects &&
+
+		test_cmp expect.objects actual.objects
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'setup --max-cruft-size with freshened objects' '
+	git init max-cruft-size-freshen &&
+	(
+		cd max-cruft-size-freshen &&
+
+		test_commit base &&
+		git repack -ad &&
+
+		foo="$(generate_random_blob foo 64)" &&
+		test-tool chmtime --get -10000 \
+			"$objdir/$(test_oid_to_path "$foo")" >foo.mtime &&
+
+		git repack --cruft -d &&
+
+		cruft="$(ls $packdir/pack-*.mtimes)" &&
+		test-tool pack-mtimes "$(basename $cruft)" >actual &&
+		echo "$foo $(cat foo.mtime)" >expect &&
+		test_cmp expect actual
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success '--max-cruft-size with freshened objects (loose)' '
+	(
+		cd max-cruft-size-freshen &&
+
+		# regenerate the object, setting its mtime to be more recent
+		foo="$(generate_random_blob foo 64)" &&
+		test-tool chmtime --get -100 \
+			"$objdir/$(test_oid_to_path "$foo")" >foo.mtime &&
+
+		git repack --cruft -d &&
+
+		cruft="$(ls $packdir/pack-*.mtimes)" &&
+		test-tool pack-mtimes "$(basename $cruft)" >actual &&
+		echo "$foo $(cat foo.mtime)" >expect &&
+		test_cmp expect actual
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success '--max-cruft-size with freshened objects (packed)' '
+	(
+		cd max-cruft-size-freshen &&
+
+		# regenerate the object and store it in a packfile,
+		# setting its mtime to be more recent
+		#
+		# store it alongside another cruft object so that we
+		# do not create an identical copy of the existing
+		# cruft pack (which contains $foo).
+		foo="$(generate_random_blob foo 64)" &&
+		bar="$(generate_random_blob bar 64)" &&
+		foo_pack="$(printf "%s\n" $foo $bar | git pack-objects $packdir/pack)" &&
+		git prune-packed &&
+
+		test-tool chmtime --get -10 \
+			"$packdir/pack-$foo_pack.pack" >foo.mtime &&
+
+		git repack --cruft -d &&
+
+		cruft="$(ls $packdir/pack-*.mtimes)" &&
+		test-tool pack-mtimes "$(basename $cruft)" >actual &&
+		echo "$foo $(cat foo.mtime)" >expect.raw &&
+		echo "$bar $(cat foo.mtime)" >>expect.raw &&
+		sort expect.raw >expect &&
+		test_cmp expect actual
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success '--max-cruft-size with pruning' '
+	git init max-cruft-size-prune &&
+	(
+		cd max-cruft-size-prune &&
+
+		test_commit base &&
+		foo="$(generate_random_blob foo $((1024*1024)))" &&
+		bar="$(generate_random_blob bar $((1024*1024)))" &&
+		baz="$(generate_random_blob baz $((1024*1024)))" &&
+
+		test-tool chmtime -10000 "$objdir/$(test_oid_to_path "$foo")" &&
+
+		git repack -d --cruft --max-cruft-size=1M &&
+
+		# backdate the mtimes of all cruft packs to validate
+		# that they were rewritten as a result of pruning
+		ls $packdir/pack-*.mtimes | sort >cruft.before &&
+		for cruft in $(cat cruft.before)
+		do
+			mtime="$(test-tool chmtime --get -10000 "$cruft")" &&
+			echo $cruft $mtime >>mtimes || return 1
+		done &&
+
+		# repack (and prune) with a --max-cruft-size to ensure
+		# that we appropriately split the resulting set of packs
+		git repack -d --cruft --max-cruft-size=1M \
+			--cruft-expiration=10.seconds.ago &&
+		ls $packdir/pack-*.mtimes | sort >cruft.after &&
+
+		for cruft in $(cat cruft.after)
+		do
+			old_mtime="$(grep $cruft mtimes | cut -d" " -f2)" &&
+			new_mtime="$(test-tool chmtime --get $cruft)" &&
+			test $old_mtime -lt $new_mtime || return 1
+		done &&
+
+		test_line_count = 3 cruft.before &&
+		test_line_count = 2 cruft.after &&
+		test_must_fail git cat-file -e $foo &&
+		git cat-file -e $bar &&
+		git cat-file -e $baz
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success '--max-cruft-size ignores non-local packs' '
+	repo="max-cruft-size-non-local" &&
+	git init $repo &&
+	(
+		cd $repo &&
+		test_commit base &&
+		generate_random_blob foo 64 &&
+		git repack --cruft -d
+	) &&
+
+	git clone --reference=$repo $repo $repo-alt &&
+	(
+		cd $repo-alt &&
+
+		test_commit other &&
+		generate_random_blob bar 64 &&
+
+		# ensure that we do not attempt to pick up packs from
+		# the non-alternated repository, which would result in a
+		# crash
+		git repack --cruft --max-cruft-size=1M -d
+	)
+'
+
 test_done
